Video Clips
Quoted moments from Alaska public meetings, hearings, and press conferences.
Troy Meink
“Foundational readiness. Boosting readiness requires increased and stable funding, particularly given the age of many of our platforms. The FY27 budget request increases our foundational readiness investment by 34%, providing the jump needed to truly recover.”Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Defense (Murkowski): Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of the Air Force. · Jun 9, 2026
Troy Meink
“The fiscal year 2027 President's Budget breaks that pattern with the $338 $1.8 billion request for the DAF, a 34% increase from last year.”Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Defense (Murkowski): Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of the Air Force. · Jun 9, 2026
Susan Collins
“I would just suggests that it is taking a terrible risk and creates instability when you're counting on a third reconciliation bill for the bulk of the money rather than doing base funding through the defense appropriations bill.”Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Defense (Murkowski): Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of the Air Force. · Jun 9, 2026
Chris Coons
“This year, more than most, this subcommittee understands and must understand your goals in building this budget, whether or not it's realistic to grow this fast, and the smartest ways to reprioritize your budgets in the case that reconciliation does not occur.”Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Defense (Murkowski): Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of the Air Force. · Jun 9, 2026
Mitch McConnell
“It's also a recipe for major disruptions in the very possible event that party-line reconciliation fails. The administration's choice to structure an ambitious $1.5 trillion request in this way is yet another missed opportunity to put key aspects of our common defense on a stronger and more enduring fiscal footing.”Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Defense (Murkowski): Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of the Air Force. · Jun 9, 2026
Mitch McConnell
“If fielding the F-35 remains an operational necessity, both for the United States and for our allies, there's really no excuse for not placing it squarely in full-year appropriations.”Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Defense (Murkowski): Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of the Air Force. · Jun 9, 2026
Mitch McConnell
“Also glad to see the fiscal year '27 request begin to address the issue of operational readiness rates by investing more in F-35 spares. But the department will continue to step on its own tail if it insists in housing procurement with new airframes, primarily in one-off reconciliation spending.”Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Defense (Murkowski): Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the Department of the Air Force. · Jun 9, 2026
Speaker B
“I believe we must pass a federal AV framework to harness the safety benefits of this technology, ensure that it is deployed responsibly, and cement U.S. leadership in the development, manufacturing, and deployment on our roads.”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Ian Jeffries
“rail needs a regulatory system to keep pace with innovation. Much of today's regulatory structure was developed 5 decades ago and does not reflect modern technologies or operating practices.”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Ian Jeffries
“when policymakers consider technology, I ask that they take a mode-neutral approach to transportation technology. Advanced tools are reshaping freight movement across not only rail, but trucking, maritime, and logistics writ large. And rail should not be treated differently simply because it's an established industry”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Cole Scandaglia
“One is robust premarket standards at NHTSA, figuring out what has to be on the vehicle to make it safe before it hits the road. The second piece is substantial oversight tools at Federal Motor Carrier Administration to make sure that once there are deployments of these vehicles in a meaningful sense, that Federal Motor Carrier has an idea of how they're functioning and how they're operating”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Laura Chase
“Federal leadership plays a critical role. A clear national approach to transportation technology will provide direction reduce fragmentation, and give public agencies and private partners alike greater confidence to invest. Establishing consistent national frameworks for areas such as automated vehicles, data privacy, and system interoperability can help ensure that innovation is deployed safely and at scale”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Laura Chase
“Atlanta, Georgia has actually the largest current deployment in the country all throughout the metro area and extending now to the Port of Savannah and actually giving freight signal priority, which is been very successful. Maricopa County, Arizona has a large deployment. Salt Lake City in Utah is coordinating with Colorado and Wyoming.”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Cole Scandaglia
“Continuing to permit the unfettered and unregulated operation of autonomous vehicles is a no-win situation for the country. We continue to call Congress to create a binding framework that prioritizes safety, the workforce, and goes beyond weak self-certification regimes.”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Speaker A
“we're often slow at the federal level when it comes to expanding proven technologies past the pilot program stage. So to fully realize the benefits of these innovations, we'll need to provide certainty to the private sector and develop pathways to commercialization”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Speaker A
“autonomous vehicles, or AVs as we call them, a solution to mobility and safety challenges our roadways have faced for decades. AVs will provide mobility for seniors and those with disabilities while increasing the safety of our roads by drastically reducing the number of crashes that are often caused by human error.”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Chris Spear
“Congress should solidify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's role as the primary authority over motor vehicle safety standards. Trucking is a national industry, and vehicle standards must remain national as well. When states or courts impose equipment standards beyond federal law, it creates a fragmented regulatory landscape”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Ian Jeffries
“other agencies in the DOT have embraced performance-based regulations, whether it's FAA, whether it's FHWA, whether it's FTA. The FRA, for some reason, has not, you know, really come around to that concept.”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Laura Chase
“what would happen if we don't have federal leadership is we will continue to see fragmented, uneven deployments across the country that really struggle to deliver the system-wide benefits that we know they can to the American public. On the private sector side, right now you have a situation where the private sector is actually asking for that unified national marketplace.”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Cole Scandaglia
“The Teamsters Union continues to support strong prescriptive regulations where warranted. Innovation, regulation, and the workforce need not be in conflict with each other”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Chris Spear
“Congress should repeal the 12% federal excise tax on heavy-duty trucks, trailers, and tractors. The century-old tax punishes the purchase of the very vehicles that come with the latest technologies. Adding tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of new equipment discourages fleet turnover, keeps older equipment on the road longer.”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Chris Spear
“Trucks are business to business, whereas cars are business to consumer. If you're buying a car, you're going to pick the things that you want on that car. If you don't want things that drive technology, you know, you're going to come up short on that. Businesses to businesses will design systems around moving freight more efficiently, more safely, more environmentally friendly.”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Chris Spear
“Congress should establish and implement a federal framework for autonomous commercial vehicles. These systems hold real promise to enhance safety, improve productivity, and strengthen America's economic competitiveness, but only if deployment is governed by a clear national strategy.”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Laura Chase
“Digital technologies must be treated as core transportation elements. They are fundamental to how the system operates and how it performs, and how it delivers outcomes for the American public.”Senate Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety (Sullivan): Hearings to examine how technological advances are driving transportation innovation. · Jun 9, 2026
Warren
“I am particularly disturbed by Secretary Hegseth's taking unprecedented actions to intervene in military promotions. In DOD's latest list of 22 Navy promotions to become one-star admirals. Zero of these promotions were women, and reporting indicates that the last time the Navy promoted a woman to a one-star role was last June. And Secretary Hegseth reportedly removed the nominations of two women and two Black men from the original promotion list.”Hearings to examine the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027. · Jun 9, 2026
Warren
“It is also unclear why Secretary Hegseth has also now blocked the appointment of 9 Air Force colonels. He has also reportedly delayed the promotion of at least 2 dozen senior Air Force officers, quote, while the Pentagon reviews their ties to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.”Hearings to examine the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027. · Jun 9, 2026
Speaker C
“Neighbors of Lots 5 and 8 provided formal letter of support for the variance. The reviewing agents expressed no objections, and the Chugiak/Eagle River Advisory Board and Chugiak Community Council provided no comments regarding this case. The department found criteria A and C are partially met, and criteria B and D through H are met. Therefore, the department recommends denial of the design variance.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - June 8, 2026 - 2026-06-08 18:30:00 · Jun 8, 2026
Edith McKee
“in the packet, it, it kind of— it says that if we don't grant the variance, then the expectation would be they would have to demolish part of the garage. Yes, demolish portion to get the permit approved, the project approved.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - June 8, 2026 - 2026-06-08 18:30:00 · Jun 8, 2026
Jared Gardner
“we didn't receive any public testimony this evening, but there were 2 letters included with the application from what I take to be neighbors., supporting the requested variance, and as well that there are photos that I think further emphasize both how the property, including the garage, is offset, not easily visible or at all visible maybe from the road, and that when facing both structures, the garage, um, looks much smaller than the house the way that they're oriented.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - June 8, 2026 - 2026-06-08 18:30:00 · Jun 8, 2026
Edith McKee
“One of the conditions if the variance were approved was to construct a driveway that's compliant for fire turnaround. Do you have any concerns about being able to meet that condition if the variance were granted? No, and when I went to close the permit last year, I spoke with a fire department representative and they have already approved what I've done.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - June 8, 2026 - 2026-06-08 18:30:00 · Jun 8, 2026
Speaker C
“This is a request for a design variance from— to allow an accessory garage to exceed the gross floor area of the principal single-family residential residence, 21507 Twin Peaks Drive in Chugiak. The 1,426 square foot detached garage exceeds the gross floor area of the principal residence by 235 feet, an average of 19.7%. The property is zoned CE-R12SL, low-density residential, alpine slope, and is 4.6 acres in size.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - June 8, 2026 - 2026-06-08 18:30:00 · Jun 8, 2026
Andres Spinelli
“the motion will allow lower density, as Commissioner Gardner stated, and that a lot of the drainage plan requirements will be required by the building permit.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - June 8, 2026 - 2026-06-08 18:30:00 · Jun 8, 2026
Jared Gardner
“one of the implications from this rezone with respect to some of the concerns that we heard is that this actually removes an existing minimum requirement for housing density, um, and will allow, um, potentially lower densities on the property than currently required.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - June 8, 2026 - 2026-06-08 18:30:00 · Jun 8, 2026
Jared Gardner
“a lot of the concerns, um, can and should be addressed through the building permit process. Um, not something that really plays into the criteria for the rezone directly.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - June 8, 2026 - 2026-06-08 18:30:00 · Jun 8, 2026
Jonathan Lang
“stormwater runoff from the site onto Santa Maria Drive will be addressed when the proposed residential development is submitted for approval.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - June 8, 2026 - 2026-06-08 18:30:00 · Jun 8, 2026
Edith McKee
“I think due to the significant size of the lot that the, the accessory, the garage, does not dominate the residential lot. I also think it's consistent with the rural lifestyle of the district and does not visually dominate the property. Um, the other criterion, Criterion C, that says the proposed alternative results in a benefit to the community that are equivalent to or better than compliance with subject standard. I feel that this criterion is significantly met and that having an enclosed garage structure so that your recreational equipment, vehicles, and other things that we all like to store in our garages is in an enclosed structure versus open to public view, I think that that is a— it is a betterment and in compliance with the standard.”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - June 8, 2026 - 2026-06-08 18:30:00 · Jun 8, 2026
Jonathan Lang
“The owners intend to develop the property and retain ownership, so they're not going to build it and sell it. And as owners of a greenhouse, they understand, understand landscaping and the importance of natural spaces. It is their intention to landscape the property and to keep it as green as possible”Anchorage Assembly: Planning and Zoning Commission - June 8, 2026 - 2026-06-08 18:30:00 · Jun 8, 2026
Will Stapp
“this amendment basically mirrors what we know to be the contract that Instar already has with the developer based on Instar's testimony. My reservation for this amendment is I just, I don't want to put, uh, this level of detail in state law. I mean, it makes me feel like I'm reaching in and trying to control contract terms”Alaska Legislature: House Finance - June 8, 2026 11:00am · Jun 8, 2026
Alyse Galvin
“When we heard more information from Glenfarn and particularly John Sims from NSTAR, it kind of helped us better articulate to our constituents what they have been wanting to hear, and that is due to cost overruns or other things unknowns, we weren't able to put into on paper that sense of security”Alaska Legislature: House Finance - June 8, 2026 11:00am · Jun 8, 2026
Calvin Schrage
“what it does do is it protects ratepayers from higher natural gas prices while not interfering with the viability of this project. And that is the goal, is to make sure that we are continuing to move towards a place where this project is economically viable and can has a real realistic chance of moving forward while ensuring that ratepayers are protected”Alaska Legislature: House Finance - June 8, 2026 11:00am · Jun 8, 2026
Sara Hannan
“we are going to have two tranches or two streams of the mitigation or in this case it is the AVT once it's being executed and that being distributed out via the community assistance formula versus impact aid.”Alaska Legislature: House Finance - June 8, 2026 11:00am · Jun 8, 2026
Neal Foster
“I remove my objection. Seeing no further objection, Amendment Number 9 has been adopted.”Alaska Legislature: House Finance - June 8, 2026 11:00am · Jun 8, 2026
Neal Foster
“6 Yay, 5 nay. So on a vote of 6 yay to 5 nay, Amendment Number 14, as amended by Conceptual Amendments Number 1 and 2, has been adopted”Alaska Legislature: House Finance - June 8, 2026 11:00am · Jun 8, 2026
Calvin Schrage
“without that contract being signed, this is the only way that today any of us can go back to voters and a guarantee to them that they will not be paying a higher price of gas as a result of this project. Ideally, we'd have a signed contract. We would know definitively that Alaskans would not be paying more than $16 per MMBtu”Alaska Legislature: House Finance - June 8, 2026 11:00am · Jun 8, 2026
Luke Saugier
“we estimate the cost to sell Phase 1 gas into a pipeline would be, we think, less than $50 million”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 8, 2026 1:30pm · Jun 8, 2026
Luke Saugier
“Hill Corp has had internal discussions about how far through the value chain we want to own the gas. And the conclusion that we came to is we want our ownership to stop at the lease line.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 8, 2026 1:30pm · Jun 8, 2026
Todd Griffith
“as announced by Glenfarn earlier this year, ExxonMobil and Glenfarn have agreed to a gas sale precedent agreement for the Alaska LNG Phase 1 project. And while we have a confidentiality agreement and cannot comment on specific gas sale terms, I can confirm that the precedent agreement addresses both gas price and volumes.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 8, 2026 1:30pm · Jun 8, 2026
Luke Saugier
“North Star is one of the fields where we have a signed gas sale precedent agreement with Glenfarn to supply gas for Phase 1.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 8, 2026 1:30pm · Jun 8, 2026