Video Clips
Quoted moments from Alaska public meetings, hearings, and press conferences.
Clips from U.S. SenateClear
1:02
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
0:54
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
0:37
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
0:40
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
0:27
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
0:29
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
0:46
General Saltzman
“the FY27 budget boosts our top line by 130% and our end strength by 27%.”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
0:41
Troy Meink
“Across the fight, about 60% of that 30,000-plus weapons are coming from there, so that That tells you the level of investment, 60% of the weapons going forward across the fight.”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
0:35
Kenneth Wilsbach
“the F-35 has performed marvelously in Epic Fury. And you're right, the aircraft availability averages out over the course of time at about 50%, but of the jets that we actually had forward performed much, much greater than that.”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
0:40
Chris Coons
“it is also demonstrably the case these current operations and recent operations have strained readiness, sharply reduced important munitions inventories, and weakened our hand to respond to tomorrow's threats.”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
0:49
Chris Coons
“the administration has at times, um, talked in competing ways, with one breath insisting our current operational tempo is risk-free, and in the next requesting billions for additional vital munitions.”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
0:56
Chris Coons
“The request places critical resources, multi-year munitions procurements, spare parts for the F-35 program, key missile defense space programs into a reconciliation package that I doubt will ever be enacted.”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
0:29
Chris Coons
“The Department of the Air Force is requesting nearly $100 billion in the defense discretionary budget, from $257 enacted to $351 billion that we're evaluating here today.”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
0:43
Troy Meink
“The DAF's lean budget over the years has also resulted in a $50 billion facilities maintenance backlog.”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
0:43
Kenneth Wilsbach
“Weapon systems sustainment funding increased to over $24 billion and flying hours to nearly 10 billion.”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
0:46
General Saltzman
“the FY27 budget landmark investment of $71.1 billion for the Space Force represents a generational opportunity to position the force to meet the rapidly expanding threats and demands of the nation.”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
0:41
Troy Meink
“this budget leverages existing commercial production capacity and takes full advantage of multiyear procurement for our most critical munitions, totaling 39,000 weapons of all types by FY '33.”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
0:17
Mitch McConnell
“I think it's safe to conclude there will not be another reconciliation bill. So it's really not an option.”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
0:18
Troy Meink
“It is the appropriate amount of money to, to build the KC-46s. Essentially, Senator, it's the max rate that Boeing's able to produce the aircraft.”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
1:01
Kenneth Wilsbach
“What that tells us is that when you prioritize the funding for the parts and the weapon system sustainment, the jet flies really well. And that's why in this budget we have $24 billion for weapon system sustainment and $10 billion for flying hours and $4.5 billion for the working capital fund, which funds the necessary parts and weapon system sustainment. A large portion of that is for F-35”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
0:56
Mitch McConnell
“Core pieces of the President's defense agenda, like multiyear procurement contracts for critical munitions, Half of the F-35 program, Golden Dome, and DROME dominance initiatives are all requested as a one-off reconciliation spending, not a full year base 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
0:42
Troy Meink
“Without a reconciliation and a year-long CR that keeps us at the $890-ish total, that would have significant impacts on our readiness. A lot of the investments we've just been talking about to meet the the unmanned vehicles, as well as, you know, the increased readiness for weapons systems to increase the F-35 readiness, as well as the munitions procurement. All that is substantially impacted if we stayed at 890 without a reconciliation or other mechanism.”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
0:41
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
0:47
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
0:50
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
0:55
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
0:51
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
0:52
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
1:07
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
0:38
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
0:40
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
0:33
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
0:37
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
0:46
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
0:48
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
0:22
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
0:31
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
0:57
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
0:37
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
0:43
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
0:57
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
0:30
Lisa Murkowski
“S. 630, the Quapaw Tribal Settlement act, sponsored by our former colleague, Mark Wayne Mullen, would implement a $137.5 million U.S. court of Claims recommended settlement between the United States and the Quapaw Nation.”Senate Indian Affairs (Murkowski): Hearings to examine S.630, to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to make payments to the Quapaw Nation and certain members of the Quapaw Nation in accordance with the recommendation of the United States Court of Federal Claims, S.1514/H.R.2389, to take certain land in the State of Washington into trust for the benefit of the Quinault Indian Nation, S.2796, to provide for a land exchange in San Bernardino County, California, S.2871/H.R.2400, to take certain Federal land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pit River Tribe, S.3219, to transfer certain Federal land into trust for certain Indian Pueblos in the State of New Mexico, and S.3475/H.R.2916, to authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York. · Jun 3, 2026
1:07
Speaker A
“more than $8 billion of the $10.9 billion increase for healthcare services in FY '27 is for community care. The difference is even more significant in the department's FY28 advance request, with the VA asking for a $17 billion increase in community care and near stagnant levels for direct care.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027 and 2028 advance appropriations requests for the Department of Veterans Affairs. · May 20, 2026
0:19
Speaker B
“You cannot go straight to community care as a veteran. That's just false. You can't just— I can't tomorrow just decide to go to community care.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027 and 2028 advance appropriations requests for the Department of Veterans Affairs. · May 20, 2026
0:30
Speaker A
“Secretary Tell, you, you just moved $1.4 billion out of other fund, out of other projects to the Everglades?”Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development (Murkowski): Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. · May 20, 2026
0:13
Speaker A
“I don't believe you did this alone, Mr. Secretary. I think somebody told you to do it.”Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development (Murkowski): Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. · May 20, 2026
0:17
Speaker A
“Did I understand you to say earlier that the Corps doesn't understand— doesn't know how many total projects you have?”Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development (Murkowski): Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2027 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. · May 20, 2026