The upper chamber of the United States Congress — 100 senators, two per state, six-year terms. Confirms federal judges and senior executive appointments, ratifies treaties, and shares legislative authority with the House of Representatives. Alaska's senators are Lisa Murkowski (R) and Dan Sullivan (R).
U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC 20510
Video Clips
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Patty Murray
“it is my intention to rip Trump's budget up and write a new one.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“I'm very concerned by the actions by this administration that have demoralized a lot of our VA research staff and created instability in research funding and really put up barriers that has slowed the research process. On the very first day of the Trump administration, all VA research staff became subject to a hiring freeze.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“the president's budget proposes a substantial reduction to VA's research program, not only through cuts to dedicated research appropriations, but also through reduced support from medical care accounts and lower projected reimbursements that many of our research programs rely on. Those reductions raise very serious concern about VA's ability to sustain its ongoing research and continue developing new innovations that improve our veterans' care.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“I just want to emphasize what I made— comment I made in the opening remark about the pending OMB rule that would really undermine our current system and allow— take away decision-making power from our experienced scientists and just allow political appointees, whether this administration or into the future, decide where research is going to go. That is really concerning to VA researchers. We need decisions based on science, not based on somebody's mad at somebody or political decision in any administration.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“a planned study on RSV missed its enrollment window and could not even enroll participants. Another clinical trial closed after it took 6 months to hire a researcher. The study's principal investigator and its lead clinician both resigned from the VA after that debacle.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“research at the Pittsburgh VA to predict stroke risk was put on hold. Enrollment into clinical trials for advanced cancer was delayed, and a clinical trial in Florida on preventing dementia and heart disease was canceled.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Murkowski votes no on reconciliation bill; Sullivan votes yes
Alaska's two Republican senators split on final passage of a Senate reconciliation bill Thursday. The measure passed 52-47 and now moves to the House.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min read
Senate passes immigration enforcement bill 52-47, splitting Alaska delegation
The U.S. Senate passed a Republican immigration enforcement bill 52-47, advancing billions for border security and ICE operations. Alaska's senators split on final passage but both backed failed efforts to restrict Justice Department settlement payments.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Sullivan: Russia flooding markets to drive down Alaska fish prices
Sen. Sullivan says Russia has publicly declared economic war on Alaska fishermen by flooding markets with subsidized seafood. A Senate hearing Tuesday examined how the expanded import ban is affecting Alaska harvesters.
by Alaska Newsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Alaska VA tech rollout faces staffing questions ahead of October launch
Gary Shatswell told senators he lacks details on the skills lost when 1,300 IT employees left the VA before he arrived. He offered no plan to restore the positions.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Senate panel hears testimony on bill to ban youth gender care
A Senate committee heard conflicting testimony on federal legislation to ban hormone therapies and surgeries for minors with gender dysphoria. A detransitioner and medical professionals presented opposing views on the evidence base for such care.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Federal highway chief commits to King Cove Road action
Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster told the Senate he will push the King Cove Road forward and visit Alaska in late June. The project has faced decades of environmental review over its route through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Second Dan Sullivan files for Alaska U.S. Senate race
A Petersburg resident named Dan Sullivan has filed to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan in Alaska's 2026 Senate race. Social-media posts confirm this is the third Dan Sullivan in Alaska politics.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min readSullivan raises $2.1M in Q1, lands labor and Native-corporation endorsements
Senator Dan Sullivan's campaign reports $7.5 million cash-on-hand after raising $2.1 million in Q1 2026, while securing endorsements from Alaska Teamsters Local 959, Alaska District Council of Laborers, United Fishermen of Alaska, and the ANCSA Regional Association representing 135,000 Alaska Native shareholders.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min read
Challenger named Dan Sullivan files against Senator Dan Sullivan
A candidate with the same name as incumbent U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan has filed to challenge him, creating potential voter confusion on Alaska's 2026 federal ballot.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago1 min read
Alaska's filing deadline turned the 2026 election from rumor into a real race
Alaska's 2026 election filing deadline produced a 17-ticket governor's race, crowded federal contests including Mary Peltola's shift to the Senate race, and several competitive state House rematches and open seats.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
Challenger named Dan Sullivan files for U.S. Senate race against incumbent Dan Sullivan
A second candidate legally named Dan Sullivan has filed against incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, creating the first major test of Alaska's top-four primary and ranked-choice voting system's ability to handle potential voter confusion tactics. This is a concrete, verifiable filing with statewide implications that legacy outlets may be avoiding due to partisan framing.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Anchorage health facility secures federal approval for land transfer to expand services
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs unanimously approved eight bills Wednesday benefiting tribes in Massachusetts, Washington, Alaska, and California, even as members sharply criticized the administration's proposed budget cuts to tribal programs.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
IHS proposes $93M sanitation cut as Alaska Native villages face sanitation gaps
The Indian Health Service proposed cutting sanitation facilities construction funding by $93 million below fiscal year 2026 levels Wednesday, citing a need to prioritize direct patient care over infrastructure, while over 2,000 water and sanitation projects remain unfunded across Indian Country.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
VA budget seeks $488 billion with 60,000 Alaska veterans facing shift toward private care
The VA's fiscal 2027 budget requests $17 billion more for community care in 2028 while holding direct-care spending nearly flat, prompting senators to question whether the department is abandoning its own hospitals.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
FBI steps up Alaska security task force, adds agents to state
Murkowski questioned federal law enforcement officials about missing Indigenous people, northern-border drug trafficking and Alaska detention capacity.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Murkowski presses federal law enforcement on Alaska trafficking, missing Indigenous people
Sen. Lisa Murkowski questioned federal law enforcement officials about missing and murdered Indigenous people, northern-border drug trafficking and Alaska's lack of a federal detention facility during a Senate budget hearing.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago3 min read