 |
October 28, 2009
Washington D.C.
Weekly Senate Floor
Speeches on Health Reform:
Women's Health Care Reform
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. (EDT)
Sen. Begich leads Senators in remarks on women's health care reform*
CSPAN 2
Watch Live
|
| |
October 29, 2009
Valdez/D.C.
"Coffee Break"
KCHU Valdez Radio
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. (Alaska)
770 AM KCHU Radio
Listen Live
|
| |
November 13, 2009
internship Deadline
Deadline for Interns to Apply for Spring Internships
Apply Online
|
|
October 26, 2009
|
Thanks, AFN. Another Great Convention!
AFN President Julie Kitka presented Sen. Begich with a pair of "work gloves" after his speech Saturday to the AFN Convention in Anchorage.
I am just back from a long weekend in Anchorage where I had many great opportunities to connect with Alaskans at the 2009 Alaska Federation of Natives Conference. I attended Quyana Night and the banquet, spoke to the convention Saturday afternoon, held a roundtable with officials from USDA, HUD, and the Department of Interior, and participated in a series of other meetings. From the thousands of people at the Dena'ina Center and throughout downtown, along with busy transactions at the Native crafts sale, it was an incredibly successful convention. There was meaningful discussion about subsistence, energy issues, the need for more infrastructure and water and sewer improvements in rural Alaska and more. I was also pleased to announce the White House has cleared the nomination of Joel Neimeyer as the new federal co-chair of the Denali Commission. Once through the formalities of appointment, Joel will be the first Alaska Native to head the commission. As always, the AFN Convention was a unique opportunity to connect with old friends, make new ones, and discuss the many important issues facing our state.
Sincerely,
Senator Mark Begich
|
| |
Defense Authorization Act Delivers for Alaska
Sen. Begich with former Alaska Territorial Guard member Paul Kiunya Sr. of Kipnuk. The two met Saturday at the AFN Convention in Anchorage.
With several key provisions and projects that will benefit Alaska, Sen. Begich last week praised the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. The legislation solidifies several critical initiatives sponsored by Begich, a member of the Armed Services Committee, and provides greatly increased benefits for soldiers, families, and communities in Alaska, while ensuring a strong national defense posture. Some of the key items for Alaska include restoration of retirement payments for the two dozen surviving members of the Alaska Territorial Guard who served the country during World War II; a change in compensation for federal workers allowing them to achieve equity with the way their counterparts are paid in the Lower 48; an overall 3.4% increase in salary for all members of the military; no increases in TRICARE copayments for inpatient hospital services for one year; improvements in Alaska's missile defense system at Fort Greely, and millions of dollars worth of military construction projects in Alaska.
|
| |
Success of Housing Program Highlighted in the Mat-Su Valley
Sen. Begich and USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager talk to Tabitha Stevenson. Stevenson is helping to build her own home in Palmer as part of the USDA's Self Help Housing program.
Sen. Begich traveled with Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager to Palmer and Wasilla, visiting with families who have built or are currently building their own homes through the USDA's "Self Help" Housing program. Under the program, families spend up to a year under the guidance of a non-profit, the Alaska Community Development Corporation, building their own homes. After completion, their work becomes their "sweat equity." The non-profit is funded by a grant from USDA. The home buyers reported a great sense of satisfaction in helping to build their own homes and credited the Self Help program as the only way they'd ever be able to own their own home.
|
| |
Begich Discusses Link Between Health Care Reform and Economic Recovery on Senate Floor
On October 21, 2009, Sen. Begich joined colleagues delivering a weekly speech on the need for health care reform. In a general discussion of health care reform and ties to economic recovery, Begich said while there are signs the economy is turning around, there is still more work to do and progress to be made.
|
| |
Begich Praises DOD Decision on Stop Loss Pay - Service Members Eligible for Additional Pay
The Department of Defense (DOD) has agreed to provide Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay to service members who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009. The decision means up to 180,000 soldiers are eligible to receive payments of $500 for each month they were retained on active duty beyond their original enlistment term. Those eligible for the retroactive Stop Loss special payments have from now until Oct. 21, 2010, to submit their applications to their respective services. Service members must provide documented proof they were Stop Lossed with their claim. Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim.
For additional information service member may contact the following outlets:
Air Force: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss
Army: https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil
Marine Corps: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss
Navy: Send Email To - NXAG_N132C@navy.mil
|
| |
Sen. Begich Visits Fairbanks
On October 10, Sen. Begich attended the Annual Catholic School Social Hour in Fairbanks. Pictured are Bishop Donald Kettler of Fairbanks (left) and the Archbishop Roger Schwietz of Anchorage (middle).
|
| |
Spring Internships
Sen. Begich is currently taking applications for his 2010 Spring Internship Program. Motivated young Alaskans interested in working in any of Begich's office should apply on-line by Nov. 13.
To view the instructions for applying, please click here.
|
| |
Video Conference Meetings
Sen. Begich is now holding twice-monthly video conference meetings with Alaskans through his Alaska field offices.
For more information, call Susanne Fleek at (907) 271-5915.
|
Sign up for the newsletter here:
http://begich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Signup
To unsubscribe at any time goto:
http://begich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Signoff
|
|
