Murkowski announces investments for YK Delta in six-bill appropriations package including funding for YKHC Employee Housing.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, announced big wins for the YK Delta within H.R. 4366, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024. The measure combines six of Congress’ 12 funding bills for Fiscal Year (2024) and passed the Senate through a bipartisan vote of 75-22.
“After months of unnecessary delay, Congress has finally taken a big step by passing six of our 12 appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2024 on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis. Considering the vast size of our state and limited infrastructure, the significant investments I have included in these measures are well-justified and much-needed,” Murkowski said. “From programmatic wins to congressionally directed spending projects, the funding I have secured is the direct result of working together with Alaskans from across the state to address the needs of their communities. This package invests in our military while enabling us respond to workforce shortages, food insecurity, clean drinking water needs, the housing crunch, the high cost of energy, crises in our fisheries, and more.”
“When the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation came to my office, they reiterated that the housing shortage has been one of their biggest challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. I was able to secure $3 million in investment that will go towards building a multi-family housing facility of at least 111 units. YKHC’s mission of providing services to nearly 30,000 Alaskans in the region is too great to be impacted by lack of housing options for our frontline medical staffers.”
Alaskans have expressed their appreciation for Senator Murkowski’s work to deliver these strategically targeted investments.
“The City of Bethel is deeply grateful to Senator Murkowski and her staff for their efforts in securing 5.01 million dollars in federal funding to clean up Steamboat Slough, a portion of the Kuskokwim River near Bethel that has long been a dumping ground for derelict vessels,” said Lori Strickler, City Clerk, MMC, City of Bethel. “These vessels are an ongoing safety hazard, and many have been left to rot for decades. The vessels must be removed to prevent health and environmental hazards to the community, ecosystem, and area residents. Removal of derelict vessels will ensure safe river navigation and minimize risk of collision with sunken barges and other associated hazards. Thank you again to Senator Murkowski for procuring this critical funding for the City.”
“The Denali Commission is pleased to have the opportunity to tackle waste and contamination removal from small, isolated communities in Alaska,” said Jocelyn Fenton, Interim Federal Co-Chair, Denali Commission. “This funding will allow communities to address the risk posed by waste to the environment and human health and promote community aesthetics. We thank Senator Murkowski for her commitment to funding waste management.”
“AML is grateful for Sen. Murkowski’s continued support and excited to serve local governments in this new and innovative way, addressing on-the-ground needs through a bundled approach benefiting multiple communities,” said Nils Andreassen, Executive Director of Alaska Municipal League.
FY24 Six-Bill Appropriations Package Highlights for the YK Delta:
Investing in Infrastructure
Murkowski included significant funding for infrastructure projects that will help build out and modernize roads, bridges, ports, and airport projects across Alaska. This includes $345 million for transportation infrastructure through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, $18 million for the Denali Commission’s waterfront and surface transportation program (Denali Access Program), and protecting funding for the Essential Air Service for essential air routes in the state from being cut.
Murkowski also secured the following CDS requests to strengthen infrastructure and provide investments to projects in rural communities in the bill:
•Yukon-Kuskokwim Region: $1.60 million to identify and analyze the feasibility of energy needs for all Yukon-Kuskokwim Regional Tribes.
•Bethel: $5.01 million for a project to remove the numerous derelict vessels found at Steamboat Slough to prevent public and environmental health risks.
•Hooper Bay: $5 million for the Native Village of Hooper Bay to construct a road and barge landing.
•Hooper Bay: $1.5 million for the Native Village of Hooper Bay for waste collection and landfill improvements.
•Statewide: $4 million for the Alaska Municipal League for heavy equipment to support rural maintenance needs. This will help six communities, including Hooper Bay, Houston, Sand Point, Yakutat, Haines, and Delta Junction, meet their road maintenance needs and manage rural landfills.
•Mekoryuk: $5.6 million to provide first time running water and wastewater collection.
•Chefornak: $6.4 million to provide first time running water and wastewater collection.
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