U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) released the following statement today on reports of the federal indictment of former President Trump:
As I previously stated: The worst thing for our country is for Americans to start to believe that the Justice Department and FBI provide two tiers of justice, and that the indictment of a former president and current candidate for the White House is unprecedented and will almost certainly do lasting damage to our polarized nation.
The American people know that for years Joe Biden stored classified documents in his garage and that Hillary Clinton mishandled classified emails stored on her private server in her home. But with this Justice Department there seems to be far more interest in pursuing former President Trump – President Biden’s chief political rival – than others.
Equality before the law is a fundamental tenet of our republic. The Biden administration is shoving our country into dangerous territory that is eroding trust in critical institutions of our government.
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan
Washington, D.C.
Murkowski Statement on DOJ Indictment of Former President Trump
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) issued the following statement on the 37-count federal indictment unsealed today against former President Donald Trump:
As I’ve stated before, no one is above the law but every American is innocent until proven guilty. Still, the charges in this case are quite serious and cannot be casually dismissed. Mishandling classified documents is a federal crime because it can expose national secrets, as well as the sources and methods they were obtained through. The unlawful retention and obstruction of justice related to classified documents are also criminal matters. Anyone found guilty – whether an analyst, a former president, or another elected or appointed official – should face the same set of consequences.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski
Washington, D.C.
Celebrate Alaska Invasive Species Awareness Week
The Alaska Invasive Species Partnership (AKISP) invites all Alaskans and visitors to celebrate Alaska Invasive Species Awareness Week on June 11th-17th, 2023. This week is designated by an Executive Proclamation issued by Governor Dunleavy and celebrates the work that is being done to keep Alaska wild and free of invasive species.
An invasive species is any living thing that is not native to a particular place and causes harm to the environment, economy, and/or human health in the place it has been introduced to. Despite its remote location, Alaska is confronted by a growing number of terrestrial and aquatic invasive species. Early detection and rapid response are critical tools for preventing spread and negative impacts of invasive species in Alaska.
Collaborative efforts are currently underway at the Alcan Port of Entry to minimize the risk of aquatic invasive species being introduced to Alaska waters via transportation of watercraft from infested water bodies in the lower 48 and Canada.
Last summer at the watercraft inspection and decontamination station operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 50% of the vessels inspected had previously launched in water bodies outside of Alaska known to be infested with zebra or quagga (also known as dreissenid) mussels. To date, dreissenid mussels have not been detected in Alaska, which is great because they are extremely detrimental ecologically and economically in states and provinces where they are established.
In the Great Lakes region alone, zebra mussels have caused $300-$500 million in damages to power plants and water systems.
Invasive species are constantly on the move and coordinated survey efforts are necessary to monitor for new threats. The most recent invader to Alaska is European green crab (EGC), first detected in Annette Islands Reserve by staff from Metlakatla Indian Community and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in July 2022.
EGC is known worldwide as a notorious marine invasive species because it can feed on mussels, oysters, clams, native crabs, and juvenile salmon. EGC destroys nearshore habitats that are important to native marine species.
Metlakatla Indian Community is engaged in reducing EGC populations and has collaborated with other AKISP partners to provide training for new monitors. Community-based early detection monitoring efforts are ongoing across coastal Alaska to detect new invasions and raise awareness to prevent EGC from becoming established and spreading further.
During Alaska Invasive Species Awareness week, the AKISP will be promoting popular nationwide educational campaigns, including: “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Clean Drain Dry”, “PlayCleanGo”, “Buy It Where You Burn It”, and “Don’t Let It Loose”. These messages are relevant to both Alaskans and visitors to the state.
In addition to these awareness campaigns, the AKISP will be highlighting invasive species reporting tools. Anybody in Alaska can report an invasive species by calling 1-877-INVASIV (468-2748) or by using the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Online Reporter. There are a number of invasive species identification and reporting apps available as well, such as the Alaska Invasives ID app.
The AKISP partner agencies and organizations will be hosting local events during Alaska Invasive Species Awareness Week to help raise awareness and encourage the public to report invasive species. The AKISP will be promoting these local events while conducting a week-long social media campaign in an effort to share awareness messages both online and in communities across the state.
You can find more information by following the AKISP Facebook Page, by signing up for the AKISP listserv, or by visiting the AKISP website. You can continue to stay engaged with invasive species topics by attending the statewide Alaska Invasive Species Workshop in Sitka on Nov. 7th-9th, 2023.
The Alaska Invasive Species Partnership
