Sen. Dan Sullivan delivers his annual address to a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature. He talks about rebuilding the military and Coast Guard, praises his time working with the Trump Administration in opening ANWR and resource development projects, providing access to federal lands, and praises Alaska’s dedicated healthcare workforce.
Sullivan targets the Biden Administration, stating that they are dismantling the progress the Trump Administration made in Alaska, “The new Biden Administration has already issued 8 executive orders and actions targeting Alaska’s economy, jobs and our way of life. This is not surprising. We knew this anti-Alaska agenda was coming. If the national Democratic Party took control of the White House, the Senate and the House, Alaska is always the gift that National Democratic administrations give their extreme, radical, environmental supporters. This anti-Alaska agenda is wrong, wrong for our working families, wrong for our economy, wrong for the environment and certainly wrong for our nation’s economic and national security.”
Sullivan praised the U.S. Coast Guard receiving more cutters and reiterated his call for icebreakers to the arctic in hopes of the state being able to do heavy maintenance and shipbuilding throughout parts of Alaska. He also said Alaska is increasing its U.S. military presence, citing national security, “Another victory was the recent announcement by the U.S. Air Force for four more KC 135 tankers to be home based in Alaska with an additional 220 airmen and their families. You combine this increase with the 105th generation fighters that are coming to our state by the end of next year, that’s F-35s and F-22s, no place on the planet has that kind of firepower for the Air Force. Our state is truly becoming one of the most important centers for air combat power anywhere in the world.”
Since the 32nd Alaska Legislature met in January, Sullivan’s address marked the first time the House and Senate met in a joint session.
Audio courtesy of KTOO 360TV.