Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and ranking member of the subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, announced that she was including $491 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to support more than 130 projects throughout the state. The investments focused on workforce development, housing, healthcare, water and wastewater infrastructure, community safety, fisheries research, wildfire mitigation and response, working waterfronts, and Alaska’s military members and their families.
The directed spending went for several notable projects across the Kenai Peninsula:
- Kenai: $4.7 million to construct a new Kenai Boys and Girls Club clubhouse.
- Kenai: $1 million to the Alaska Children’s Institute for rebuilding a community theater in Kenai.
- Kenai: $875,000 to the Alaska Electric & Energy Cooperative, Inc. for the installation of a combined heat and power project at the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Central Peninsula Landfill.
- Kenai: $2.9 million for the safe disposal of wastewater in Kenai.
- Kenai: $1.5 million to implement the Kenai Peninsula Borough Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
- Soldotna: $680,000 for a wastewater treatment plant.
- Soldotna: $320,000 to improve wastewater effluent before discharge to the Kenai River.
- Soldotna: $960,000 for upgrades to upgrade equipment used to dewater treated solids at the Soldotna Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- Homer: $300,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct the feasibility study for the proposed large vessel harbor expansion in Homer.
- Homer: $633,000 to the Seldovia Village Tribe to expand the Homer Health Center.
- Seward: $2 million for the safe disposal of wastewater.
- Seward: $5 million to expand the Seward Community Health Center.
- Seldovia: $746,000 for a sewer line replacement.
- Seldovia: $414,000 for safe drinking water.
- Girdwood: $1.6 million to replace the Ruane Road culvert in Girdwood.
- Girdwood: $2.5 million for a sewer access project, for the safe disposal of wastewater in Girdwood.
Sen. Murkowski said that the process gives Alaskans an ability to have a voice in the federal budget decisions by helping identify and address needs in the state:
“Alaskans have asked me for help in addressing their community priorities, and in my position on the Appropriations Committee, I successfully advocated for them. I’m proud to have included in these draft bills such a significant investment that will be spread across our state.
“Alaskans have asked for my help in addressing workforce shortages, food insecurity, and lack of housing. To support Anchorage’s police force, the Alaska State Troopers, and the readiness of our military. To enable the expansion of the port in Dutch Harbor, a significant study of the proposed Alaska Gasline, and the construction of new backcountry trails. And I was able to include funding for each of those priorities.
“In addition, I’ve worked with local leaders to include funding to mitigate the threat of wildfires, remediate contaminated ANCSA lands, and provide safe and clean drinking and wastewater systems. Multiple projects will reduce the cost and increase accessibility to healthcare and childcare. And I continue to prioritize some of the most vulnerable, yet resilient, Alaskans by funding projects for victims of domestic violence, to house those experiencing homelessness, and to support the Alaska Native Justice Center.
“It is important to remember that this is just one step in the year-long appropriations process. The Committee leadership must still come together to agree on the process for moving all 12 Appropriations bills, so that we can continue our essential work to fund the federal government for the next fiscal year.”
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