U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), in a virtual address to the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) annual convention on Friday, spoke to the strength and connection of family and cultural ties within Alaska Native communities and the value of using this unity to address vital topics and celebrate successes. Senator Sullivan is currently traveling to the Middle East with a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues to show solidarity and support for Israel and to ensure there is common interest among America’s partners in preserving the stability, security, and prosperity in the Middle East.
“While we all live in different parts of the state, come from different areas, different backgrounds, there are really strong ties that bind all of us,” Senator Sullivan said. “When we’re all working together, it’s amazing. Unlimited, in my view, is the amount of things that we can get done for our Native communities, for our state, and for our country.”
Senator Sullivan discussed his focus on reviving healthy salmon runs in Alaska and the passage of his Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act; his work to address the lack of affordable housing in rural Alaska and to increase broadband connectivity throughout the state and the vital role of responsible resource development for better health outcomes and life expectancy. Sullivan also stressed the importance of urging federal officials attending AFN—including Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland— to stop delaying the issuance of Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans land allotments—only 14 out of 2500 have been granted during the Biden administration. He also urged the members of AFN to demand consultation from the federal officials attending AFN.