By APE Staff
April 8, 2022
Senator Joe Manchin praises Senator Lisa Murkowski on energy and Arctic policy leadership
As over 600 policymakers, advocates, dignitaries, and diplomats launch the 2022 Arctic Encounter Symposium in Anchorage, Alaska, at center-stage stand West Virginia U.S. Senator Joe Manchin and Alaska’s senior federal delegation member, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski.
Particularly over the last decade, Arctic policy has gained the attention of the global community as sea ice melts and Democracy-hostile nations like China and Russia inch their way into the region with intent to assert jurisdiction claims. Along with Antarctica, deep space, and our oceans, Arctic ecosystems and geography are one of the few remaining frontiers of discovery. National defense concerns along with resource development opportunities, deep-water ports, and supply-chain routes are foundational topics on the Symposium agenda.
Alaska is the only Arctic state in the U.S. so its nexus to international policy is inextricable.
When asked about the importance of Arctic policy to the U.S. on the Tom Anderson Show, Senator Manchin noted the connection he has with Senator Murkowski. “I’m now Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resource Committee which Lisa has been the chair of quite a few times,” said Manchin. “She was the chair two years ago and I was the ranking member as a Democrat, and she was the Republican chair because they were the Majority. When the Democrats were the Majority, I became the chair. And together we have done so much and worked in a bi-partisan, unbelievable way, that got things accomplished.”
When asked about the importance of this year’s Arctic symposium, Murkowski noted the robust attendance as an indicator of the event’s impact. “All you need to do is look at what is happening at the Dena’ina Center this morning with the level of interest, not only around the country – this is not just a state event – this is an international event that is convening here (in Alaska), and the level of interest about the Arctic and all that is going on – this is something that I have been singing from the roof tops for years now,” she said.
Heather Reams, President of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), is a participant of the Symposium. Reams and her organization have been making the case for Republican leadership on clean and renewable energy, particularly in areas of critical mineral development, streamlining permitting, and efforts to pursue market-based innovation rather than top-down harmful policies that eliminate certain industries.
“We’ll be talking about solutions to address a rapidly changing Arctic, and really how the Arctic region can be key to solving some of these very complex problems which is one of the reasons I’m here,” notes Reams. “(The Arctic) has the oil and gas, but it also has so much in terms of renewable energy. The minerals that are needed to fuel this energy transition, and also, just a fragile environment. If anyone thinks Alaskans don’t want to protect the environment, they’re dead wrong. I think this state is so sensitive to the balance that is needed to move forward the economy, make sure there’s energy independence, but also protecting the environment – and that’s one of the reasons why CRES loves Lisa Murkowski. She talks so much about this balance that’s been so well done in the state.”
While Arctic innovation is the week’s dialogue in Alaska, the carnage of the Russian-Ukrainian war in Europe weighs heavy on American policymakers’ minds. In response to a national call for sanctions against Russia, on March 3, 2022, Senators Murkowski and Manchin introduced S. 3757, the Ban Russian Energy Imports Act, to prohibit the importation of Russian crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, and coal. Their bill, which has 37 bipartisan cosponsors, is widely credited with prompting President Biden to issue an executive order to block Russian energy imports on March 8, 2022.
In a March 7th press release, Murkowski’s office highlighted the Senate’s passage of two measures to impose additional penalties on Russia. The first measure, H.R. 6968, imposes a legislative ban on Russian energy imports and contains language crafted in part by Murkowski to expedite its implementation. The second measure, H.R. 7108, suspends permanent normal trade relations (PNTR), a key benefit of World Trade Organization membership, for Russia and Belarus.
“Congress remains united in our support for Ukraine, and we will hold the Russian regime accountable for the devastation, atrocities, and war crimes it has committed. As part of that, I’m grateful to Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Crapo of the Finance Committee for working with Senator Manchin and me to reinforce and tighten the language of the Russian energy import ban,” praised Murkowski. “Now, President Biden needs to step up and remove his Administration’s sanctions on resource projects in Alaska. There is no question that Alaska can and would do more to produce the energy and minerals that America and the world need, if only the administration would partner with us instead of blocking us at every turn. If there was ever a time for the President to look in the mirror and bring his policies back to reality, it is right now.”
In his interview on the Tom Anderson Show, when asked about his respect for Senator Murkowski, Senator Manchin sung high praises. “I’ve been there for 11 years now in the Senate. I was the Governor, a two-term Governor before. I was Secretary of State in my state before. I was a State Senator and in the House of Representatives, so I’ve been in all different aspects of the government. I’ve never had a colleague – as Lisa Murkowski has been with me – that’s willing to meet me in the middle every time. To find the middle, not to defend the position. Not to say, ‘Well this is my position, I’m sorry – you’re going to have to agree with me or we just can’t come to an agreement!’”
Manchin added, “I have never in my experience of over 40 years being in the political arena found anybody that would always say ‘Let’s see if we can make this work, Joe. Let’s see what we can find out. How do we make it better? Who all can we bring on board? And then basically let the facts take us where it goes.’ She’s the best of the best and I’m just saying, Alaska – and I mean this – Alaska is very, very fortunate to have a Lisa Murkowski with her knowledge, background, and her common-sense approach of working together for the betterment of our country.”
