By Sentinel Staff
Alaska’s Republican U.S. Senators and the headquarters of the Tongass National Forest in Ketchikan issued statements over the weekend about the 35-day partial government shutdown that ended with the signature of President Trump on the authorizing legislation.
“I’m glad that those good, dedicated, hardworking federal employees that have either been furloughed or who have been working without pay for now 35 days will be able to get back to work and that they will be able to receive the compensation they deserve,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
“This has been a harsh and a difficult time, and it has been particularly painful coming from a state where we are feeling the direct impacts of this partial shutdown, perhaps more so than any other state out there. The stories of Coast Guard families, federal employees, and contractors in Alaska have been truly gut-wrenching. So while I’m encouraged that a deal has been made to re-open the government, I remain committed to making sure that these families are not put back into this situation, ever again.”
Murkowski is a co-sponsor of the No More Government Shutdowns Act, which would permanently prevent the federal government from shutting down “because we owe it to those who serve our country, and who serve all of us through the good work they do through the agencies.”
On Friday Sullivan said, “Today, the President announced that he would sign a bill that would open, for three weeks, the parts of the federal government that have been closed, while also providing the room to negotiate border-security funding. While this was not the proposal I voted for (Thursday), for the sake of our federal workers and their families, I welcome the news and support this bill.
“As we all know, in Alaska the federal employees in our state do great work for us – there are so many like the TSA, the FAA, NOAA and the members of our Coast Guard who put their lives on the line for us literally every day in Alaska.
“They need to be paid for their work and over the last few weeks that is something I’ve been advocating for in bills, on the Senate floor—to get the Coast Guard and other federal employees paid for their work.
“That said, the debate we’re having over border security is far from over.”
He said hundreds of miles of “barriers, fences and walls” on the southern border have been built by both Republican and Democratic administrations in the past. “And these barriers work,” he said.
He added “...we need the Democratic leaders in the House and the Senate to come to the table in good faith to focus on border security and other immigration reform issues” put forward by the President and Congressional Republicans.
The Tongass National Forest Supervisors office in Ketchikan issued a statement today:
“The Tongass National Forest is focused on getting our employees paid and back on duty, as well as effectively resuming operations,” said the statement issued by Paul Robbins Jr., Tongass public affairs and partnerships staff officer.
“We recognize that the partial government shutdown has impacted the important work our employees do on behalf of the people of Southeast Alaska and all Americans. With funding now restored we are assessing priorities for the remainder of the year and returning to the work of caring for the land and serving people.
“We appreciate your patience with us as we go through this process, and words cannot properly express our gratitude for the many businesses and people throughout our communities who helped our employees through a trying time. Thank you.”
