This photo composite shows Alaska’s congressional delegation, from left to right, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Rep. Don Young, all Republicans. Following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address Alaska’s delegation called for increased U.S. energy development. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

This photo composite shows Alaska’s congressional delegation, from left to right, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Rep. Don Young, all Republicans. Following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address Alaska’s delegation called for increased U.S. energy development. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file)

Delegation urges energy production following State of the Union

Alaska’s lawmakers say energy is unused weapon

Following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address Alaska’s congressional delegation again urged the president to allow more energy production in the U.S.

Alaska’s national lawmakers have called for additional resource production in the U.S. as a way to counter rising fuel prices and secure the nation’s supply chains and Tuesday reiterated those arguments.

“The President has chosen to not engage, to not engage literally with energy as a means of sanctions,” said U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in a statement.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Murkowski said Biden’s decision to release millions of barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves would only temporarily alleviate gas prices.

“But, this is inconsistent and, in my view, almost hypocritical that we would allow Russia to be able to provide this country with oil while we provide dollars to Russia to help them finance this war against Ukraine,” Murkowski said.

[Alaska to receive $58M in opioid settlement]

Ahead of Biden’s address Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan was one of 23 Republican Senators to sign a letter to the president urging more development of petroleum and mineral projects. The letter — also signed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky — listed 12 actions for the Biden administration to take to support American energy.

“You recently told the American people in a press conference that your Administration was using ‘every tool at our disposal to protect American families and businesses from rising prices at the gas pump’ and ‘taking active steps to bring down the cost.’ Mr. President, respectfully, that is not true and the facts show it,” the letter stated.

Some of the recommendations put forward by the senators include restarting and fast-tracking the Keystone XL pipeline and other similar project; commit to fast-tracking energy production on federal lands including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico and reinstate a proposed 2021 rule preventing U.S. financial institutions from refusing invest in energy projects.

The letter also suggested the president terminate the White House positions of Climate Czar and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.

Sullivan said on social media Monday the left was engaged in a “holy war” against American energy.

Republican senators also urged the president to greatly increase spending on the military and to urge NATO allies to meet their own goals for defense spending.

“You must put forward a robust, real increase in defense spending focused on the current and future readiness and lethality of our force,” senators said.

Alaska’s lone U.S. Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, said in a statement Biden’s address, “didn’t have a lot of success to cover.”

Young called rising inflation a “cruel tax on the poor” and said the president should be getting America’s fiscal house in order.

“President Biden doubled down on failed tax and spend policies that got us here in the first place. On energy, the President wasn’t any better,” Young said.

While Alaska’s lawmakers did praise the president for his tone on Russia and the Ukraine invasion but said the administration’s energy policies were beneficial to Russia and America’s adversaries.

“I certainly appreciate what has been put in place with financial sanctions, but we see how Putin has used energy as a weapon, as a tool in this effort in Ukraine and clearly with Europe,” Murkowski said.

• Contact reporter Peter Segall at psegall@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @SegallJnuEmpire.

More in News

Jeff Dolifka and his children perform the ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula’s Royce and Melba Roberts Campus in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘So proud of what we accomplished’

New Boys and Girls Clubs campus dedicated Saturday with a ribbon-cutting and donor recognition.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters about his decision to veto an education funding bill earlier this session at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. He vetoed a second such bill on Monday. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Dunleavy vetoes 2nd bill increasing education funding; override vote by legislators likely Tuesday

Bill passed by 48-11 vote — eight more than needed — but same count for override not certain.

Graduate Paxton McKnight speaks during the graduation ceremony at Cook Inlet Academy near Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Beginning a new season of their lives

Cook Inlet Academy graduates seven.

The wreckage of Smokey Bay Air plane N91025 is photographed after residents pulled it from the water before high tide on April 28, 2025, in Nanwalek, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of NTSB)
Preliminary report released on Nanwalek plane crash

The crash killed the pilot and one passenger and left the other passenger seriously injured.

Member Tom Tougas, far right, speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Tourism Industry Working Group in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tourism working group rejects bed tax, recommends seasonal sales tax adjustment

The document includes a section that says the borough could alternatively leave its tax structure exactly as it is.

The rescued sea otter pup looks at the camera in this undated picture, provided by the Alaska SeaLife Center. (Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Stranded otter pup rescued from Homer beach

She is estimated to be around 2 months old and was found alone by concerned beach walkers.

Kenai Peninsula College Director Cheryl Siemers speaks to graduates during the 55th commencement ceremony at Kachemak Bay Campus on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Kenai Peninsula College leadership sees temporary transitions

KPC Director Cheryl Siemers is serving as interim UAA chancellor, while former KBC director Reid Brewer fills in her role.

Ash-Lee Waddell (center) of Homer is one of six recipients of the 2025 First Lady’s Volunteer Award at the Governor’s Residence in Juneau, Alaska, on May 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor
First lady honors Alaska volunteers

Volunteers from Homer and Nikiski were recognized.

The front of the Kenai Police Department as seen on Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Update: Middle schooler reported missing found after 24-hour search

The student was seen leaving Kenai Middle School at around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Most Read