Last week, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; and Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bills. The appropriations package funds the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and Interior; the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a variety of programs and infrastructure projects for Alaska.
Senator Dan Sullivan played a key role in passing the legislation. It is now on its way to the President to be signed into law.
Alaska’s Seas and Skies
According to a press release from Sen. Sullivan’s office, the package provides $6.1 billion nationwide for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) programs. This includes:
- $1.3 billion nationwide for National Weather Service programs that support weather forecasts, maritime safety, and tsunami hazard mitigation.
- $3.125 million for the NOAA Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP). Sen. Sullivan recently introduced the Bycatch Reduction Act, which would authorize $4 million for BREP to ensure the continued improvement of fishing gear and technologies that are aimed at reducing bycatch.
- $43.5 million nationwide for the Integrated Ocean Observing System, a $1 million increase from the previous year, supporting Alaska’s Ocean Observing System that provides critical coastal and ocean data that support maritime safety, coastal hazard mitigation, and water quality monitoring.
- $214 million nationwide for NOAA Fisheries data collection, surveys, and assessments to provide adequate data collection and sound science and research to support Alaska’s fisheries and maintain Alaska’s seafood competitiveness.
- $45 million nationwide to support Regional Fishery Management Councils and International Fisheries Commissions, management bodies that are critically important to ensuring sustainable management of Alaska’s fisheries.
Energy and Resource Development for Alaska
Important directives and funding for resource development in Alaska were included in the package:
- Reinforcement of Congress’ directive requiring the Department of the Interior to permit surface transportation access from the Ambler Mining District to the Dalton Highway (Section 201(4)(b) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act).
- Directive to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to meet the 2016 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan timber sale targets.
- Directive to the Department of Energy to advance the LNG project by investigating and reporting on federal loan guarantees under the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act.
- Funding for Alaska-specific geothermal resource assessments to support energy development.
- Funding for the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) to help locate areas of Alaska with the highest critical mineral potential.
Alaska’s Infrastructure
Billions in taxpayer money will go to support Alaska’s key infrastructure such as ports, harbors, energy and water systems, waste and recycling, and wildfire management. The press release identifies the following provisions:
- $13 million for the Port of Alaska in Anchorage, funding that will help support the modernization of Alaska’s primary commercial port and a key logistics hub for statewide freight and military operations.
- $300 million nationwide for small, remote, or subsistence harbors, a major investment that will help maintain and upgrade rural and coastal harbors that are lifelines for remote communities, especially in Alaska.
- $18 million for the Denali Commission, funding that reinforces the Commission’s role as Alaska’s federal infrastructure partner entity for rural energy, water, transportation, and community resilience projects.
- $1.52 billion nationwide for wildland fire management activities.
- $10 million specifically for Alaska mapping and modernization as part of the National Geospatial Program, which supports infrastructure, resilience, and resource development.
- $3.5 million to carry out the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program (SWIFR), which was created by Sen. Sullivan’s 2020 Save Our Seas 2.0 Act.
Alaska Natives
Several appropriations in the package address needs in Alaska Native communities:
- $32.7 million total to continue Native allotment land conveyances, including a $1 million increase for the Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans Allotment Program.
- Nearly $40 million for the Alaska Native Village Water Program that helps ensure safe drinking water and sanitation infrastructure for rural villages.
- $20 million for the ANCSA Contaminated Lands Program, which accelerates the clean-up of legacy contaminated sites on Alaska Native Corporation lands.
- $8.05 billion nationwide for the Indian Health Service.
- Requirement that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) identify staffing needs to reduce the probate backlog to under two years in every region to end long-standing delays hindering Alaska Native families and land title certainty.
Law Enforcement Nationwide
According to the press release, the package also funds a number of Office of Justice Programs and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), including:
- $720 million nationwide for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs, including increased support for transitional housing, the rural program, civil legal assistance, the Sexual Assault Services Program, and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners program.
- $86 million nationwide for drug courts, which offer a proven alternative model of justice, one that prioritizes recovery and stability over incarceration.
- $32 million nationwide for Veterans Treatment Courts, which support veterans who have turned to self-medication to address physical and mental health issues, allowing them another chance at rehabilitation.
- $964 million nationwide for the Byrne Judge Advocate General (JAG) Program, which funds a diverse set of state, local, and Tribal justice initiatives, including in Alaska.
- $253 million nationwide for the COPS Hiring Program, which benefits communities across Alaska by helping advance and fund the practice of community policing locally, territorially, and statewide. The program also supports Tribal law enforcement agencies.
- $35 million nationwide for the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which provides insights into the over-prescribing of opioids to continue to combat the opioid epidemic.