U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), in his annual address today to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature in Juneau, laid out a vision for the “Alaska Comeback,” highlighting the state’s resilience and its historic opportunities to grow after several years of federal policies that targeted Alaska’s economy and jobs. Sen. Sullivan detailed progress being made toward long-sought goals, including an energy renaissance on the North Slope, advancing the Alaska LNG project, and strengthening Alaska’s central role in national defense through a historic military and Coast Guard build-up. He also emphasized major wins for Alaskans delivered by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, outlined efforts to confront the fentanyl crisis and improve public safety, highlighted continued work to support Alaska’s fishermen and coastal communities, and underscored a historic federal investment to transform Alaska’s health care system to better reflect the realities of delivering care in the nation’s most rural, high-cost state.
Key themes from the address:
- Alaska Comeback Theme Alaska has overcome challenges like statehood, the 1964 earthquake, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline through unity. Now recovering from 70 Biden-era executive orders stifling the economy, a new era of progress begins with energy renaissance, gas line development, military buildup, and tailored health care.
- Making it Happen: Alaska EO and the WFTCA The Trump administration’s Day One executive order unleashes Alaska’s resources, ending federal restrictions. The Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTCA), dubbed the “Alaska Opportunity Act,” delivers major wins, including mandatory leases and revenue splits. Sullivan’s team conducted over 60 town halls to explain and implement it.
- Resource Development The WFTCA stabilizes investment by mandating leases in NPR-A, ANWR, and Cook Inlet, aiming for nearly 1 million barrels/day by 2034 via projects like Pikka and Willow. It shifts federal revenue to 70-30 state-favoring split by 2034 and boosts timber and minerals.
- AK LNG Sullivan promotes the Alaska LNG project internationally and with federal leaders, highlighted in the executive order and supported by DOE financing. Recent progress includes Air Force data centers on bases to boost gas demand. He urges bold collaboration for affordable energy, jobs, and revenue.
- Taxes and Child Care Comeback The WFTCA allows first-year business write-offs, prevents $4T tax hikes, saves families $7,500-$11,000 annually, deducts $12,000 for seniors, and eliminates taxes on tips/overtime. It enhances child tax credits, dependent care, and business incentives for child care facilities.
- Military Build-up
- Alaska Military Comeback Reversing drawdowns, Alaska sees billions in investments: expanded 11th Airborne Division, F-35/F-22 squadrons, tankers, missile defense radars, Ted Stevens Center, new runway, Nome port, and Adak Navy base reopening. Marines plan expansion.
- Coast Guard Comeback Historic $25B investment funds 16 icebreakers, 22 cutters, 40 helicopters, and infrastructure in multiple communities, including $300M for Juneau. Potential for four more Alaska-homeported icebreakers spurs shipbuilding jobs in Kodiak, Seward, Ketchikan.
- Safer Communities Crime rates drop, but fentanyl overdoses killed 400 Alaskans last year. WFTCA’s $100B border security reduces supply; Sullivan’s “One Pill Can Kill” campaign addresses demand through education.
- Fisheries Legislation like Save Our Seas cleans oceans; bans on Russian/Chinese seafood combat unfair practices. Salmon Task Force and Bycatch Reduction Act tackle declines via research and tech.
- Health Care Obamacare failed Alaska; reforms include PBM curbs and premium credits. WFTCA’s Rural Health Transformation Program delivers $1.4B over five years, doubling the fund and prioritizing rural needs.
- Two Visions D.C. Democrats targeted Alaska provisions in WFTCA; Republicans fought to preserve wins. Alaskans should recognize allies.
Echoing TAPS builders, Sullivan calls for unity to build gas lines, military, health care, and jobs for future generations, fulfilling Alaska’s promise of opportunity.
