Murkowski announces investment for Mat-Su Valley in FY24 Six-Bill Appropriations Package

Senator Lisa Murkowski, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, announced investments for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough on the six-bill Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations package. The bill passed the Senate in a bipartisan 78-22.

H.R. 4366 includes the annual funding bills from the Appropriations Subcommittees on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

“After months of unnecessary delay, Congress has finally taken a big step by passing six of our 12 appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2024 on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis. Considering the vast size of our state and limited infrastructure, the significant investments I have included in these measures are well-justified and much-needed,” Senator Murkowski said.

Senator Murkowski said that the package will enable the state to respond to workforce shortages, housing shortages, food insecurity, rising energy costs, clean drinking water, and fisheries.

Some specific items for the Mat-Su include addressing the aging water and sewage lines in Talkeetna, with over $5 million going to replacing 2 miles of the lines.

“The water and sewer lines in south Talkeetna have been a problem since being improperly installed decades ago with shoddy materials, causing contamination, leaks, and financial hardships for the community. The $5.1 million investment I was able to secure will replace the nearly 2 miles of aging water lines, helping fix the system and allowing the system to handle the increased flow during the summer tourism season.”

Alaskans have expressed their appreciation for Senator Murkowski’s work to deliver these strategically targeted investments.

“The Mat-Su Borough extends our gratitude to Senator Murkowski for her unwavering commitment to rural community well-being,” said Mike Brown, Borough Manager, Matanuska-Susitna Borough. “Federal funding for water and wastewater improvements not only ensures the delivery of safe drinking water to our residents but also creates development opportunities for businesses. These improvements support building resilient communities, fostering health, and promoting sustainable growth.”

Other highlights impacting the Mat-Su include significant funding for infrastructure projects that will help build out and modernize roads, bridges, ports, and airport projects across Alaska, including $345 million for transportation infrastructure through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, $18 million for the Denali Commission’s waterfront and surface transportation program (Denali Access Program), and protecting funding for the Essential Air Service for essential air routes in the state from being cut.

Senator Murkowski also secured CDS requests to strengthen infrastructure and provide investments to projects in rural communities in the bill.

Between programmatic and CDS requests, Alaska will see $273.2 million in funding for military construction projects. One of the central programmatic wins that Senator Murkowski secured for Alaska’s military was $107.5 million for the runway expansion at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, enhancing global mobility of military aircrafts and increasing America’s air dominance.

She also ensured funding for mental health, women’s veteran healthcare, and increased rural telehealth access would be part of this package. She secured CDS allocations to support Alaska’s military infrastructure, bolstering capabilities while enhancing base infrastructure.

Addressing the needs for funding housing and childcare facilities, Senator Murkowski listened to the needs of Alaskans and worked to bring home funding in the state, which range from improving access to housing for elders in rural communities to establishing housing for public safety officials and renovating and building childcare facilities. In Talkeetna, $5 million is earmarked for the Upper Susitna Seniors to expand the Upper Susitna Senior Center.

“We want to thank Senator Murkowski for her work in obtaining the funds for our Center Expansion,” said Mike Davis, Upper Susitna Seniors. “Her efforts allow us to upgrade the facilities as needed for a meeting place for Upper Susitna residents during natural and manmade disasters, community events, and socialization activities Further it will help in our efforts to provide more housing to our growing number of seniors with the addition of eight more units. Finally, it will help provide laundry facilities to the many residents who live off grid. The Senator has done a great service to the community.”

In addressing the fight against illegal drug use, in addition to the recently enacted FEND Off Fentanyl Act, Senator Murkowski has supported the Community Based Coalition Enhancement Grant Program, which will encourage community-led coalitions to raise awareness of fentanyl and prevent drug overdose deaths caused by the drug.

She has pushed to ensure that medication assisted treatment is available and accessible to individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). The bill includes language to permanently require state Medicaid plans to cover medication-assisted treatment, and to allow treatment of SUD at institutions.

This appropriations package also includes a boost in Medicare pay for doctors to address the additional strain that physicians saw when physician reimbursement was cut on January 1, ensuring our providers receive adequate reimbursement and that seniors continue to have access to their providers. Community Health Centers were reauthorized through 2024, with a much needed increase of $270 million in annual funding.

Senator Murkowski worked with her colleagues to ensure support for Alaska’s farmers and help them increase food security. Some of her top priorities were ensuring programmatic funding for essential programs for Alaska’s food security, including an increase for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Additional programmatic wins include increasing for the Summer Food Service Program, enabling children in low-income families to receive the nutrition they need when schools are closed.

She also focused on protecting Alaska’s diverse history and landmarks—from the Iditarod Trail to Native languages, Murkowski is working to ensure future generations have access to our state’s rich history.

$500,000 was set aside for the Talkeetna Historical Society for rehabilitation and support efforts to preserve history for future generations.

“From programmatic wins to congressionally-directed spending projects, the funding I have secured is the direct result of working together with Alaskans from across the state to address the needs of their communities.”