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In the sixth in the series of videos introducing the Republican members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., today highlights the importance of protecting the parks and lands that every Coloradan treasures while taking steps to grow the state’s economy through smart, responsible energy production.

In the seventh in the series of videos introducing the Republican members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, today shares his vision for America’s energy future that strengthens our economy, helps protect our environment, and promotes efficiency.

Meera Kohler, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative President and CEO briefed the Senate Energy Committee on electricity costs in Alaska. "In village Alaska, over 20% of our population spends 50% or more of their disposable income on energy -- just electricity and heat," Kohler said.

At a Senate Energy Committee hearing, Energy Department nominees Jonathan Elkind and Dr. Monica Regalbuto testified.

In the final video introducing the Republican members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska., calls for an upgrade to our nation’s energy policies in order to make energy abundant, affordable, clean, diverse, and secure.

At a Senate Energy Committee hearing on wildfire management, Chairman Murkowski highlighted the need for not just technical fixes, but also budgeting for wildfire suppression and improving strategies for response.

Sen. Hoeven questioned witnesses on building an energy plan that balances energy development, private investment, infrastructure and our enviornment at a Senate Energy hearing.

In Alaska, where 62% of the state is controlled by the federal government, the process for permitting vital infrastructure projects on federal lands is continuously drawn out. Chairman Murkowski noted how this delay has impacted Alaskans by waiting up to four years simply for a permit to begin construction on needed projects.

Chairman Lisa Murkowski questioned Mr. Brent Sheets,
Deputy Director, Alaska Center for Energy and Power
University of Alaska Fairbanks, on Alaska's continued advancement and use of renewable energy technologies.

At the first Public Lands Subcommittee hearing, Sen. Barrasso led the committee in a discussion on the BLM's hydraulic fracturing proposal and if the regulation is necessary.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Committee released its first in a series of videos to highlight the priorities of the Republican members of the committee for the 114th Congress. Two member videos will be released per week over the next six weeks.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today underscored the importance of advancing energy efficiency across the country by holding a hearing on 22 pieces of broad energy efficiency legislation. The hearing is the first of four that Murkowski plans to hold as the committee considers broad energy legislation that will focus on efficiency, infrastructure, supply, and accountability

At a Senate Energy Committee hearing, Chairman Murkowski reinforced the need to lift the ban of U.S. crude oil exports. Murkowski questioned Mark Mills, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, about how allowing U.S. access to the global market will benefit America's energy and national security, and will encourage more investment into the U.S. economy and infrastructure.

Chairman Murkowski noted the increasing reliance on imported minerals at a Senate energy hearing this morning. Murkowski also asked about the lengthy permitting process that puts U.S. mining projects at risk.

At a Senate Energy Committee hearing on wildfire management, Chairman Murkowski asked witnesses about the rising costs of suppressing America’s wildfires and how we can make our communities more “firewise.”

Chairman Murkowski questioned BOEM's Abigail Hopper on the agency's proposal rules and the impacts on offshore development. Murkowski said the overlay of federal regulations continue to add costs and delays for vital projects for our states.

Senator Murkowski started off Earth Day with a discussion on the reauthorization of the Land and water Conservation Act – which has for the last 50 years played a key role in creating our world-class state and federal recreation system. Murkowski highlighted the need for the reauthorization to reflect changing viewpoints about conservation in the 21st century – a switch from federal land acquisition to maintenance and enhancing accessibility. For Alaskans, a state where close to 63 percent of our lands are already held by the federal government, and where access to lands is sometimes solely by boat or plane, maintenance of facilities is a critical link between users and otherwise inaccessible lands. At a time when federal land management agencies are facing a growing maintenance backlog, access priorities need to be clearly defined. Murkowski asked about how the Interior Department identifies those priorities.

Mapping technologies are helpful when assessing our natural resources, and Alaska has been putting these technologies in place to map our lands. Chairman Murkowski asked about how this technology is vital to mapping not only state lands, but federal lands.

At a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing, Sen. Dan Sullivan pressed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe on legality of the administration's plans to designate ANWR's 1002 section as wilderness - effectively stopping any future energy development in Alaska's ANWR.

Chairman Murkowski, in response to Sen. Franken, highlighted the disappointing irony of denying Alaskans jobs, the economic opportunities and security benefits of resource development while people 4,000 miles away lock up access to our resources.