Murkowski Responds to New Biden Administration Strategy for the Arctic Region

Press Release

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, (R-AK), today released the following statement after the Biden administration released an updated National Strategy for the Arctic Region:

"On Monday, two Russian asylum seekers landed on St. Lawrence Island seeking freedom from conscription into a tyrant's bloody, misbegotten war. The federal agencies responsible for processing these men were more than 700 miles away and it took them an entire day to respond. What this incident makes clear is that even as Putin undertakes rapid military and industrial development in Russia's Arctic, the United States is behind in its Arctic initiatives.

"While somewhat underwhelming in detail, this updated 10-year strategy from the Biden administration is an important message to the American people that the United States must continue to advance Arctic priorities. It does contain positive elements, many of which implement my priorities to drive greater federal attention and resources to the U.S. Arctic. For example, I'm pleased with the administration's emphasis on security, infrastructure, climate adaptation and resilience, greater consultation with the State of Alaska and Alaska Native Tribes and Corporations, and its elevation of Arctic diplomacy through the creation of the Arctic Ambassador position -- all of which I have called for.

"At the same time, this strategy very clearly falls short when it comes to our Arctic resources. It gives very little attention to the opportunity and necessity of domestic production of the vast resources in our Arctic. There is no mention of responsible oil and gas development to help offset Russia and ensure reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy supplies for our nation and the world. The strategy suggests that critical minerals can be produced in the Arctic, but the administration's obstruction of the Ambler Road project makes it impossible to take that seriously. The strategy even invokes the 30x30 initiative, suggesting it is "consistent' with further conservation in the Arctic, in blatant disregard of ANILCA and its "no more' wilderness clauses.

"There is no question this administration and the country need to pay greater attention to the Arctic. This strategy document has promising elements, but it is deliberately incomplete, and that will only work against the United States' ability to assume a true global leadership role in this crucial region."

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