U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, gives her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, at the Capitol building in Juneau.  (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Opinion: Murkowski helps Alaska’s present and future

When I think about the future, I think about the children in our state. I want them to live in a state that allows them to thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities. For this to happen, we need Alaska’s infrastructure and workforce well taken care of. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s seniority, work ethic and knowledge of our communities allows her to invest billions of dollars to ensure Alaska is a quality place to live, now and in the future. In writing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Lisa ensured Alaska was taken into account by investing in broadband, ports, harbors, roads, rails, bridges, and water.

Here in Southeast Alaska, our ports, harbors and infrastructure make our reliance on the ocean vital. Senator Murkowski has proven that she supports us now and in our children for generations to come.

She understands the value of our working waterfronts, and fights tirelessly to ensure they are not forgotten. When work was completely halted, she cut through government red tape to save the Alaska cruise season. When our ferries needed vital funding to continue operations, she leveraged her seniority in the U.S. Senate to deliver over $300 million to the Alaska Marine Highway System to keep them afloat for the foreseeable future.

Lisa Murkowski doesn’t use bureaucracy as an excuse, she persists and gets the job done for Alaskans. It is evident that Senator Murkowski will do what it takes to create a strong Alaska now, and a strong Alaska in the future.

Irene Dundas.

Ketchikan