Improving water access in rural Alaska needs less studies, more action, says U.S. senator

Anne Hillman, Alaska Public Media
Posted: Monday, October 24, 2016 at 17:05 — Last Updated: Monday, October 24, 2016 at 17:28
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Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 12, 2016. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan spoke at Alaska Federation of Natives last week about improving water and sewer access in rural Alaska and about helping Alaska Native veterans.

Sullivan said that he is working to raise awareness in Congress about the more than 30 villages that still don’t have running water or sewers.

The federal government will give $1.4 Billion dollars nationwide to build new systems, but Sullivan says they need to start putting the money to work.

“The bottom line is we have to get our federal agencies to stop studying these issues and start helping us build these important infrastructure projects that are going to help our communities.”

Sullivan is also working on a bill addressing military veterans who missed the opportunity to apply for native allotments because they were on active duty. The bill would give the veterans and their families the chance to apply now.