WASHINGTON – Sen. Dan Sullivan, Republican of Alaska, slammed his hand on the table and shouted at his Democratic colleague, expressing his anger at a proposed law change he said would hurt his home state.
Sullivan was unusually angry during the open Senate session Environment and the public affairs committee, where the Democratic chairman blamed it Tom CarperA provision defended in the Federal Aviation Administration’s reauthorization bill regarding the killing of its employees.
“I’m sick and tired of my state being picked on by this board, the Democratic board, on everything,” Sullivan said.
He said he is pushing legislative language that would give Alaska more time to comply with the EPA requirement to switch from standard leaded aviation fuel. Sullivan wanted Alaska to be exempt from the fuel requirement by 2034, rather than a nationwide exemption in 2030.
The FAA reauthorization that passed the Senate became a bag of priorities for senators.
“This is about the safety of my constituents,” Sullivan said, slamming his hand on the table. “And you guys come in at the last minute and I’m so sick of it. Anything to do with Alaska, you feel like it’s open season because radical environmental groups want to shut down my state. This is wrong.”
“It’s bulls— and I’m really mad about it,” he said.
At one point, Sullivan said he wanted to question Carper’s staff, an act that would normally not be allowed.
“Can I ask your staff now?” Sullivan said.
“No, I think that markup is coming to an end,” replied D-Del Carper.
Sullivan’s spokesman, Ben Dietderich, told NBC News that Alaskans rely on air travel in a state where more than 200 communities are not connected by road.
Dietderich provided the fuel supply, “recognizing that Alaska is a state that relies on large and old aircraft because it has failed to implement this mandate during this time.”
He said, “With no data to support the move, Delaware’s Democratic caucus, Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper has cut Alaska’s exemption in half. Yet, following the suggestions of far-left environmental groups, national Democrats are targeting Alaska and endangering the lives of Alaskans. .
In response to a request for comment, a spokesperson for Carper told NBC News: “Chairman of the EPW Committee and a firm believer in treating others as they would want to be treated, Senator Carper has always been in touch with his colleagues in the Senate. address issues that affect their constituents. Chairman Carper is serious about protecting the health of communities across the country, and he does so in a way that understands the needs and impacts on the ground.”
Frank Thorp V reported from Washington and Zoë Richards from New York.
Syedah Asghar contributed.