U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced the U.S. Senate's approval of more than $54 million in projects for Alaska in the Energy and Water Development spending bill, which passed by an 85-9 vote. The bill included $18.65 million for maintenance and operation for the Port of Anchorage.

The bill must be reconciled with the House-passed version before being forwarded to the President for approval.

The bill also contains funds to address erosion problem in Native villages such as Shishmaref and Kivalina, as well as $11.96 million for the Denali Commission to fund an energy program to replace and clean up aging fuel tanks and improve energy generation and transmission systems efficiency.