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WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will travel to Alaska next week, with stops in Kotzebue, Anchorage and Southeast.
On the three-day trip from Aug. 14 to 16, Buttigieg will promote the Biden administration’s infrastructure investments and learn about rural and tribal transportation needs, according to his office.
The trip will begin Monday when Buttigieg will visit Kotzebue with Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Tuesday, Buttigieg will travel to Anchorage, and Wednesday he will tour Juneau and surrounding communities with Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
A spokesperson for Alaska Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola said she is unable to meet with Buttigieg when he is in Alaska due to scheduling conflicts, but her office was involved in the secretary’s trip planning.
Buttigieg has made similar trips this summer to South Carolina, Kentucky, Oregon and Washington as part of the Biden administration’s “Investing in America” tour.
Other Biden administration officials have also traveled to Alaska in recent months. First lady Jill Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland flew to Bethel in May to promote investments in rural broadband development. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy visited Anchorage in June to discuss the youth mental health crisis.
Past transportation secretaries also have traveled to Alaska. Trump administration Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao visited Prudhoe Bay and Anchorage on a two-day trip in 2017 during which she announced a draft agreement between Alaska and the Federal Highway Administration.