On August 16, Senators John McCain (Ariz.), Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), Susan Collins (Maine), and Lindsey Graham (S.C.), visited Barrow, Alaska, on a bi-partisan trip to examine the effects of global climate change in cold latitudes. In addition to talking with community members, the senators observed numerous research facilities including the ARM Climate Research Facility (ACRF) site, Barrow Environmental Observatory, NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Lab Barrow Station, and the former Naval Arctic Research Laboratory (NARL). On display at NARL were a number of posters, including two from ACRF that presented information about all the ACRF sites and the research underway at NSA. The group ended their trip with a helicopter tour of the area.

News articles resulting from the senatorial visit are available on many news websites, including the Anchorage Daily News, LA Times, Seattle Times, Tucson Citizen, and the Washington Post.