02.10.23

Murkowski Responds to Unidentified Object Shot Down in Alaska Territory

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) a member of the U.S. Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and the leading expert in Congress on Arctic policy and polar affairs, today released the following statement regarding an unidentified object which was shot down by a U.S. fighter jet after flying in Alaska airspace. Click here for video of Senator Murkowski. "I commend the men and women serving in the Alaska NORAD region, the 11th Air Force, and the Alaska Air National Guard. They did their … Continue Reading

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12.23.22

Year-End Omnibus Supports Readiness, Security, Military Construction, and Servicemember and Veteran Well-Being

The U.S. Senate recently passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, an omnibus package that contains all 12 appropriations bills and funds the federal government through September 30, 2023. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior Appropriator, secured funding and assistance for Alaska throughout the measure. Through her role as a senior member of the Defense and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittees, Murkowski added significant fundi… Continue Reading

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12.15.22

Murkowski Helps Send NDAA Bill to President’s Desk

Click here to watch Senator Murkowski's statement. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of H.R. 7776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, which authorizes $857 billion for national defense priorities. The bill strengthens America's national security, supports military members and their families through provisions to improve quality of life, ensures those who serve have needed equipment and resources, and invests in everything from air… Continue Reading

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08.05.22

Senate Approves Admission of Finland & Sweden into NATO

Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate this week overwhelmingly approved a treaty document that approves the admission of Finland and Sweden into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) by a vote of 95-01. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the measure, which brings two vital allies one step closer to fully joining the trans-Atlantic alliance. "NATO will be stronger, and the world will be safer, with Finland and Sweden among its members. These Arctic nations have long been rel… Continue Reading

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08.02.22

Murkowski Praises Intelligence Community for Elimination of Al-Qaeda Leader

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced the death of terrorist leader Ayman al-Zawahiri via a drone strike conducted by the U.S. intelligence community. Al-Zawahiri helped plan deadly terrorist attacks around the world, including the September 11 attacks, and had led al-Qaeda since 2011. "America is safer today, and it is the dedicated men and women who serve in our intelligence community who have made us so. Their quiet work - as … Continue Reading

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07.01.22

Senators Introduce Resolution to Rebuild Ukraine

U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing the United States' commitment to rebuilding Ukraine after the impacts of Putin's war. "It is our responsibility as a world power and democratic leader to support our allies in times of need," said Senator Manchin. "Putin's war on Ukraine continues to impact Ukrainians, Americans and our allies, and … Continue Reading

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06.09.22

Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce the Arctic Warrior Act

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) today introduced the Don Young Arctic Warrior Act, legislation to alleviate some of the hardships faced by service members in Alaska. Sullivan also today offered the legislation as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2023, which will be considered next week in the Senate Armed Services Committee. In addition to proficiency pay and allowances for basic necessities, the bill increases the Department o… Continue Reading

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06.06.22

Sullivan, Murkowski Celebrate Activation of the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) today celebrated the activation of the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska. The Senators attended reflagging ceremonies at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage. Both ceremonies marked the U.S. Army Alaska's re-designation as the 11th Airborne Division. The 11th Airborne Division originally operated between 1943 and 1965, first activated during World War II in the Pacific Theater for the li… Continue Reading

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04.13.22

Murkowski, Sullivan, Speier Call on Army Secretary to Address High Alaska Servicemember Suicide Rate

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel have sent a letter to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth calling on the Army to do more to address the high incidence of service member deaths by suicide in Alaska and to take comprehensive actions to change the current traject… Continue Reading

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03.18.22

Murkowski, Sullivan Commend Coast Guard for Updating Mental Health Policies

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) commended the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for updating its mental and behavioral health policies to achieve parity with the policies of the Department of Defense (DoD), a legislative effort Senator Murkowski spearheaded this Congress. In February, Senator Murkowski introduced with Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Patty Murray (D-WA) the Guarding Mental Health Act, legislation to support Coast Guard members wh… Continue Reading

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03.11.22

Murkowski Commends Announcement of Russian Seafood Ban

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today issued the following statement commending President Joe Biden for signing an executive order to prohibit the importation of Russian seafood and other key imports into the United States. Since Russia imposed seafood bans on the United States in 2014, Senator Murkowski has worked to educate every President and their administration on the importance of re-opening the Russian market to U.S. seafood and failing that, creating a reciprocal ban on Russian seafo… Continue Reading

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01.14.22

Murkowski Votes to Sanction Nord Stream 2

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) yesterday voted in favor of S. 3436, the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Implementation Act, which would impose sanctions with respect to entities responsible for the planning, construction, or operation of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline. The vote, set at a threshold of 60 for passage, failed by a margin of 55-44. "Our partners in Europe need better options to meet their energy demand, but increasing their dependence on Russian gas is not one o… Continue Reading

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12.16.21

Murkowski: Defense Authorization Bill Will Bolster Alaska, National Security

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of S. 1605, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22), helping it to pass the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 88-11. This year's NDAA authorizes $768 billion for national defense, including $740 billion for the Department of Defense's (DOD) annual budget to ensure the Pentagon can compete and thrive amid strategic competition. The bill prioritizes military members and their families, training and readiness, strengt… Continue Reading

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09.22.21

DoD Selects Senior Advisor for Arctic Security Affairs

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today congratulated Major General (Ret.) Randy "Church" Kee on his selection by the Department of Defense (DoD) to serve as the Senior Advisor for Arctic Security Affairs. In this role, Kee will oversee the establishment of the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, the sixth DoD Regional Center and the only one specifically focused on the Arctic. Named in honor of the late U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, the Stevens Center will support and strengthen advances DoD … Continue Reading

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09.01.21

Murkowski on Last American Troops Leaving Kabul, Ending 20-Year War in Afghanistan

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after President Biden addressed the nation to further explain his administration's decision to completely withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan: "The final U.S. military evacuation flight departed the Kabul airport Monday, ending America's longest war at nearly 20 years. Ending the war in Afghanistan is a milestone that has left many of us with mixed emotions: relief that American troops are able to safely return to the United St… Continue Reading

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08.27.21

Murkowski Statement on Attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement after two bombings took place near Kabul's international airport, which killed 13 U.S. service members and wounded as many as 18 more: "I have long supported withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan, but the manner in which the drawdown has taken place has been chaotic and irresponsible and led to the horrific scenes we have witnessed over the last 12 days. It is devastating to see that American troops were targeted, injured, and k… Continue Reading

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05.31.21

Senator Murkowski Speaks in Honor of Memorial Day

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following message in observance of Memorial Day: For video of Senator Murkowski click here. "Today, on Memorial Day, we pay tribute, honor, and respect to those Americans who have given their last full measure to our country. Over the past 75 years we have lost brave Alaskans in wars and battles throughout the world. 112 Alaskans gave their lives in World War II, 10 in Korea, 57 in Vietnam, 26 in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those numbers represent o… Continue Reading

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04.29.21

Murkowski Introduces Bill to Protect America’s Electric Grid

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)-with colleagues Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), James Risch (R-ID), Angus King (I-ME), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV)-reintroduced S. 1400, the Protecting Resources On The Electric grid with Cybersecurity Technology (PROTECT) Act, which enhances electric grid security by incentivizing electric utilities to make cybersecurity investments. The bill also establishes a Department of Energy (DOE) grant and technical assistance program to deploy advanced cybersecurity technolog… Continue Reading

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03.22.21

ICYMI: Murkowski Meets with Secretary Blinken and NSA Sullivan

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-AK, on Friday met with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan, and the National Security Council's Asia coordinator Kurt Campbell as they traveled back to the U.S. after meetings in Japan and South Korea. (Pictured left to right: Senator Sullivan, Secretary Blinken, NSA Sullivan, Senator Murkowski.) "To be able to sit down not only with Secretary Blinken but also Jake Sullivan and Kurt Campbell… Continue Reading

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01.29.21

Murkowski Questions DOE Secretary Nominee on Arctic Energy, Resource Jobs, Cybersecurity, Critical Minerals

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, took part in a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to consider the nomination of Jennifer M. Granholm, the former Governor of Michigan, to be the Secretary of Energy. Murkowski opened the hearing by asking Governor Granholm for a commitment to advance energy security in the Arctic. Last year, Senator Murkowski secured funding to revive the Arctic Energy Office, which plays an essential role in supporting research and development for mic… Continue Reading