
Alaska Natives & Rural Alaska
Senator Lisa Murkowski stands among the most respected members of Congress on matters pertaining American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian people. She was the first member of the Alaska Congressional Delegation to earn the National Congress of American Indians’ coveted Congressional Leadership Award and the National Indian Health Board’s Jake White Crow Award for Lifetime Achievement. Senator Murkowski was a founding director of the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute and has been selected on multiple occasions by the National Congress of American Indians to deliver the congressional response to the annual State of Indian Nations address.
Senator Murkowski chairs the Senate Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee which funds the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service. She is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, on which she has served for the past thirteen years. Senator Murkowski served as Vice Chairman and Ranking Member of the Indian Affairs Committee from 2007 – 2009, during which she shepherded the first reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act in more than a decade, as well as the landmark Tribal Law and Order Act through the Senate. As Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Senator Murkowski oversees implementation of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, including its crucial subsistence provisions.
Securing a promising future for Native youth is one of Senator Murkowski's highest priorities. Senator Murkowski takes great pride in her 2006 legislation which made it possible for more Alaska Native Corporations to make stock available to Native youth born after 1971. Senator Murkowski leverages her seat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to advocate for Alaska Native education and Native language preservation. She has joined with Democratic colleague Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota in advancing the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act.
Senator Murkowski is a long-standing proponent of meaningful and in-depth consultation between federal and tribal governments. In response to complaints from Alaska tribal governments that the Bureau of Indian Affairs denied them access to tribal court funds, Senator Murkowski appropriated funds to enable tribes in PL 280 states to support their tribal courts. And last year the Fish and Wildlife Service agreed to re-designate Saxman as a rural community for subsistence purposes after Senator Murkowski filed legislation to end a decade of impasse.
Senator Murkowski works with Alaska Native communities and residents in rural Alaska on a wide range of issues including energy, infrastructure, veterans’ health care, and food security.
Latest
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02.11.21
SCHATZ, MURKOWSKI ELECTED CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS
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01.12.21
ICYMI: U.S. Supreme Court Grants Review in Alaska Native Corporations CARES Act Cases
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12.28.20
Year-End Omnibus Appropriations Package Signed Into Law
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12.22.20
Murkowski Applauds Senate Passage of Interior Appropriations Bill
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11.23.20
ICYMI: Murkowski, Cortez Masto Op-Ed on Fight Against MMIW Crisis
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11.20.20
OP-ED: A pathway toward ending the legacy of violence against Native women
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11.19.20
Alaska Congressional Delegation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Alaska Native Corporations
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11.18.20
Murkowski Highlights Need for University Land Grant, ANCSA Fulfillment Act at Legislative Hearing
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11.17.20
Murkowski, Hassan Push Legislation to Extend Deadline For Communities to Spend CARES Act Funding through September 2021
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11.10.20
Delegation’s Landless Legislation Rectifies 50-Year Injustice
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11.10.20
Murkowski Unveils Interior-Environment Bill
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11.02.20
Language Magazine: New Bipartisan Native American Language Bill - Language Magazine
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10.15.20
SPEECH: Remarks at the 2020 AFN Convention
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10.15.20
KOTZ Radio: Pandemic dominates discussions as AFN convention goes virtual
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10.13.20
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Native leaders praise bills addressing missing, murdered Indigenous women
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10.10.20
Murkowski’s Bipartisan Legislation Addressing Crisis of Missing, Murdered, and Trafficked Indigenous Women Signed into Law
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09.30.20
National Indigenous Times: US Government passes Bill to address missing or murdered Indigenous women
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09.25.20
Alaska Delegation Criticizes Circuit Court Ruling Against Native Corporations
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09.25.20
The Hill: Two bills are passed to address missing and murdered Native American women
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09.22.20
Murkowski’s Legislation Addressing Crisis of Missing, Murdered, and Trafficked Indigenous People Advance
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09.22.20
Murkowski, Cortez Masto Legislation Addressing Crisis of Missing, Murdered, and Trafficked Indigenous People Advances
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09.22.20
Cordova Times: Bill would strengthen data access between tribes, government entities
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09.21.20
HuffPost: Congress Finally Passes Bill To Address Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women
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09.15.20
Associated Press: Senators push for extra census time, as court prods deadline
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09.11.20
U.S. Senators Smith, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Tribes Combat COVID-19, Other Public Health Crises
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09.01.20
Alaska Delegation Urges Alaskans to Participate in the Census
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08.28.20
Alaska Delegation Applauds Opening of Cold Case Office in Anchorage
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08.28.20
Schatz, Murkowski, Spanberger, Wagner To Defense Secretary: Fight Online Child Sexual Exploitation, Protect Vulnerable Children, Punish Offenders
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08.28.20
KTVA: Cold Case Office in Alaska will investigate cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people
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08.14.20
Alaska Congressional Delegation Introduces Legislation to Support Economic Development for Alaska Native Communities
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08.05.20
Senators Stabenow, Murkowski Team Up to Reintroduce Bipartisan Food Supply Protection Act
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08.04.20
Murkowski on Rural Health and Telehealth Executive Order
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07.31.20
ICYMI: Murkowski Joins Heinrich, Daines Legislation To Extend Deadline For Tribes To Spend CARES Act Funding
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07.31.20
Indian Affairs Committee Advances Bills Focused on Health, Safety, Energy, and Cultural Repatriation
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07.28.20
Murkowski Applauds Administration’s Actions to Address MMIW Crisis
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07.28.20
KTVA: Federal task force on missing, murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives to open Anchorage office
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07.02.20
Murkowski Joins Committee Hearing on Addressing COVID-19 Impact to Native Communities
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06.26.20
Alaska Delegation Welcomes Court Win for Alaska Native Corporations
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06.25.20
Alaska Native Vietnam War-Era Veterans Are One Step Closer To Being Able to Apply for Land Allotments
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06.25.20
Murkowski Calls to Advance Alaska Specific Legislation During Senate Indian Affairs Hearing
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05.08.20
Murkowski, Udall Legislation Honoring Native Women Passes Senate
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05.07.20
Senators Introduce Legislation to Extend Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program
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05.06.20
Alaska Delegation: Treasury to Disburse $4.8 Billion to Tribes
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05.05.20
Murkowski Honors National Day of Awareness on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
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04.16.20
Alaska Delegation Responds to Slanderous Attacks on Assistant Secretary, Alaska Native Corporations
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04.01.20
Murkowski: Alaska Communities to Receive $8.8 Million through Secure Rural Schools Program
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03.26.20
Alaska Delegation Applauds HHS Grants to Prevent and Combat COVID-19
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03.12.20
Murkowski Addresses Crisis of Missing, Trafficked & Murdered Indigenous Women
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03.11.20
Murkowski’s Legislation Addressing Crisis of Missing, Murdered, and Trafficked Indigenous People Passes Senate
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02.14.20
Murkowski, Cortez Masto Co-Host MMIW Briefing on Capitol Hill
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02.14.20
U.S. Senators Tina Smith & Lisa Murkowski Press Secretary DeVos for Answers About Undercounting American Indian and Alaska Native Students
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02.14.20
Murkowski, Smith Introduce Bill to Protect Children from Human Trafficking
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01.09.20
Alaska and Hawaii Delegation Introduce Bill to Improve Economic Prosperity of Tribes
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12.20.19
Murkowski’s Interior-Environment Funding Bill Heads to President’s Desk
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12.12.19
ENR Advances 19 More Bills to the Full Senate
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12.02.19
Arctic Today: Why human trafficking is a serious — but mostly invisible — problem in Alaska
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11.30.19
Associated Press: Cold Case Bill Gains Steam
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11.22.19
Murkowski Applauds Administration’s Focus to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis
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11.21.19
Alaska Public Media: ‘Savanna’s Act’ advances in US Senate; Aimed at mending police response to violence against Native women
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11.21.19
Senators’ Legislation to Address Crisis of Missing, Murdered and Trafficked Native Women Advances in Senate
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11.14.19
Alaska Public Media: Energy secretary nominee says tiny nuclear reactors could power Alaska villages
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11.08.19
Murkowski Joins Committee in Addressing Tribal Workforces
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11.01.19
Murkowski: We Must Have a Sense of Urgency to Keep Native Women and Girls Safe
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11.01.19
KTVA: Murkowski urges action for missing, murdered Indigenous women on Senate floor
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10.24.19
U.S. Sens. Tina Smith, Lisa Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Health Care Services for Native American Elders
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10.17.19
Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Address Alaska’s Rural Public Safety Crisis
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10.16.19
Murkowski, Smith Introduce Indian Energy Legislation
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09.26.19
Murkowski, Udall, Sullivan Introduce Bill to Protect Indian Health Service Funding During Lapses in Appropriations
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07.29.19
Murkowski, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Tribes Combat Homelessness
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07.02.19
Murkowski, Schatz Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Impact of the ANSEP Program
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06.28.19
Alaska Congressional Delegation Welcome DOJ Declaration of Law Enforcement Emergency in Rural Alaska
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06.20.19
Indian Affairs Committee Considers Law Enforcement & Public Safety Bills
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06.05.19
CBS News: Congress tackles crisis of missing and murdered Native American women
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06.04.19
Murkowski Hosts U.S. Attorney General William Barr in Alaska
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06.01.19
Anchorage Daily News: As he visits a Kuskokwim River village, the U.S. attorney general calls public safety in rural Alaska an ‘emergency’
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05.31.19
KYUK: U.S. Attorney General Barr Says 'Very Basics Of Public Safety Are Lacking In The Villages'
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05.22.19
Murkowski Questions Interior Secretary on Priorities to Benefit Rural Alaska
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05.07.19
Murkowski Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Group of Legislators Asking for Federal Study on Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis
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05.03.19
Senate Passes Legislation Designating National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women
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04.17.19
Alaska Congressional Delegation Announces Denali Commission Co-Chair
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04.03.19
Bustle: This Bill Addressing Violence Against Native Women Could Bring Real Change, Senators Say
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04.03.19
Juneau Empire: Murder is the third leading cause of death among Alaska Native women Here’s what Lisa Murkowski is doing about it
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02.08.19
Murkowski Language Preservation Bill Advances
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01.29.19
Committee Advances Health and Public Safety Bills
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01.28.19
Murkowski, Cortez Masto Reintroduce Savanna’s Act
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01.18.19
Senator Murkowski Speaks at AFN’s Alaska Day Event in DC
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01.16.19
Murkowski, Young File Amicus Brief in Support of Indian Child Welfare Law
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01.15.19
Murkowski, Schatz, Young Introduce Native American Millennium Challenge Demonstration Act
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09.20.18
Bipartisan Bill Addresses Suicide Crisis in Native Communities
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08.27.18
Murkowski Hosts First-Ever Indian Affairs Field Hearing in Savoonga
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08.22.18
Native Language Revitalization Focus in Senate Committee
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07.26.18
Cortez Masto, Murkowski Introduce End Trafficking of Native Americans Act
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07.12.18
Murray, Murkowski, Jayapal Announce Bipartisan, Bicameral Reintroduction of Legislation to Bolster Critical Care for Survivors of Sexual Assault
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06.22.18
Alaskans Provide Testimony During Senate Subsistence Hearing
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05.24.18
Senator Murkowski Chairs Hearing On Indian Health Service Budget
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05.01.18
Alaska Delegation Pleased to Announce Denali Commission Interim Co-Chair
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04.10.18
Alaska Delegation Bill Works to Protect Alaska Native Whaling Quota
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03.29.18
Senators Murkowski and Udall Introduce Legislation Honoring Native Women
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03.21.18
Online Sex Trafficking Prevention Bill Passes Senate
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03.14.18
Murkowski on Ending the Opioid Crisis in Rural Alaska
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01.22.18
Delegation Hails Landmark Agreement for Life-Saving Road
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12.05.17
Murkowski Bill to Improve Southeast Rural Health Passes Senate
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11.30.17
Alaska Delegation Praises Passage of Tribal Employment and Training Legislation
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10.21.17
SPEECH: Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN)
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10.17.17
AK Delegation Congratulates Tara Sweeney on Nomination for Key Role in Administration
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09.29.17
Alaska Receives Two Native Language Education Grants
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09.28.17
Murkowski on Human Trafficking of American Indian and Alaska Natives
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07.12.17
Murkowski Demands Answers on Indian Health Service's Proposed Budget Cuts
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03.30.17
Murkowski Discusses Health Awareness and Prevention Efforts for Native Youth
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03.22.17
Heitkamp, Murkowski, McCollum, Cole Urge President and Key Administration Leaders to Prioritize Commission on Native Children, Appoint Members
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03.13.17
Murkowski Lays Out Alaska Native Priorities to Interior Secretary Zinke
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02.08.17
Two Murkowski Bills Pass Senate Indian Affairs Committee
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01.11.17
Murkowski, Sullivan Keep Up the Fight for King Cove Road
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10.25.16
Murkowski Welcomes Funding to Reduce Alaskans’ High Energy Costs
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10.19.16
Alaska Senators Honor 50 Years of the Alaska Federation of Natives
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10.06.16
Murkowski Announces That Previously Cancelled BIA Providers Conference is Back on Schedule
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09.30.16
Murkowski, Heitkamp Bill Creating Native Children’s Commission Heads to President’s Desk
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09.26.16
Bill to Empower Native Communities, Boost Tourism Signed into Law
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09.15.16
Water Infrastructure Development Bill Passes Senate
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09.14.16
Murkowski: 51 Medevacs and Counting from King Cove
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09.14.16
Floor Seech: King Cove Amendment
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09.09.16
Alaska Delegation Urges State Department to Focus on Transboundary Issues
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08.10.16
Murkowski Urges Fair Protest Period for Mammoth BLM Land Plan
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07.26.16
Anchorage Chamber: Make it Monday
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07.15.16
Senate Passes Murkowski Bill to Ensure Tribal Employment Program Remains Intact
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07.14.16
Alaska Delegation Introduces Stand-Alone King Cove Legislation
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07.13.16
FAA Reauthorization Bill Heads to President’s Desk
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06.24.16
Alaska Dispatch News: Interior Department announces annual land payments for Alaska
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06.23.16
Murkowski: Help on the Way for Many Alaska Communities Facing High Energy Costs
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06.22.16
Alaska Journal of Commerce: Interior budget bill takes another shot at King Cove road
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06.22.16
Murkowski Welcomes PILT Payments to Alaskan Communities
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06.21.16
Murkowski: Administration’s Proposed Land Use Planning Rule Troublesome For Alaska
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06.16.16
Murkowski Leverages Chairmanship to Invest in Rural Alaska
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06.15.16
Murkowski’s Interior Chairmanship Yields Health and Wellness Initiatives for Alaska
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06.15.16
Murkowski’s Work Boosts Wildfire Prevention, Suppression Efforts
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06.15.16
Murkowski Protects Alaskans from Overreaching Hunting and Fishing Regulations
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06.14.16
Murkowski’s Work Bans Burdensome Federal Regulations, Fights Wasteful Spending, and Protects Lives in Remote Alaska
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06.14.16
Murkowski: Interior Bill will Bring Vast Benefits to Alaska
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06.10.16
Murkowski Commends U.S. Attorney General’s Public Safety Initiatives for Native Communities and Rural Alaska
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06.09.16
Murkowski Secures Investments to Strengthen Alaska’s Communities
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05.26.16
Murkowski Introduces Three New Bills to Boost Alaska
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05.12.16
Murkowski Secures Funding for Water Projects and Energy Innovation
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04.27.16
Land Transfer Legislation to Improve Healthcare Access Passes Senate Committee
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04.26.16
Murkowski Announces Participants in Phase Two of Remote Alaska Communities Energy Efficiency Competition
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04.25.16
Murkowski Secures Funds to Address Alaska’s Unique Transportation Needs
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04.20.16
Murkowski: Alaska Will Greatly Benefit from Passage of Bipartisan Energy Bill
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04.15.16
KUCB: Murkowski Pushes For King Cove Road
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04.14.16
Murkowski: Federal Government Forcing Isolated Alaska Native Community to Live in Fear