Articles & Op-eds
Kodiak Daily Mirror: Murkowski visits Coasties
by Staff Report
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, met recently with Coast Guard Rear Adm. Nathan Moore, commander in the 17th District in Homer. "The quality of work that the U.S. Coast Guard provides is exceptional," Murkowski is quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Coast Guard. "Their search-and-rescue operations, drug interdictions and maritime safety initiatives should be commended each and every day." As part of the visit, Murkowski and Moore spoke with Bryan Hawkins, Homer's port director an… Continue Reading
01.30.22
Peninsula Clarion: Murkowski weighs in on issues
by Camille Botello
Alaska's senior senator, Lisa Murkowski, stopped by the Clarion offices Thursday to speak about issues affecting the state - sustainable energy production, infrastructure development, the COVID-19 pandemic, voting rights reform and ongoing partisanship divides locally and nationally. Infrastructure and environment On the issue of climate change, Murkowski acknowledged the risks climate change poses to the people and land of Alaska. "We're seeing the impacts of climate change. We're seeing war… Continue Reading
01.20.22
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Moose Creek Dam to receive flood of federal funds
by Linda Hersey
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is undertaking its largest civil works project in Alaska in 30 years - reinforcing the eight-mile Moose Creek Dam in North Pole. More than a half-century old, Moose Creek Dam is about to receive a flood of federal money that will enable the corps to complete an estimated $148 million renovation project. The modernization will strengthen the berm and protect greater Fairbanks in extreme weather events, corps officials said. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Wed… Continue Reading
01.19.22
Peninsula Clarion: ‘A long time coming’
by Camille Botello
Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Wednesday that $28 million in federal funding will be granted to the Kenai bluff stabilization project as a result of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The project was one of four in Alaska that received additional federal funding through the infrastructure package, according to a press release from Murkowski's office. In addition to Kenai bluff stabilization, $250 million will be granted to the Port of Nome, $185 million will go toward the Lo… Continue Reading
12.30.21
Anchorage Daily News OPINION: 2021 was a tough year, but bipartisanship points the way
by Lisa Murkowski
In many ways, 2021, was a difficult year in Washington, D.C. It started with a deadly riot at the Capitol, which was soon followed by an impeachment trial. The Biden administration took office and began reversing many of the policies that are crucial for responsible resource development in Alaska. Then came policy and planning failures that contributed to the horribly botched withdrawal in Afghanistan, supply chain disruptions, and inflation at levels not seen for decades. Geopolitical threats … Continue Reading
12.08.21
Alaska Public Media: ‘Don’t tie our hands’: Proposal would give 30 Alaska tribes the power to prosecute violence in villages
by Liz Ruskin
Alaska tribes could gain the power to prosecute domestic violence and sexual assault in Native villages as part of a pilot program under consideration in the U.S. Senate. The program would have Alaska tribes fill some of the law enforcement gaps in remote communities where victims don't have ready access to a police force or State Troopers. Michelle Demmert, policy director of the Alaska Native Women's Resource Center, told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Wednesday in vivid terms what that… Continue Reading
11.23.21
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: From airports to bases, Alaska to benefit from federal grants
by Linda F. Hersey
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced several grants bound for Alaska, including to Interior communities. Fort Wainwright will receive $31.19 million for Watterson Construction Co. to build a large child development center. Fairbanks International Airport will receive $6.36 million through the FAA for operations, personnel, cleaning and combating the spread of pathogens. Nenana Municipal Airport will be awarded $22,000. Another $6.2… Continue Reading
11.22.21
The Cordova Times: $1.2T infrastructure bill brings billions to Alaska
by Margaret Bauman
Billions of dollars in the $1.2-trillion federal infrastructure legislation signed into law on Monday, Nov. 15, by President Joe Biden will help fund essential ferry service in Alaska, plus airport improvements, water and wastewater projects, broadband, ports, energy and more. "It's historic in terms of what it will deliver to the country in terms of infrastructure," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, as she spelled out how Alaska will benefit from H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and … Continue Reading
11.20.21
Associated Press: Tribes Welcome Infusion Of Money In Infrastructure Bill
by Felicia Fonesca
Tribes welcomed an infusion of money in the massive infrastructure bill to expand broadband coverage, fix roads and address water and sanitation needs, but they say real change will come only with sustained investment.President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion deal earlier this week that includes about $11 billion in benefits for Indian Country, according to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. About one-third of that, $3.5 billion, will go to the Indian Health Service, the federal age… Continue Reading
11.20.21
Arctic Sounder: Infrastructure bill holds promise for many of rural Alaska’s most pressing needs, say Murkowski and others
by Alena Naiden
Rural Alaskans living without dependable indoor plumbing may have running water in the near future. Those struggling with slow, intermittent internet may find themselves soon surfing the web with ease. And residents living on the edge of eroding land may be one step closer to relocating to a safe home. These are just some of the promises being offered as Alaska lawmakers and administrators begin to unpack the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that President Joe Biden signed las… Continue Reading
11.19.21
The Nome Nugget: Federal Infrastructure Package Signed Into Law
by Julia Lerner
When President Joe Biden signed a historic infrastructure package into law on the lawn of the White House on Monday, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski and Representative Don Young were present to show their support of the legislation.The bill, which Murkowski supported in negotiations with the White House as part of a bipartisan group of lawmakers, authorizes billions of dollars in spending over the next five years in communities across the United States. Key aspects of the infrastructure plan will … Continue Reading
11.18.21
Peninsula Clarion: ‘A win for Alaska’
by Ashlyn O'Hara
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski celebrated the passage of the trillion-dollar Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act during a press conference with Alaska reporters on Wednesday, during which she broke down some of the bill's implications for Alaska. The conference was held in person in Anchorage but was also made available via Zoom. The legislation includes $550 billion in new spending on infrastructure over five years and was primarily advanced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers that included Murkow… Continue Reading
11.18.21
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Defense Department picks site for new Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Studies
by Linda F. Hersey
The Department of Defense will develop the new Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies in Anchorage, Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Wednesday. The defense center will become the sixth regional center that the DoD operates and the first one to focus on the Arctic region. Regional centers bring together military and government leaders, academicians and others to partner on regional security issues. Other DoD regional centers focus on security strategies in Europe, Africa and Asia. … Continue Reading
11.17.21
Alaska Journal of Commerce: Infrastructure bill celebrated for priorities ranging from climate change to mining
by Elwood Brehmer
A significant reason the landmark $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill has garnered as much attention as it has is likely the broad range of interests it appeals to. It has support not only from the usual backers of a traditional infrastructure bill, such as construction trade groups and labor unions, but also from state and national-level conservation and resource development organizations that are often pitted against each other. In an hour-long press briefing before President Joe Biden signed … Continue Reading
11.15.21
Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman: President signs historic infrastructure bill, funding improvements in Alaska
by Tim Bradner
President Joe Biden signed the new $1.1 trillion federal infrastructure bill into law Monday, Nov. 15. The bill allocates billions of dollars for roads, bridges, ports, clean water and sanitation, and broadband, that will fund projects long needed, but deferred, for decades. Alaska's Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who played a leading role in fashioning the bill, expects among other things to see delayed improvements made in village safe water projects, and to allow the village "honeybucket" to be finall… Continue Reading
11.11.21
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Sen. Murkowski highlights infrastructure package for Alaska
by Linda Hersey
Rebuilding infrastructure is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. It is an Alaska issue. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski delivered that message Wednesday in a press conference on the projects for Alaska. Murkowski helped to carry the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package that President Biden plans to sign early next week. She was among a core group of 10 senators - five Republicans and five Democrats - who worked to usher the package through Congress. Alaska's thre… Continue Reading
11.10.21
Juneau Empire: ‘It is a win for Alaska’ Murkowski touts bipartisan infrastructure bill
by Peter Segall
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, hailed the $1.2 trillion dollar infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress, saying it was going to make the Alaska and the nation more competitive. "There's so much to advertise," Murkowski said Wednesday at an Anchorage news conference. "If we can get these programs up and running, Alaskans are going to be working and we're going to more competitive." President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill on Monday, Murkowski said, and it would take some time bef… Continue Reading
11.08.21
Alaska Public Media: Highways, ferries and more: What the federal infrastructure bill will fund in Alaska
by Liz Ruskin
The U.S. House on Friday passed an enormous infrastructure bill, sending it to President Biden for his signature. All three members of Alaska's Republican delegation to Congress voted for the $1.2 trillion bill - reflecting how important the bill is to the 49th state. In federal highway funding alone, the legislation will send Alaska $3.5 billion. That's just the start. "I think it's very big for Alaska. Very far reaching," said Garrett Boyle, federal co-chair of the Denali Commission, whose m… Continue Reading
11.05.21
Anchorage Daily News OPINION: Telling Alaska’s story at the U.N. climate summit
by Senator Lisa Murkowski
COP26 - the 26th iteration of the United Nations' annual climate conference - is currently underway in Glasgow, Scotland. This weekend, I'm attending as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation. I'm participating as an Alaskan, the senior senator for a warming state, and one of only a few Republicans. I'm here because I recognize that climate change is real, we need to act, and we need to work together - across the aisle and with the rest of the world - to find reasonable ways to reduce em… Continue Reading
10.27.21
Alaska Public Media: Earmarks: They’re back, and Murkowski is using them to steer money home
by Liz Ruskin
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has issued a $230 million wish list of dozens of Alaska projects she's hoping Congress will pass with the next batch of appropriations bills. Her list has big-ticket items: Nearly $28 million to expand the emergency room at the Alaska Native Medical Center and the same amount for a road between Kotzebue and a possible deepwater port at Cape Blossom. It has small items: $50,000 to the Kodiak Area Native Association to study the health impact of harmful algae blooms. I… Continue Reading
