Articles & Op-eds
KTUU: Missing and murdered indigenous women cold case office to open in Anchorage
by Gilbert Cordova
Seven Cold Case Task Force offices across the nation, dedicated to solving cold cases involving missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives, are opening in the next few weeks, one expected to open in Anchorage. The Anchorage office is expected to open on August 27. Other nationwide offices include: Rapid City, SD; Billings, MT, Albuquerque, NM, and Phoenix, AZ. Tuesday morning U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski sent out a news release applauding the establishment of the offices. "Addres… Continue Reading
07.28.20
KTVA: Federal task force on missing, murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives to open Anchorage office
by Jennifer Summers
Alaska is scheduled to have a federal cold case task force office working on missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Native cases. The office in Anchorage will open on Aug. 27 and it will be one of seven across the country. The offices were established by the Trump administration through an executive order signed in November of 2019. The order created the Operation Lady Justice Task Force to address the number of missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Natives in tribal commun… Continue Reading
07.27.20
World Nuclear News: US Senate passes Nuclear Energy Leadership Act
The US Senate has passed the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA) after it was included as an amendment to an act authorising defence appropriations and policies for fiscal 2021. NELA aims to re-establish US leadership in nuclear energy, with a focus on the demonstration of advanced reactors. NELA (S 903) was introduced as an amendment to the National Defense Authorisation Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA, S 4049) by Senators Lisa Murkowski and Cory Booker during a floor debate on 23 July. The ND… Continue Reading
07.22.20
KTUU: Senators Sullivan and Murkowski commend the Air Force’s Arctic Strategy
by KTUU
Senators Sullivan and Murkowski are expressing their approval of the Air Force's Arctic Strategy. The strategy "lays out an expansion of the competitive space in the Arctic under four lines of effort: vigilance in all domains, projecting power through a combat-credible force, cooperation with allies & partners, and preparation for Arctic operations. Importantly, this strategy also emphasizes continued work and collaboration with Alaska Native communities," said Sullivan's office in a press … Continue Reading
07.21.20
Business Wire: Over 16,000 Rural Alaskans Get Access to High-speed Internet, Thanks to Alaska Communications Broadband Network Expansion
Alaska Communications (NASDAQ: ALSK) has achieved a milestone in its broadband network expansion program, reaching over 16,000 rural Alaska residents with high-speed internet, with a goal of serving more than 32,000 rural Alaskans. The program started in 2017 and will continue through 2025. Communities now served with new or upgraded internet speeds include Delta Junction, Fairbanks, Homer, Hope, Kenai, Klawock, Larsen Bay, Ninilchik, North Kenai, North Pole, Seldovia and Soldotna. The company p… Continue Reading
07.07.20
KDLL: Federal aid, Kenai program deadline extended
by Elizabeth Earl
The deadline for businesses to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program was extended last week and now runs until August 8. The PPP offers loans to businesses for relief from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. These loans become grants and don't have to be paid back as long as 60 percent of the money is used for payroll and other eligible expenses. The program surfaced in March, and while many businesses applied for it then, others were left out. Notably, commercial fishermen were largel… Continue Reading
06.29.20
KTOO: A new rule makes seasonal fishermen and crew members eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program
by Tyler Thompson
A new rule to the Paycheck Protection Program allows commercial fishing businesses to include their crew member payroll when they apply for the Paycheck Protection Program. Previously, the PPP recognized crew members as "self-employed" by the Internal Revenue Service. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young urged the Department of Treasury and Small Business Administration to make the fix. Murkowski said last month that the previous requirements left crew wages out of th… Continue Reading
06.29.20
Gray TV: Push from Washington, military officials to bolster Arctic strategy
by Peter Zampa
The White House is making it known they want to enhance the U.S. presence in the Arctic. Alaska is the lone U.S. state that borders the Arctic, and leaders in Washington say they want to make sure the resources are there to strengthen the U.S. position. That efforts begins with ice breakers. "The Arctic is an area where geo-strategic activity continues to rise at a pretty remarkable rate," said Ret. Maj. Gen. Randy Kee, executive director of the Arctic Domain Awareness Center. Kee says severa… Continue Reading
06.28.20
KINY: Delegation Announces PPP Fix for Commercial Fishing Businesses
The Alaska Congressional Delegation applauded a rule that allows commercial fishing businesses to account for crew member payroll when applying for Paycheck Protection Program loans. The U.S. Department of Treasure and the Small Business Administration approved the move Thursday. Senator Lisa Murkowski said the program has provided a lifeline to Alaska businesses to help them weather the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic, "Many of our fishermen, the ultimate small businesses, were unintentionally… Continue Reading
06.27.20
Cordova Times: Murkowski pushes improving PWS warning system
In the wake of warnings of a potential massive landslide due to a melting glacier and thawing permafrost, Sen. Lisa Murkowski is urging federal oceans officials to prioritize improvements to tsunami monitoring in Prince William Sound. Murkowski's letter to Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Neil Jacobs and Assistant Administrator for Weather Services Louis Uccelini asked for NOAA to provide a long-term plan for monitoring non-seismic landslide-induced tsunamis in Princ… Continue Reading
06.26.20
KTUU: Commercial fishing businesses now eligible for larger paycheck protection loan; deadline is fast approaching
by Cheyenne Matthews
Commercial fishing businesses can now apply for the Paycheck Protection Program loans that include crew in payroll costs, as the Department of Treasury and Small Business Administration has amended a rule that previously counted crew as independent contractors, Alaska's congressional delegation announced Thursday. Commercial fishing businesses have been able to apply for the PPP loans before now, but the loan amounts would not have allowed businesses to count the fishing crew as employees when … Continue Reading
06.25.20
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Alaska senators blame Democrats for blocking police reform bill
by Erin McGroarty
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski is calling out Senate Democrats for blocking a police reform bill Wednesday morning. The Senate Justice Act, proposed by South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott, included incentives for police departments to ban choke holds, required more disclosure regarding the use of force and no-knock warrants, and penalized the falsifying of police reports. The bill also urged additional use of police body cameras, made lynching a federal hate crime and outlined addit… Continue Reading
06.18.20
KTUU: Murkowski discusses the future of policing across the country
As protests surrounding the issue of police brutality carry on across the United States, members of Congress are sharing their thoughts on how the debate could reshape their communities. The Gray DC staff interviewed lawmakers on how police training, accountability, funding and force could change in their states because of this call for action. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she is looking at the border efforts at safe policing reform. "Making sure that these standards that we're seeking to put in … Continue Reading
06.16.20
KTVA: Energy industry can play role in economic recovery, Murkowski says
by Megan Mazurek
Sen. Lisa Murkowski says the energy industry can play a big role in the country's economic recovery. Murkowski is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. She led a hearing Tuesday examining the impacts of the pandemic on the country's energy sector. Many oil companies slowed production when oil prices plunged to historic lows. Not only was it caused by low demand during the pandemic, but an oil trade war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. Sen. Murko… Continue Reading
06.13.20
Cordova Times: Hearing focuses on wildfire management during pandemic
by Margaret Bauman
Protection of Alaska fire crews from COVID-19 was the focus of a congressional hearing in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, June 9 chaired by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Wildfires in Alaska often happen in remote regions, where the closest communities are small and lack significant health and medical resources, said Murkowski, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Residents of these communities are concerned about visitors to the area due to the pandemic, she said. The Sw… Continue Reading
06.12.20
Chronicles: $800 Million Federal Emergency Fund Proposed to Prevent Family, Youth Homelessness
by John Kelly
A bipartisan group of Senators has proposed an $800 million emergency fund to help communities address family and youth homelessness as advocates fear a potentially disastrous wave of instability as coronavirus continues to hamper the economy. "Hundreds of thousands of families will be at risk" of eviction as local moratoria expire this summer, said Ruth White, executive director of the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare. "For many, the only resource available will be foster care pla… Continue Reading
06.08.20
KTVA: Alaska's senators support federal measure to help struggling businesses
by Joe Vigil
On Friday, President Donald Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act. Some of the highlights of the legislation include reducing the required percentage of expenses dedicated to payroll from 75 percent to 60 percent when it comes to loan forgiveness. Small businesses that take advantage will have five years to repay the loan instead of two years. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she is proud to support the bipartisan measure. "This bill improves our previous efforts by making… Continue Reading
06.05.20
KTUU: Sen. Murkowski rallies for the Equal Rights Amendment to be signed into law
by Gilbert Cordova
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Ben Cardin of Maryland are rallying support for the Equal Rights Amendment to be signed into law. According to EqualRightsAmendment.org, "The Equal Rights Amendment is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. It seeks to end the legal distinctions between men and women in terms of divorce, property, employment, and other matters." Alaska ratified the Equal Rights Am… Continue Reading
06.01.20
KDLG: Sen. Murkowski pushes for an additional $1 billion in federal fisheries relief funds
by Tyler Thompson
Alaska's fishing industry was allocated $50 million in CARES Act funding in early May to ease financial losses tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. Commercial and sport fishing businesses that incur more than 35% in losses will be eligible for aid. NOAA Fisheries and The Pacific Marine Fishery Commission will evaluate each entity's spending plan. According to NOAA, submissions and approvals will "occur on a rolling basis." Additional money could be on the way for the fishing industry. Senator Lisa M… Continue Reading
05.28.20
VOA News: US Coronavirus Death Toll Exceeds 100,000
The United States now has more than 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, a toll larger than the number of U.S. deaths in the Vietnam and Korean wars combined. As the country passed the threshold, a bipartisan group of senators renewed their call for a moment of silence to be held Monday to honor the dead. "The nation must mark this dark moment with unity and clarity,"?said Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii.?"At this time of almost unimaginable pain, it is essential that we pause to honor every life lost, a… Continue Reading
