Articles & Op-eds
Anchorage Daily News: Parents behind ‘Bree’s Law’ blocked by Dunleavy administration from adapting Alaska’s teen dating violence classes for nationwide use
by Sean Maguire
JUNEAU - An effort by the parents behind "Bree's Law" to adapt the state of Alaska's teen dating violence curriculum for nationwide use has hit a roadblock after the Dunleavy administration this month declined to grant a copyright release. Butch and Cindy Moore are the parents of Breanna "Bree" Moore, their youngest daughter, who was murdered in 2014 by her boyfriend. The Moore family was unaware that their daughter was in a violent relationship before she was killed. In 2018, after a yearsl… Continue Reading
04.12.23
Anchorage Daily News: In Kyiv visit, Sen. Murkowski calls for bipartisan backing of Ukraine
by Riley Rogerson
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, traveling to Kyiv with other senators to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, called for united support of the Ukrainian war effort. Though Murkowski's trip is one of several that members of Congress have taken to Ukraine since Russia's invasion, it comes as some Republicans' support for U.S. assistance to Ukraine has declined. Prominent Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis… Continue Reading
04.12.23
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Sen. Murkowski visits Ukraine
by Staff Report
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), are in Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The congressional delegation met with Ukrainian leaders on a variety of topics, including military readiness, energy security, accountability of foreign assistance, and the rebuild of Ukraine. They were also joined by UNITED24 Ambassador, West Virginia native and country music artist Brad Paisley. "For more than a year, the people of Ukraine have stood agains… Continue Reading
04.12.23
Murkowski travels to Ukraine, meets briefly with Zelenskyy to investigate American spending
by James Brooks
Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Wednesday became the first member of Alaska's congressional delegation to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion of that country 14 months ago. The Alaska Republican joined two Democrats - Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona - on an oversight trip. "We are here, somewhat in an oversight role. The United States has contributed significantly to the effort on behalf of the people of Ukraine," she said. "The United States' commitment is an … Continue Reading
04.11.23
KYUK: During Bethel visit, Murkowski talks about rural Alaska and how she plans to address issues in D.C.
by Francisco Martínezcuello
Sen. Lisa Murkowski recently wrapped up a state tour to meet with Alaskans. She spent time working in Anchorage, including representing the U.S. Senate at the annual Arctic Encounter Symposium, and Whittier, where she hosted Arctic dignitaries. She also took her first trip to Mekoryuk after going to Bethel. "I haven't been back in probably about six months or so now. I was scheduled to be here in early November. And Bethel had a storm that day," she said. She stopped by KYUK to talk about is… Continue Reading
03.24.23
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Bill intends to reduce maternal and infant deaths
by Fairbanks Daily News Miner
Washington, DC - Yesterday, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reintroduced the Mothers and Newborns Success Act, bipartisan legislation to promote maternal health and reduce racial inequities in maternal and infant mortality. Their intent is to strengthen support for women during and after pregnancy, expanding maternal health research and data collection, and ensuring women are better matched w… Continue Reading
03.23.23
Frontiersman: 'You are poised for greatness': Houston High School officially opens
by Katie Stavick
Though the weather was grey, and winter was making it last gasp with flakes falling from the sky, there was nothing but red and black Houston Hawk pride as the ribbon was cut, officially opening the new Houston High School. "When I talk to the students and the community, one word always comes to mind-resiliency," said Houston High School Principal Ben Howard as he addressed students, staff, and guests Thursday morning. "Our school and community is resilient. In times of adversity, we stuck tog… Continue Reading
03.17.23
Cordova Times OPINION: Cordova will share in $45M award for marine highway
by Rep. Louise Stutes
Dear Friends and Neighbors, I hope this finds you well, warm and in good spirits. I am happy to have this opportunity to recap our first few weeks of session and give you a glimpse of our anticipated path forward this session. I am happy to say I have the opportunity to work once again with a coalition consisting of many of the members I have worked with over the past six years. It is always an easier road when working with people that have similar district needs and commonalities. A few of … Continue Reading
03.15.23
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: OPINION: Bring opioid addiction treatment to the neediest Alaskans
by Sarah Spencer
Alaska experienced the greatest increase in overdose death rates nationwide in 2021, with fentanyl overdoses increasing by 150%. Native Alaskans suffer from overdose rates three times higher than white Alaskans and have disproportionately less access to medication to treat opioid use disorder. Medication to treat opioid use disorder such as buprenorphine is dramatically effective at reducing death rates by up to 80%, however, many rural Alaskans have not had access to this life saving medicati… Continue Reading
03.15.23
Politico: Murkowski won big time with Biden’s oil project. She knows it, too.
by Emma Dumain
For nearly two years, Sen. Lisa Murkowski played the long game on expanding drilling in Alaska: She voted for many of President Joe Biden's key nominees. She backed several of the Democratic president's legislative priorities. And all the while, she bent the ears of top White House officials every chance she could. All that work has paid off - in a big way. On Monday, the Interior Department, at Biden's direction, announced it would move forward with a scaled-back, but still expansive, plan … Continue Reading
03.14.23
Alaska Federation of Natives: AFN Praises President Biden’s Decision to Approve the Willow Project
by Alaska Federation of Natives
ANCHORAGE, AK - The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) thanked President Biden for his Administration's decision to approve ConocoPhillips' Willow Project in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve (NPRA). AFN acknowledged that President Biden had to weigh competing interests and prioritizing our nation's national security during these challenging times. "AFN thanks our Congressional Delegation, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, and U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola a… Continue Reading
03.14.23
E&E News: How Murkowski helped move Biden on Willow
by Emma Dumain
For nearly two years, Sen. Lisa Murkowski has played the long game on expanding drilling in Alaska: She has voted for many of President Joe Biden's key nominees and legislative priorities while relentlessly bending the ears of top White House officials at every opportunity. All that work paid has paid off in a big way. On Monday, the Interior Department, at Biden's direction, announced it would move forward with a scaled-back, but still expansive, plan for energy extraction in the Alaska Rep… Continue Reading
03.13.23
Anchorage Daily News: What Alaska leaders, North Slope groups, conservation groups, industry and others are saying about Biden’s Willow project approval
by Riley Rogerson, Alex DeMarban
The Biden administration's Monday decision to approve an $8 billion ConocoPhillips Alaska oil project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska swiftly drew both celebration and condemnation in Alaska and Outside. The much-anticipated announcement allows ConocoPhillips to develop three drill sites, a smaller footprint than what the company had originally proposed, but an option it said is still economically viable. The Alaska congressional delegation, state officials, North Slope leaders, indus… Continue Reading
03.13.23
Alaska Beacon: Biden administration OKs Willow Arctic oil project on Alaska’s North Slope
by James Brooks
The Biden administration on Monday approved Alaska's largest oil and gas development in decades after a bipartisan lobbying effort by members of the state's congressional delegation and the state Legislature. Though the project has broad support from elected officials in Alaska, it's strongly opposed by environmental groups. Some are already planning a lawsuit to block the project. Located in the federal National Petroleum Reserve on the North Slope, the Willow project is expected to produce… Continue Reading
03.13.23
New York Times: How Biden Got From ‘No More Drilling’ to Backing a Huge Project in Alaska
by Lisa Friedman
WASHINGTON - As a candidate, Joseph R. Biden promised voters worried about the warming planet "No more drilling on federal lands, period. Period, period, period." On Monday, President Biden approved an enormous $8 billion plan to extract 600 million barrels of oil from pristine federal land in Alaska. The distance between Mr. Biden's campaign pledge and his blessing on that plan, known as the Willow project, is explained by a global energy crisis, intense pressure from Alaska lawmakers (includ… Continue Reading
03.13.23
Anchorage Press: 'The enormous benefits it will bring to not only the North Slope, but Alaska and the nation.': State leaders welcome approval of the Willow Project; Governor warns new oil, gas restrictions in NPRA will harm Alaska
by Katie Stavick
On Monday, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued a Record of Decision approving an alternative for ConocoPhillips' Willow Project on the North Slope that permits 3 drill pads. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Representative Mary Peltola welcomed the Biden administration's decision to reapprove ConocoPhillips' Willow Project within the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (NRPA). "We finally did it, Willow is finally reapproved, and we can almost literally feel Alaska's fu… Continue Reading
02.23.23
Anchorage Daily News: ‘This is your lifeline’: Murkowski urges Legislature to address shrinking population
by Iris Samuels
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski urged Alaska lawmakers to stem the tide of outmigration by investing in transportation, resource development and child care, among other areas, in a fiery speech to the Legislature on Wednesday. "I maybe didn't stay in my lane," the 20-year Republican senator said after spending much of her hourlong address instructing lawmakers on state policy proposals, in what she called "the tough love part" of her comments. Her top priority, she said, was ensuring that the Legisla… Continue Reading
02.22.23
Fairbanks Daily News Miner: Murkowski calls on Legislature to capitalize on the opportunity in federal funding
by Matt Buxton
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski delivered her annual address to the Alaska Legislature on Wednesday, heralding billions of dollars in new federal spending coming the state's way but warning there is still much work to be done to make the state a place where people "live and work and play and stay." Where such addresses are typically an opportunity for Alaska's congressional delegation to tout accomplishments on the federal level, Murkowski was unusually direct about the need for the Legislature to… Continue Reading
02.22.23
Alaska News Source: Murkowski encourages support for ferries, Willow project in speech to state legislature
by Tim Rockey
JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) - United States Sen. Lisa Murkowski spoke to a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Wednesday, reaffirming her full-throated support for the Willow project on the North Slope. Murkowski also spoke about numerous other topics, including infrastructure, transportation on the Alaska Marine Highway System, outmigration and other economic issues that have plagued Alaska. Murkowski began by discussing all the new faces in the Alaska Legislature, commending the formation o… Continue Reading
02.19.23
Anchorage Daily News: Alaska Native supporters of Willow oil project push for approval in D.C.
by Riley Rogerson
WASHINGTON - As a decision from the Biden administration on the Willow oil development project nears, a group of North Slope leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., this month to advocate for its approval, emphasizing that their communities stand to gain billions if it is developed. The Willow project, a $8 billion ConocoPhillips drilling prospect in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, is expected to produce more than 180,000 barrels of oil daily at its peak. As the Biden administration mul… Continue Reading
