Press Releases
Media Requests: Members of the media can contact the press office by emailing Joseph_Plesha@murkowski.senate.gov or by calling 206-302-8317 and asking for the press office.
ICYMI: Murkowski Joins Bipartisan Group of Appropriators Urging Labor Department to Reverse Closure of Job Corps Centers
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, joined U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Appropriations Committee, and Jack Reed (D-RI) in sending a letter to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, urging the Department of Labor (DOL) to reverse its decision to begin the closure of Job Corps Centers nationwide. In addition to Murkowski, Collins, and Reed, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Boozman (R-AR)… Continue Reading
06.20.25
Delegation Applauds Passage of Alaska Native Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, along with U.S. Representative Nick Begich (all R-Alaska), applauded Senate passage of two important bills—H.R. 42, the Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act, and H.R. 43, the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2025. These bills previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives on February 4. Both pieces of legislation were led by Congressman Begich. H.R. 42 and H.R. 43 passed the U.S. Senate by u… Continue Reading
06.18.25
Senator Murkowski Celebrates Passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization in Senate
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today helped facilitate the Senate’s passage of legislation she is cosponsoring, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025, by unanimous consent. Murkowski worked with the leaders of the Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee and her Democratic colleagues to secure passage of several bills, including this measure to provide critical relief to communities impacted by declines in timber receipts. SRS funds are used to support sch… Continue Reading
06.17.25
Murkowski, Whitehouse, Pingree, and Moylan reintroduce legislation to address ocean acidification
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Representatives Chellie Pingree (ME-01) and James Moylan (R-GU) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act. This legislation provides resources for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to collaborate with local and tribal entities to research and monitor ocean acidification. “The impacts of ocean acidification on our coastal communities can… Continue Reading
06.12.25
Murkowski Welcomes Eielson AFB Announcement on Microreactor Pilot Program
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the United States Department of the Air Force’s (DAF) Notice of Intent to Award the microreactor pilot project at Eielson Air Force Base (AFB). This announcement clears the way for the DAF and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to prepare an environmental analysis. Microreactors are small nuclear reactors that can be transportable, offering operational flexibility that can benefit remote and rural communities. Senator Murkowski … Continue Reading
06.12.25
Congressional Delegation Introduce Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act
Washington, DC — U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Representative Nick Begich (all R-Alaska), introduced the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act to direct a land exchange between the federal government and Chugach Alaska Corporation (Chugach). This exchange would resolve conflicts that exist between the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council’s Habitat Protection Program (the “Program”) goals for federal habitat conservation of surface lands impacte… Continue Reading
06.09.25
Murkowski Engages with Education and Labor Nominees on Alaska Priorities
Washington, DC - This week, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a hearing to consider the nominations of Dr. Penny Schwinn to be Deputy Secretary of Education, Kimberly Richey to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education (ED), Daniel Aronowitz to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), Department of Labor (DOL), and David Keeling to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupa… Continue Reading
06.06.25
Ahead of World Ocean Day, Murkowski and Whitehouse Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Ban Commercial Octopus Farming
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), founders and co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus, reintroduced the Opposing the Cultivation and Trade of Octopus Produced through Unethical Strategies (OCTOPUS) Act in advance of World Ocean Day on June 8th. The bipartisan legislation would preemptively ban commercial octopus farming in the U.S. and prohibit imports of commercially farmed octopus from foreign countries. In August, 100 scientists p… Continue Reading
06.06.25
Murkowski, King Reintroduce Legislation to Help Coastal Workforce, Fisheries, and Infrastructure
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME), reintroduced the Working Waterfronts Act, legislation which includes more than a dozen provisions aimed at boosting the workforce, energy and shoreside infrastructure, food security, and economies of coastal communities in Alaska and across the country. The bill will also support efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change on coastal communities and strengthen federal conservation research projects. In… Continue Reading
06.06.25
Murkowski, King Reintroduce Legislation to Help Coastal Workforce, Fisheries, and Infrastructure
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME), reintroduced the Working Waterfronts Act, legislation which includes more than a dozen provisions aimed at boosting the workforce, energy and shoreside infrastructure, food security, and economies of coastal communities in Alaska and across the country. The bill will also support efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change on coastal communities and strengthen federal conservation research projects. In… Continue Reading
06.05.25
Senator Murkowski and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Access to Eating Disorder Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to improve access to care for seniors and people with disabilities who are living with eating disorders. The bipartisan Nutrition CARE Act would expand access to medical care for Medicare beneficiaries with eating disorders by including coverage of outpatient medical nutrition therapy through Medicare Part B, which will provide patient… Continue Reading
06.04.25
Murkowski Secures Commitment from Secretary of Commerce to Convene Summit with Alaska’s Fishing Industry
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-AK and a senior member of the Committee on Appropriations, today secured a commitment from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to convene a meeting with Alaska seafood stakeholders on trade issues with Russia and ways the administration can help bolster the industry. Speaking at hearing held by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Murkowski emphasized the importance of fair-trade practices for … Continue Reading
06.03.25
Alaska Delegation Welcomes Interior Process to Rescind Unlawful NPR-A Rule
Anchorage, Alaska — U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Representative Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today welcomed an announcement from the Department of the Interior (DOI) that it will initiate a public process to rescind an unlawful 2024 rule that restricts responsible oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). DOI made the announcement after officials conducted “a thorough legal and policy review” that determined the 2024 rule “exceeds [the Bureau o… Continue Reading
05.22.25
Murkowski Highlights Opportunities, Challenges with Interior Budget Request
Washington, DC - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, hosted the Secretary of the Interior in subcommittee to discuss the Department’s budget request. The Senator reinforced her appreciation for the administration’s approach to resource development in Alaska, while also addressing staffing concerns, public land sales, and other avenues of potential for the department. Watch the Senator’s op… Continue Reading
05.15.25
Murkowski Reinforces Alaska Health Priorities to HHS Secretary
Washington, DC - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) engaged with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to discuss the reorganization of HHS programs that assist vulnerable Alaskans including Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Head Start, and community-based programs that support survivors of domestic violence. Watch Senator Murkowski’s opening statement here. Read the Senator’s transc… Continue Reading
05.15.25
Murkowski to EPA: “Let me help you”
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, hosted the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in subcommittee to discuss the agency’s budget request. The Senator and Administrator Lee Zeldin discussed how the subcommittee can best serve the agency’s mission of providing clean air, water, and land for all Americans, while the Administrator committed to fostering a better working… Continue Reading
05.09.25
Murkowski Working with FBI Director to Address MMIWG and Fentanyl in Alaska
Washington, DC - During a U.S. Senate Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing this week, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) secured commitments from the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to work with her on critical public safety issues for Alaska. As Alaska struggles with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls cases and fentanyl-related deaths, Director Kash Patel pledged to make Alaska a priority as the Bureau addresses… Continue Reading
05.09.25
Murkowski Presses DOE, DOI Nominees on Alaska Priorities
Washington, DC - This week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee held a hearing to consider the nominations of William Doffermyre to be Solicitor at the Department of the Interior, Kyle Haustveit to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Fossil Energy), and Catherine Jereza to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Electricity). U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), former Chairman of the committee, pressed the nominees on carbon capture projects on Alaska’s North Slope, the need to… Continue Reading
05.09.25
Murkowski Engages with DHS Secretary Noem on Temporary Protected Status
Washington, DC - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) engaged with the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on a number of important issues to Alaska during a Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing. The Senator spoke up for those in Alaska under temporary protected status and humanitarian parole, and impressed upon Secretary Kristi Noem the importance of prompt processing of applications for humanitarian parole and temporary protected status. Click here to wa… Continue Reading
05.08.25
Senator Murkowski Reiterates Her Support for Public Broadcasting
Washington, DC - In an opinion piece published in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner this morning, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) reiterated her support for public broadcasting as the administration proposes to cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The senator outlined the unique value that public broadcasting offers to Alaskans across the state and committed to defending the CPB’s funding through her role as a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations… Continue Reading
