Press Releases
Media Requests: Members of the media can contact the press office by emailing karina_borger@murkowski.senate.gov or by calling 202-224-6665 and asking for the press office.
Committee Advances Defense Funding Bill
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted to advance the Defense Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2020. Senator Murkowski and her Appropriations Committee colleagues worked to craft a bill that prioritizes supporting programs critical to national security. The bill also includes $1.7 billion in emergency funding for disaster relief, specifically in response to Hurricanes Michael and Florence, and for flooding and earthquakes that occurr… Continue Reading
09.13.19
Committee Advances Energy and Water Funding Bill
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted to advance the Energy and Water Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2020. The bill provides funding for Department of Energy (DOE) programs and critical infrastructure projects administered by the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). Murkowski secured provisions to build on energy needs and opportunities in Alaska's Arctic, which will improve energy efficiency, reliability, and affordability. Her reque… Continue Reading
09.12.19
Delegation Welcomes Key Step for Coastal Plain Leasing Program
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the oil and gas leasing program for the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (1002 Area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). "This is a major step forward in our decades-long efforts to allow for responsible resource development in Alaska's 1002 Area, and I thank Secretary Bernhar… Continue Reading
09.12.19
Murkowski Accepts Honorary Position on IEA’s Global Efficiency Commission
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that she has accepted an honorary membership position on the International Energy Agency's (IEA) independent, high-level Commission for Urgent Action on Energy Efficiency (Commission). The announcement was made at a brief press conference held today with Dr. Fatih Birol, IEA's Executive Director. "I am proud to be part of a concerted global effort to encourage energy efficiency and truly appreciate Dr. Birol extending this invitation," Murkows… Continue Reading
09.11.19
Murkowski Commends Administration for E-Cigarette Flavor Ban
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today commended the Trump administration for its announcement on banning flavored e-cigarettes. The U.S. Department of Human Services announced plans for the FDA to finalize a compliance policy, which would place a ban on all non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes. This announcement follows a recent CDC health advisory on severe pulmonary disease associated with using e-cigarette products, which also identified the illnesses impacting adolescents and young adults, r… Continue Reading
08.30.19
Murkowski Welcomes Deputy Secretary of Energy in Alaska
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week welcomed U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Deputy Secretary Dan Brouillette to Alaska to see energy-related opportunities and challenges across the state. During the trip, Brouillette visited operations on the North Slope, toured remote villages working to reduce their cost of energy, and met with local stakeholders. "This was a great opportunity for Dan to visit more of Alaska, to see firsthand how we contribute to our nation's energy security, and t… Continue Reading
08.29.19
Murkowski Statement on Senator Isakson Retirement Announcement
Anchorage, AK - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today released the following statement after U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) announced his plans to retire from the United States Senate at the end of the year. "While I will be saddened to see my friend and colleague leave the Senate, I commend him for putting his health and the people he represents, first. His dedication to the people of Georgia and sense of responsibility has been unwavering, including in this very difficult decision," sa… Continue Reading
08.27.19
Murkowski Comments on Hilcorp Acquisition of BP’s Alaska Assets
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after Hilcorp announced it has reached agreement to acquire substantially all of BP's assets and interests in Alaska. "We thank BP for its long-standing partnership on resource production in our state and for the many significant and lasting philanthropic contributions it has made in our communities," Murkowski said. "I'm looking forward to learning more details and am encouraged that an enterprising company like Hilcor… Continue Reading
08.21.19
Murkowski Thanks Assistant Secretary Balash For His Service
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today thanked Alaskan Joe Balash, who will be stepping down from his position as Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the Department of the Interior at the end of the month. "I greatly appreciate Joe's hard work and dedication at the Department, where he has led the way on a number of issues that are critical to our state and nation. From standing up the leasing program for the 1002 Area to the lifting of decades-old Public Lands Orders, Jo… Continue Reading
08.15.19
Murkowski Releases Discussion Draft of Strategic Energy for America Act
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released a discussion draft of the Strategic Energy for America (SEA) Act of 2019, building from her recently launched Strategic Energy Initiative (SEI). "In this era of strategic energy competition, we must strengthen our tools of statecraft through a rational, long-term approach," Murkowski said. "What I have released today outlines the means to continue growing our nation's energy dominance. American companies and workers participate in highly compet… Continue Reading
08.07.19
Murkowski, Sullivan Lead Senate Effort to Establish Offshore Revenue Sharing for Alaska
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, along with Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., John Kennedy, R-La., Doug Jones, D-Ala., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., recently introduced new legislation to facilitate the equitable sharing of revenues from energy production in the nation's Outer Continental Shelf. The bill, entitled the Conservation of America's Shoreline Terrain and Aquatic Life (COASTAL) Act, includes a title written by Murkowski and Sullivan to establish a revenue sharing prog… Continue Reading
08.05.19
Murkowski Holds Transboundary Roundtable
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), joined by U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), today led a roundtable discussion on transboundary issues, bringing together federal, state, tribal, and local leaders as well as visiting Commissioners from the International Joint Commission (IJC), the bilateral panel under the Boundary Waters Treaty between the United States and Canada. The roundtable discussion focused on educating IJC Commissioners about Alaska's transboundary watersheds, Alaska's water quality … Continue Reading
08.05.19
Murkowski Introduces Bill to Help Develop Local Energy Infrastructure
Prior to the Senate's adjournment for the August state work period, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced legislation to improve access to the Department of Energy's (DOE) Section 1703 loan guarantee program. Her new bill would allow certain state financing entities to be fully eligible for the program, providing a new pathway for states to secure financing for projects that will reduce energy costs and lower greenhouse gas emissions. "Right now, the Department's loan guarantee program… Continue Reading
08.02.19
ICYMI: Murkowski Highlights Alaska Travel and Transportation
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently spoke on the Senate floor to emphasize the uniqueness of transportation and travel in Alaska, explaining to her colleagues why road trips in Alaska take on a different meaning. "I come from a state with over 663,000 square miles. But within those 663,000 square miles we don't have a lot of roads." said Senator Murkowski. "Over 82 percent of the communities in the state of Alaska are not connected by roads and not part of the road system. So traveling … Continue Reading
08.01.19
Murkowski Votes in Favor of Bipartisan Budget Deal
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 3877, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 67 to 28 and now heads to the President to be signed into law. "This bipartisan agreement is necessary to provide fiscal certainty at the federal level. It's the result of a compromise and reflects priorities from both sides of the aisle. It provides for the common defense and national security by ensuring the comb… Continue Reading
07.31.19
Murkowski Reacts to EPA’s Latest Announcement on Pebble Mine
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it has withdrawn the proposed determination it issued in 2014 for the Pebble mine project in southwest Alaska. "I have never supported preemptive restrictions for any project in Alaska," Murkowski said. "It is inappropriate for an agency to prejudge a project years before its proponent has filed a permit application. Allowing agencies to expand their authority in … Continue Reading
07.31.19
Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Provide Critical Funding For Pregnant Mothers
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced new legislation to reauthorize mandatory funding at $25 million for the Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF) for five years, through 2024. The PAF program is a vital health and human services program that delivers funding for states and tribal entities so they can provide essential services directed to youth who are pregnant and parenting, to pregnant women who have experienced sexual violence, and other vulnerable individuals who ar… Continue Reading
07.30.19
Murkowski Commends Administration Efforts to Increase Hospital Price Transparency
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' announcement of newly proposed rules aimed to provide patients with clear and accessible information about the cost of healthcare. The proposed rules establish transparency requirements to make pricing information publically available as well as change payment policies under the physician fee schedule and other Part B payment policies. "Greater transparency is one key piece of the puzzle when it comes to… Continue Reading
07.30.19
Murkowski Commends Successful Arrow-3 Missile Test Launch
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today applauded the successful Arrow-3 missile tests at the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska in Kodiak -a joint effort between the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D). Arrow-3 missiles successfully took out target missiles in high-altitude precision test engagements. As a member of both the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and full Senate Appropriati… Continue Reading
07.29.19
Murkowski, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Tribes Combat Homelessness
U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced a bipartisan bill to make it possible for Tribes and tribally designated housing entities to access funding to combat homelessness on tribal lands. The bipartisan bill-the Tribal Access to Homeless Assistance Act-would make it possible for Tribes to submit funding requests for these funds, and it would also help Tribes take on the administration and coordination of homeless assistance grants. U.S. Representatives Denny H… Continue Reading
