07.31.20

ICYMI: Murkowski Joins Heinrich, Daines Legislation To Extend Deadline For Tribes To Spend CARES Act Funding

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Steve Daines (R-MT) in introducing legislation that extends the coverage of Coronavirus Relief Fund payments allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to tribal governments from December 30, 2020, to December 30, 2022. The CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, allocated $8 billion for tribal governments under the Coronavirus Relief Fund. However, Indian Country did not… Continue Reading

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07.31.20

Indian Affairs Committee Advances Bills Focused on Health, Safety, Energy, and Cultural Repatriation

This week the Senate Indian Affairs Committee advanced four bills led by U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) - legislation to further uphold the Federal government's trust responsibilities to our nation's First Peoples, improve health care services, improve protections of Native American tangible culture heritage, and help tribal communities work with the Office of Indian Energy (OIE). The Committee advanced Murkowski's S. 2610, the Tribal Energy Reauthorization Act, legislation to reauthorize certai… Continue Reading

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07.30.20

Peters, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Effort to Support Veteran Workforce Development During COVID-19 Pandemic

U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced a bipartisan effort to support veteran workforce development during the COVID-19 pandemic. The senators introduced bipartisan legislation to extend GI Bill benefits for veterans whose registered apprenticeships were cut short or ended due to COVID-19. Currently, veterans must meet a minimum number of apprenticeship hours to receive their full Monthly Housing Allowance. However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many regis… Continue Reading

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07.30.20

Murkowski Joins Colleagues in Push to Aid the U.S. Postal Service

In an effort to help the United States Postal Service (USPS) overcome the detrimental impacts of COVID-19, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Doug Jones (D-AL), and Jon Tester (D-MT) as a cosponsor of S. 4174, the Postal Service Emergency Assistance Act. This legislation would provide USPS with up to $25 billion to help address revenue losses and cover operational expenses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemi… Continue Reading

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07.29.20

Murkowski, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Research and Development of Carbon Removal Technologies

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation, the Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise (CREATE) Act, which supports the development of innovative technologies that ensure cleaner air and a healthier environment. "Carbon removal technologies have significant promise and could someday present an opportunity to substantially reduce net levels of global greenhou… Continue Reading

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07.29.20

King, Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Enhance Testing, Tracing Protocols

U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have introduced legislation to establish a grant program through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help enhance coronavirus testing, contact tracing, and supported isolation efforts. The COVID-19 Testing, Reaching, And Contacting Everyone (TRACE) Act's grants could be used to support programs that use mobile health units or work through community-based organizations, provide coronavirus testing, conduct contac… Continue Reading

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07.28.20

Murkowski Joins Bennet, Young in Effort to Support Hard-Hit Businesses

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has worked well for many Alaskan businesses, but is often less effective for the businesses that should be receiving the most assistance - the smallest businesses or those who have seen revenues decline the most. Its limited duration will also leave many of the most-affected businesses without support in the difficult months ahead. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently joined Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) in cosponsoring the Revi… Continue Reading

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07.28.20

Murkowski Applauds Administration’s Actions to Address MMIW Crisis

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded the establishment of seven Cold Case Task Force offices across the nation, dedicated to solving cold cases involving missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. This week marked the opening of an office in Bloomington, Minnesota with an office scheduled to open in Anchorage, Alaska next month, on August 27. Other nationwide offices include: Rapid City, SD; Billings, MT, Albuquerque, NM, and Phoenix, AZ. Click here for more information.… Continue Reading

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07.27.20

Murkowski’s Mineral Bill Included in Recovery Legislation

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that her bipartisan American Mineral Security Act is included in new legislation to help the U.S. recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Murkowski's bill, which focuses on rebuilding domestic supply chains, addresses systemic weaknesses exposed by the pandemic and is critical to the future of U.S. manufacturing and competitiveness. "The COVID-19 pandemic has brought renewed attention to the fact that our nation is heavily dependent on imports … Continue Reading

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07.24.20

Shaheen, Murkowski Introduce New Legislation to Waive Provision in Law Preventing Smaller States from Accessing Necessary Financial Support for Community Services

U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation that would address the "maximum allotment" provision that is significantly limiting the amount of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act relief funds that can be awarded to smaller states through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program. The Senators' bill waives the provision for the purposes of the CARES Act and any future supplemental CSBG funding provided by Congress for the remai… Continue Reading

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07.24.20

Kaine, Murkowski, Sewell Introduce Legislation To Reduce Maternal And Infant Mortality, Address Racial Inequities In Maternal Health

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Mothers and Newborns Success Act, legislation to help reduce the egregious racial inequities in maternal and infant mortality. Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives today. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the maternal mortality rate for Black women in 2018 was more th… Continue Reading

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07.23.20

Murkowski Applauds Major National Security Bill Passing Senate

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that authorizes $731.6 billion in national defense funding for Fiscal Year 2021. The bill authorizes funding for modernizing military technology, improving the livelihoods of troops and their families, and military construction-including in Alaska. The legislation includes Senator Murkowski's Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA), which aims to reestablish U.S. leadership in nucle… Continue Reading

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07.23.20

Senate Passes Nuclear Energy Leadership Act In Defense Authorization Bill

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today thanked her colleagues for supporting the inclusion of S. 903, her Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA), in S. 4049, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. The Senate today passed the NDAA bill, with NELA incorporated by amendment, by a vote of 86 to 14. "For too long, the United States has lagged woefully behind on innovative nuclear energy technologies, which comes at great cost to our economy, our global leadership, an… Continue Reading

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07.23.20

Statement from Senator Murkowski on Portland Protests

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement in regards to the protests in Portland, Oregon: "The deployment of federal forces usually takes place at the request of local elected leaders. When the partnership between local law enforcement and federal law enforcement is enacted properly, it can be helpful in deescalating situations and dealing with crime and violence. That's something we should be encouraging. I am aware of the situation in Portland-and while I do not think … Continue Reading

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07.23.20

Delegation: Ambler Access Project Will Aid Alaska’s Economy, Domestic Mineral Security

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 its Record of Decision (ROD) for the Ambler Mining District Industrial Access Road project (Ambler Road). "Federal approval of the Ambler Road is both timely and significant for Alaska's future," Senator Murkowski said. "This project will provide the access needed to responsibly develop a number of high-grade mineral deposits, hopefu… Continue Reading

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07.23.20

Murkowski: Public Land Users Have Been Hit Hard By COVID-19 Pandemic

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on users of public lands, forests, and national parks. The committee received testimony from witnesses representing the outdoor recreation industry, ranchers, water providers, state wildlife agencies, and a nonprofit foundation that partners with the National Park Service. In her opening statement, Murkowski called attention to the 22 percent drop in visitation to national parks, which … Continue Reading

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07.23.20

Whitehouse-Murkowski Bill to Further Understanding of Oceans, Great Lakes, and Coasts Advances Out of Committee

U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus, have announced that their legislation to advance data collection and monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts was approved by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee by voice vote yesterday. The Bolstering Long-Term Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries Act, or the BLUE GLOBE Act, would accelerate… Continue Reading

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07.22.20

Murkowski Supports PPP Forgiveness Legislation for Small Businesses

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently co-sponsored the bipartisan Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act, a bill sponsored by Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). Cramer originally introduced the bill with Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). "We appreciate our colleagues signing on to this important legislation," said Senator Cramer. "The bill is a commonsense move which would give small businesses peace of mind by eliminating unnecessary burea… Continue Reading

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07.21.20

Murkowski Commends Air Force’s Arctic Strategy

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statements after the Department of the Air Force unveiled an Arctic Strategy: "One of my top priorities is ensuring the Arctic region is a national priority. The Air Force's first ever Arctic Strategy not only recognizes the importance of the Arctic, but emphasizes Alaska's essential role in projecting national power and protecting our homeland. As General Billy Mitchell, the "Father of the Air Force," testified before Congress in 1935, … Continue Reading

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07.20.20

Tomorrow: Senate Set To Vote On Schatz-Murkowski-Harris-Paul Amendment On Stopping Police Militarization

Tomorrow, the U.S. Senate is set to vote on an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) that will limit the transfer of certain surplus military-grade equipment to local law enforcement agencies across the country. The Schatz-Murkowski-Harris-Paul amendment places limitations on the Department of Defense's 1033 program which authorizes the federal tra… Continue Reading