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.
Murkowski-Coons ALS Legislation Passes Senate
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Chris Coons (D-DE), co-chairs of the Congressional ALS Caucus, this week secured Senate passage of their legislation, the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act (ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act) of 2026. The bill will help people living with ALS continue to access promising treatments while advancing the scientific understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. Companion legislation, led by Representatives M… Continue Reading
08.07.26
Murkowski Releases Statement on Blanche Nomination
Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement regarding Todd Blanche’s nomination to serve as United States Attorney General: “I have had numerous constructive meetings with Mr. Blanche and he comes across as decent and capable. I appreciate the trip he made to learn more about Alaska, including our rural areas, and as Acting Attorney General he has made several noteworthy decisions that will benefit our state and the nation. “Ultimately, however, I … Continue Reading
08.06.26
Murkowski and Colleagues Work to Modernize Fisheries Science
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced legislation that would help the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) better assess and protect our fisheries. The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would incorporate environmental DNA (eDNA) and other biomolecular tools into NOAA's fisheries science programs, allowing for more cost-effective and expanded survey coverage. This would bolster, not replace, traditional s… Continue Reading
08.06.26
Murkowski, Merkley Seek Information on Executive Order Targeting Smithsonian
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chair of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Interior Subcommittee, sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum requesting additional information on the Department of the Interior's (DOI) planned implementation of Executive Order 14416, "Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution." The Executive Order directs the National Park Service (NPS) to install temporary signa… Continue Reading
08.05.26
Murkowski, Duckworth Bipartisan Bill to Protect Children from Dangers of AI Toys Passes Committee
Washington, D.C. - Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to help protect children from the dangers posed by toys that use artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots successfully passed through the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) today. The Senators’ bipartisan Children’s Artificial Intelligence Toy Safety Act of 2026 would help equip families, pediatricians and policymakers with the independent evidence they ne… Continue Reading
08.05.26
Murkowski Announces Release of $41.3 Million for Alaska Native Education Program Grants
Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced that the U.S. Department of Education (USED) has obligated $41.3 million in continuation awards through the Alaska Native Education Program (ANEP), providing long-awaited funding for 26 Alaska grantees. The continuation awards were expected to be released on July 1 but were delayed until Senator Murkowski engaged directly with the Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon last week to expedite the awards. "Last week, I raised thi… Continue Reading
08.03.26
Murkowski, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Increase Access to High Quality Health Care In Remote And Rural Areas
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Reauthorization Act, which will increase access to high-quality health care in hard-to-reach areas. The bill reauthorizes funding for an innovative medical education program that deploys interactive videoconferencing to link specialist teams with primary care providers in rural areas, helping … Continue Reading
07.30.26
Murkowski and Colleagues Advance Legislation to Block Department of Education Interagency Agreements
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today joined Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)—all members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee—in voting to advance S. 5046, legislation they introduced to block certain Interagency Agreements issued by the Department of Education that would transfer critical offices and programs to other federal agencies that lack the staff and expertise needed to execute their missions. Senators Maggie … Continue Reading
07.30.26
Murkowski, Merkley Continue Oversight of Restoring NSF Ocean Monitoring Systems
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) pressed the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide an update on the agency’s plans to redeploy vital Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) sensors. The bipartisan letter follows the Senators securing a commitment from NSF to pause its planned removal of the OOI sensors, a complex system of 900 ocean monitoring instruments that provides crucial data for coastal communities, fishermen, and nationwide emergen… Continue Reading
07.29.26
Murkowski’s Geese House Legislation Advances from Committee
Washington, DC—Earlier today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee favorably reported S. 4399, Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) legislation to convey the Geese House site from the National Park Service to Doyon, Limited. The bill would transfer ownership to Doyon to ensure that the culturally significant site is managed by and for the Athabascan people of the region. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) is cosponsoring the legislation and Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) has introduced companio… Continue Reading
07.22.26
Senator Murkowski Applauds DOJ Settlement Resolution Supporting Alaska Native Healthcare System
Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, welcomed the resolution of a longstanding legal dispute between the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) and the federal government, which will provide $400 million, plus approximately $63 million in interest, to address improperly withheld contract support cost reimbursements under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA). The settlement resolves … Continue Reading
07.22.26
Murkowski and Colleagues Lead Efforts to Bolster Made-In-America Hydropower
Washington, D.C.-Yesterday, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) introduced the “Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act.” This bill will reform the Federal Power Act to reduce delays and costs of hydropower licensing. Specifically, the bill would limit Section 4 (e) and Section 18 mandatory conditioning of hydropower licenses under the Federal Power Act to those conditions that are related to “direct adverse effects” of the project. “Throughou… Continue Reading
07.17.26
Murkowski, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Boost Health Care Workforce
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act, legislation to address health care workforce shortages in Virginia and across the country. The bill would help internationally educated health care professionals overcome common barriers to entering the health care workforce in the United States. “Many of our rural communiti… Continue Reading
07.16.26
Landless Bill Advances from Senate Committee
Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today announced that her bill allowing five Alaska Native communities to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) passed out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) by voice vote. The legislation, which would remedy a decades-long inequity for Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Tenakee, now heads to the Senate floor for consideration. Senator Murkowski’s… Continue Reading
07.16.26
Murkowski, Schatz Introduce Major Legislative Package to Support Native Children, Families, and Communities
Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai?i), Vice Chairman of the Committee, introduced the Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act (S.4976), a comprehensive legislative package aimed at advancing the well-being and future opportunities of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children. A culmination of Senator Murkowski’s longstanding commitment to improving outcomes fo… Continue Reading
07.10.26
Delegation Welcomes Corps Permit for King Cove Road
Anchorage, AK—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) approval of a permit to facilitate construction of a life-saving road between the isolated community of King Cove, Alaska and nearby Cold Bay. The one-lane gravel connector will provide reliable transportation access from King Cove to Cold Bay, which is home to an all-weather airport. “This is more good news for King Cove and all who ca… Continue Reading
06.25.26
Murkowski, Hickenlooper Move to Reauthorize Cost-Effective Geological Mapping
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI), a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) program that improves understanding of geologic hazards, critical mineral, geothermal, and other subsurface resources across the country. Since its launch in 2019, Earth MRI has accelerated project timelines, reduced exploration risk, and lowered costs by making foundational geologic informati… Continue Reading
06.24.26
Murkowski Supports Bipartisan Housing Package
Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act this week, a bipartisan legislative package designed to increase housing supply, reduce costs, and strengthen federal housing programs nationwide. The legislation incorporates provisions from bipartisan housing proposals previously considered by Congress and represents one of the most significant federal housing packages in decades. The bill passed the Senate in March, was amended in the Hous… Continue Reading
06.18.26
Murkowski on Iran MOU
Washington, DC - Following today’s Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement: “This week’s Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran is a welcome step away from war, but it is also just a first step, and a final agreement may prove difficult to reach over the next 60 days. While it is significant that the Strait of Hormuz will be open, I share the apprehensions of many of my colleagues… Continue Reading
06.18.26
Murkowski, Merkley Secure Commitment to Preserve U.S. Ocean Monitoring System
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) announced the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is pausing its planned removal of the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s (OOI) sensors. NSF’s decision came after Murkowski and Merkley passed a Senate bill to prohibit the NSF from dismantling the OOI system. “The National Science Foundation’s decision to leave the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s buoys in place is a massive win for coastal communities and fish… Continue Reading
