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.
Murkowski: Renewables, Efficiency Offer Real Opportunity
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine opportunities to advance renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts in the United States. Murkowski opened the hearing by acknowledging the significant progress made in both sectors in recent years. "Many renewables are now cost competitive without subsidies in certain parts of the country, and that's leading to greater investment. In 2018, U.S. corporations broke previous r… Continue Reading
05.20.19
Murkowski on Steel and Aluminum Tariff Announcement
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement after the Trump administration lifted steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico: "I'm pleased to see the administration take the necessary step of lifting steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico. I had previously expressed concerns about the impact these tariffs would have on our nation's economy, trade relationships, and particularly on our nation's energy sector. In Alaska, steel and aluminum tariffs have the potent… Continue Reading
05.17.19
Murkowski Leads Senate Effort to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of 19th Amendment
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), joined by all the women of the Senate, introduced a resolution to celebrate a historic milestone, the 100th anniversary of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment, providing for women's suffrage, to the Constitution of the United States. The resolution seeks to honor, reaffirm, and preserve the ratification of the 19th Amendment in further promoting the core values of our democracy as promised by the U.S. Constitution. "Ratifying the 19th amendment… Continue Reading
05.17.19
Alaska Applauds Air Force Decision to Base Additional F-22 Jets at JBER
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today applauded the Air Force for its plan to permanently station six additional F-22s, previously based at Tyndall AFB, Florida, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The plan is expected to become final following completion of environmental review. "We have long advocated for our military in Alaska, including the importance of our strategic geographic location for protecting our nation and responding to global … Continue Reading
05.17.19
Schatz, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Help The Defense Department Take On Child Pornography
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) re-introduced the End National Defense (END) Network Abuse Act, bipartisan legislation that would help the Pentagon stop the unacceptable use of the Defense Department's network to possess, procure, and even produce child pornography. "The widespread abuse of the Department of Defense's network to traffic child pornography must be stopped," said Senator Schatz. "Our bill aims to do that by giving our military leaders the tools… Continue Reading
05.16.19
Murkowski: CCUS as a Key to Help Address Climate Change
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine the Department of Energy's carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) programs. As part of the hearing, the committee also received testimony on S. 1201, the Enhancing Fossil Fuel Energy Carbon Technology Act or EFFECT Act, which is sponsored by Ranking Member Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. Murkowski, a cosponsor of the EFFECT Act, opened the hearing by outlining the role that CCUS t… Continue Reading
05.16.19
Bipartisan Senate Working Group Introduces Surprise Medical Billing Legislation
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Todd Young (R-IN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Tom Carper (D-DE), members of the Senate Bipartisan Working Group, today introduced the bipartisan STOP Surprise Medical Bills Act, legislation to protect patients from surprise medical bills. U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are also cosponsoring the bill. This legislation is a product of a nearly year-long effort revising proposals and r… Continue Reading
05.14.19
Murkowski: We Must Improve America’s Mineral Security
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine opportunities to strengthen our nation's mineral security. As part of the hearing, the committee also received testimony on S. 1052, the Rare Earth Element Advanced Coal Technologies Act, and S. 1317, the American Mineral Security Act. Murkowski opened the hearing by underscoring the importance of minerals, describing them as the "foundation of our modern society." She contrasted… Continue Reading
05.13.19
Senators Introduce Creig Sharp Funeral Honors for Veterans Act
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have introduced the Creig Sharp Funeral Honors for Veterans Act, to ensure that all veterans have access to full military funeral honors. Specifically, the legislation requires military installations to develop a plan to utilize both on-base and off-base resources for funeral ceremonies for veterans, even when government resources may not be available. "Kathryn Sharp came to me last N… Continue Reading
05.09.19
Baldwin, Braun, Schakowsky, Rooney Introduce Reform Requiring Transparency in Prescription Drug Price Increases
U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mike Braun (R-IN) and U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Francis Rooney (R-FL) today introduced the FAIR Drug Pricing Act. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation takes the first step in addressing skyrocketing prescription drug prices by requiring transparency for pharmaceutical corporations that plan to increase drug prices. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tina Smith (D-MN) have also signed on as cosponsors of the FAIR Drug Pricing Act. "For… Continue Reading
05.09.19
Cassidy, King, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Protect Disaster Relief Volunteers
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), Angus King (I-ME), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Joe Manchin (D-WV), today reintroduced the Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act to provide medical professionals with a limited, but consistent, level of legal protection while volunteering during federally-declared disasters. The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 sought to protect those volunteering through non-profit a… Continue Reading
05.07.19
Murkowski Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Group of Legislators Asking for Federal Study on Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis
Following the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls" on Sunday, Senator Murkowski joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators asking the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a study on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis. The group of 17 legislators, led by U.S. Senator John Tester (D-MT), includes U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Tom Udall (D-NM), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tina Smith (D-MN), Steve Daines (R-MT), J… Continue Reading
05.03.19
Senate Passes Legislation Designating National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded Senate passage of a resolution designating May 5 as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women. U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced the resolution, with Senator Murkowski as a cosponsor. Though legislative efforts, Senator Murkowski has continued her push to address the issue of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous women, including calling upon federal agencies to work together to help put an end to the epidemi… Continue Reading
05.03.19
Murkowski, Manchin, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen America’s Mineral Security
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Martha McSally, R-Ariz., and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation that takes a comprehensive approach to begin reducing the United States' dependence on foreign minerals. Murkowski made the announcement about S. 1317, the American Mineral Security Act, yesterday morning while delivering remarks at the Benchmark Minerals Summit. "Our nation's mineral security is a significant, urgent, and often ignored chal… Continue Reading
05.03.19
Committee Reviews Two Interior Nominees
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday chaired an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to consider two nominees for the Department of the Interior (DOI). The nominees are Daniel Jorjani to be Solicitor and Mark Greenblatt to be Inspector General. "The Interior Department has numerous, wide-ranging responsibilities, including the administration of more than a quarter of the land in the United States and almost two-thirds of the land in Alaska," Murkowski said. "In order to carry… Continue Reading
05.02.19
Murkowski Urges Administration to Stay Engaged in Arctic
During a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to consider the Fiscal Year 2020 budget request for the Navy and Marine Corps, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) emphasized the need for the military to pursue its significant and evolving opportunities in the Arctic, specifically asking what plans the branches have for accomplishing strategic objectives in the Arctic region. The Committee heard from the following witnesses: U.S. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer; Chief of Naval Operations, Adm… Continue Reading
04.30.19
Bipartisan Senate Coalition Reintroduces Comprehensive Nuclear Waste Legislation
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to safeguard and permanently dispose of the nation's stockpiles of spent nuclear fuel from sites across the country. S. 1234, the Nuclear Waste Administration Act (NWAA) of 2019, will provide a path forward for nuclear energy in America by addressing the longstanding failure to implement an effective plan for the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle. "As we mak… Continue Reading
04.30.19
Murkowski: U.S. Must Lead the World in Nuclear Energy
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine pathways to reestablish U.S. global leadership in nuclear energy and to receive testimony on S. 903, the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (NELA). Murkowski opened the hearing by outlining the historic role the U.S. played in the development of nuclear energy, along with the more recent decline in our global leadership. "Since 2013, seven U.S. reactors have shut down before the end of their useful life, and more closures are p… Continue Reading
04.30.19
Schatz, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Health Care to Veterans Living In Pacific Region
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Compacts of Free Association Veterans Review Act. This legislation would create a three-year pilot program to provide hospital care and medical services to veterans living in the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia-all countries that have entered into the Compact of Free Association with the United States. The program would be part of a broader study con… Continue Reading
04.25.19
Murkowski Joins CODEL to South Korea and Vietnam
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently traveled to South Korea and Vietnam with Senate colleagues to visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), to discuss energy related issues, be briefed on legacy of war programs, and discuss U.S.-DPRK nuclear negotiations, trade, and other bilateral issues. "North Korea remains one of the country's primary security threats. This opportunity to visit South Korea, see the DMZ, and get briefed on the recent events happening in the region was an invaluable way to … Continue Reading
