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.
DoD Implements Murkowski-Led ‘Free Flight Home’ Program for Alaska Servicemembers
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today applauded the Department of Defense (DoD) implementing the free flight home provision she spearheaded in her Don Young Arctic Warrior Act, which was included in last year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The provision reimburses servicemembers for the cost of one flight to their home of record during a three-year tour to alleviate hardships faced by serving in Alaska. "Servicemembers stationed in Alaska face unique hardships, and the adju… Continue Reading
06.13.23
Murkowski, Sullivan: Alaska to Receive $100 Million More in Infrastructure Funding for High-Speed Internet
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $100.5 million to facilitate and improve access to high-speed internet for Alaskans in rural communities. These awards are possible thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)—and specifically through USDA’s ReConnect Program, which aims to ensure high-speed internet for all communities across the Un… Continue Reading
06.13.23
Murkowski, Senators Reintroduce Legislation To Combat 'Smash-And-Grab'
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined 22 of her colleagues to reintroduce the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act of 2023 to address the unacceptably high number of “smash-and-grab” thefts targeted at federally licensed gun dealers by enhancing penalties for criminals who steal firearms from federally licensed firearms and ammunition dealers. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reported that from 20… Continue Reading
06.12.23
Murkowski, Welch to Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Rural Energy Savings Program, Help Rural Communities Access Energy Upgrades
Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative providing no-interest loans to rural utilities to help communities access cost-effective energy upgrades for homes and businesses. With support from RESP, rural utilities can finance projects to electrify household heating and cooling, increase energy efficiency, and transition to renewable energy. The bil… Continue Reading
06.12.23
Murkowski Statement on DOJ Indictment of Former President Trump
Washington, DC –U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) issued the following statement on the 37-count federal indictment unsealed today against former President Donald Trump: “As I’ve stated before, no one is above the law but every American is innocent until proven guilty. Still, the charges in this case are quite serious and cannot be casually dismissed. Mishandling classified documents is a federal crime because it can expose national secrets, as well as the sources and met… Continue Reading
06.12.23
Senators Murkowski, Warnock, Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Affordable Military Housing Options
.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced a bipartisan bill that will help servicemembers across Georgia, Alaska and the entire country obtain sufficient and affordable housing. The bipartisan Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Restoration Act will help servicemembers and their families make ends meet by restoring the full BAH benefit. In FY2015, Congress changed BAH so that the Department could impose cost-sharing … Continue Reading
06.09.23
Murkowski, Whitehouse Introduce Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act in Honor of Former Congressman
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), co-chairs of the Senate Oceans caucus, with Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joining as original co-sponsors, introduced the Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act (DY VACA), legislation which aims to help support veterans' mental health by giving them the opportunity to reinvest their talent, training, and potential to benefit America's marine environments. Specifically, this legislation creates a new… Continue Reading
06.08.23
Ending an Injustice: Delegation Reintroduces Landless Legislation to Right a Half-Century Wrong
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), today issued statements on legislation that would allow the Alaska Native communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Tenakee to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). The delegation's bill, entitled the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation… Continue Reading
06.08.23
Schatz, Murkowski Lead Committee Passage Of Federal Indian Boarding Schools Bill
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, led Committee passage of S.1723, a bill to establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States, and for other purposes. The Committee held a legislative hearing on an identical bill last year. “For over a century, the federal government knowingly perpetu… Continue Reading
06.08.23
Murkowski, Klobuchar Reintroduce Bill to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders While Supporting Individuals Living with FASD
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) today reintroduced the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Respect Act of 2023, legislation which reauthorizes programs and funding to aid individuals and families impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. “We must do everything we can to educate on prenatal alcohol exposure and prevent FASD. Too many families in Alaska are impacted by FASD and lack support and interventions services… Continue Reading
06.07.23
Senators Murkowski, Coons, Cramer introduce legislation to study global emissions intensity and hold countries with dirty production accountable
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today joined Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) in introducing the bipartisan Providing Reliable, Objective, Verifiable Emissions Intensity and Transparency (PROVE IT) Act which would direct the Department of Energy to conduct a comprehensive study comparing the emissions intensity of certain goods produced in the United States to the emissions of those same goods produced in the other countries. U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Mart… Continue Reading
06.07.23
Murkowski, Whitehouse, Senate Colleagues Reintroduce Bill During CHOW to Address Ocean Acidification
Washington, DC – During Capitol Hill Oceans Week (CHOW), U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Oceans Caucus, reintroduced the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act, legislation that will ensure coordination and collaboration between federal, state, local and tribal entities on ocean acidification research and monitoring. “Ocean acidification continues to increase as the climate changes, causing harm to ocean resources … Continue Reading
06.06.23
Alaska Delegation Frustrated by Interior’s Delay of the Ambler Access Project
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) and U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska), today released the following joint statement after the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced an up to six-month delay for the finalization of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for the proposed Ambler Access Project (AAP). The AAP, which is guaranteed access across federal land under a 1980 law, is now in its eighth year of f… Continue Reading
06.06.23
Murkowski Leads Bill to Invest in Blue Economy, Spark Innovations in Coastal Communities
Anchorage, AK – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act (Ocean ROI Act), legislation that would require the Secretary of Commerce to establish a federal strategy for investing in the nation’s ocean-based economy with “Ocean Innovation Clusters” (ocean clusters). Senator Murkowski… Continue Reading
06.02.23
Murkowski Reinforces Need to Support Child Care Availability, Affordability, and Workforce
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing to discuss the need to support working families and child care workers as we focus on the child care shortage. During the hearing, Senator Murkowski referenced numerous Alaska-specific challenges within the child care arena. For Senator Murkowski’s full remarks, click here. Leading up to her question for the witnesses, Senator Murkowski sta… Continue Reading
06.01.23
Murkowski Supports the Fiscal Responsibility Act
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) released the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which reflects the bipartisan agreement Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden reached to limit federal spending and avert a default on the nation's debt: "I voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act because it is the only way to avoid a default on the national debt just four days from now. While both the bill itself and the process that led to it were far from perfect, … Continue Reading
06.01.23
Murkowski, King Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Rural Fishing Communities
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Angus King (I-Maine) have introduced bipartisan legislation to expand financial support for America’s fishing communities. The Fishing Industry Credit Enhancement Act would allow businesses that provide direct assistance to fishing operations – like gear producers or cold storage – to access the same loans from the Farm Credit System (FCS) already offered to service providers for farmers, ranchers, and loggers… Continue Reading
05.30.23
Murkowski Announces the Department of Defense Overdose Data Act
Washington, D.C. -Today, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), alongside Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Representatives Seth Moulton (MA-06) and Nancy Mace (SC-01), led their colleagues in announcing the introduction of the?Department of Defense Overdose Data (DOD) Act,?bipartisan and bicameral?legislation?to address the impacts of the opioid epidemic among members of the U.S. military and their family. The legislation would require … Continue Reading
05.29.23
Murkowski Honors Fallen Service Members on Memorial Day
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today offered the following statement in observance of Memorial Day: Click here to watch Senator Murkowski's video message. "On Memorial Day, we honor the men and women who have served our nation and made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. "Over the course of more than two centuries, countless Americans have given what President Lincoln called the "last full measure of devotion"-their lives-to protect our nation and uphold its … Continue Reading
05.27.23
Murkowski: Supreme Court’s WOTUS Ruling is a Victory for Alaska
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruling which narrowed the scope of EPA's authority to regulate wetlands under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Court's opinion in the case of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency will limit the "outer reaches" of EPA's long-contested definition of "waters of the United States" (WOTUS). "I congratulate and commend Mike and Chantell Sackett, individual citizens who, like John Sturgeon, faced clear regula… Continue Reading