09.22.16

Sen. Murkowski Holds Hearing to Receive Testimony on Alaska Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today received testimony on 21 measures that are broadly focused on public lands, natural hazards, conservation, and reforms to the monument designation process during a legislative hearing she called as Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In her opening statement, Murkowski highlighted six bills that she has introduced, each addressing issues of importance to Alaskans. "I am proud to speak on behalf of the vast major… Continue Reading

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09.20.16

Murkowski Shares Alaskans’ Concerns Over Northern Edge with U.S. Navy

In response to hearing the concerns of coastal Alaskans about the timing and potential impacts of the Navy's involvement in the Northern Edge 2017 joint military exercise, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) wrote a letter (attached) to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus urging the Navy to connect with concerned Alaskan communities moving forward. Murkowski cited a recent lack of transparency from the Navy, such as not discussing proposed mitigation and avoidance techniques with stakeholder communit… Continue Reading

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09.15.16

Murkowski Introduces Bill to Honor Recent Veterans of Second Division

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week introduced S. 3315, the "Second Division Memorial Modification Act". The legislation would authorize the modification of the existing Second Division Memorial in Washington, D.C., by allowing the Second Indianhead Division Association Scholarship and Memorials Foundation (Foundation) to add three small benches honoring those who have fallen in service of our country at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), in Iraq, and in Afghanist… Continue Reading

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09.15.16

Water Infrastructure Development Bill Passes Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), legislation that addresses infrastructure priorities on America's coasts and rivers. The bill authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to improve navigation and flood management, construct projects to mitigate storm damage, and to assist state and local governments with safety programs. The legislation also supports a wide range of water quality projects and programs through pr… Continue Reading

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09.14.16

Delegation Introduces Bill Returning Healthcare Options to Alaskans

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Don Young introduced the Ensuring Health Care Opportunities Act of 2016 which will help Alaskans struggling with the high cost of health insurance, and strive to attract more insurance companies to Alaska. President Obama, and many of those who voted for the Affordable Care Act, promised that those who liked their healthcare coverage could keep it under Obamacare, and that the act would lower costs and increa… Continue Reading

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09.14.16

Murkowski: 51 Medevacs and Counting from King Cove

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday spoke about an amendment she introduced to S. 2848, the Water Resources Development Act, that would facilitate a life-saving road for the isolated community of King Cove, Alaska. The amendment in identical to legislation she introduced in July and is cosponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). "What the people of King Cove are asking for is reliable… Continue Reading

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09.14.16

Murkowski: Park Service Decision is a Victory for Small Business in Alaska

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the National Park Service's announcement that it will cancel the current contract solicitation, issue temporary contracts for mountaineering guides in Denali National Park and reissue a prospectus for these services in the coming months. The decision reflects the concerns of Alaska-owned mountaineering businesses with operations in the Park whose contracts may have been threatened due to ongoing issues with the solicitation p… Continue Reading

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09.11.16

Murkowski Statement on Remembrance of 9/11 Attacks

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski shared her thoughts on the 15th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on America: "The grief, shock, and horror that I felt on September 11, 2001, will forever be etched in my memory. "Today, 15 years later, we remember those who lost their lives in these terrible attacks. We pay tribute to the courage, bravery, and heroism shown by our first responders and fellow citizens who helped us make it through. And we honor all who have and continue to mak… Continue Reading

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09.09.16

Alaska Delegation Urges State Department to Focus on Transboundary Issues

The Alaska Congressional Delegation joined together to again urge Secretary of State John Kerry to address the downstream risks that mining in British Columbia may pose to Alaska and Alaskans. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young wrote a letter (attached) to Secretary Kerry, seeking his Department's engagement in their efforts to ensure that British Columbia institutes appropriate safeguards to prevent potential negative impacts to transboundary waterways and fisherie… Continue Reading

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09.08.16

Murkowski: This Is Our Chance to Modernize Our Energy Policy

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today convened the first meeting of Senate and House conferees to S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016. This meeting marks the first time since 2005 that the Senate and the House have held conference on an energy bill. "Our task now is to develop a final bill that can be signed into law. That's my goal here. My goal is to update our energy policies in this country and get a conference report, a bill that can be signed into l… Continue Reading

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09.07.16

Murkowski Welcomes Release of Strategic Petroleum Reserve Report

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the release of the Long-Term Strategic Review of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which was prepared by the Department of Energy ‎for Congress. "Our nation's strategic energy reserve is set to enter an era of unprecedented drawdowns, fundamentally transforming its nature and function," Murkowski said. "We have never before sold off so much oil, at such a pace, for such a long period of time. Both Congress and the Ad… Continue Reading

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09.01.16

Alaska Delegation Congratulates Hockey Legend Scotty Gomez

ANCHORAGE, AK - Today, the Alaska Congressional Delegation congratulated Scotty Gomez on his retirement from the National Hockey League (NHL). "Scotty Gomez has had the most decorated hockey career of any Alaskan in history. Alaskans have been proud to watch one of our own achieve so much - from 16 seasons in the NHL including Rookie of the Year and two Stanley Cups to appearing in two NHL All-Star Games and even representing the U.S. in the Winter Olympics. He has captured the attention of eve… Continue Reading

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08.30.16

Murkowski Addresses EpiPen Price Controversy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After hearing from concerned constituents and reports that Alaskans are being charged upwards of $833 for Mylan EpiPens, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) called for an investigation into how and why the pharmaceutical company justifies EpiPen price increases. Murkowski asked Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT) for the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold a formal hearing on the issue in a letter (attached) that reads: "In Alaska, everything … Continue Reading

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08.13.16

Murkowski to Hopper Again: Keep Alaska Sales in Next OCS Plan

Anchorage, AK - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday strongly urged Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Abigail Ross Hopper to preserve all three lease sales proposed for Alaska when it finalizes its offshore program for the years 2017 through 2022. Murkowski's request came during a face-to-face meeting yesterday afternoon in downtown Anchorage, as Hopper neared the end of a week touring Alaska. "I stressed to Director Hopper that Alaska must be allowed to develop its … Continue Reading

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08.10.16

Murkowski Urges Fair Protest Period for Mammoth BLM Land Plan

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today strongly urged the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to provide Alaskans with sufficient time to review and challenge its "Proposed Regional Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement" (RMP/EIS or proposed Plan) for the Eastern Interior Planning Area of Alaska. "At more than 819,000 words, the proposed Plan is roughly 40 percent longer than the epic novel War and Peace-not to mention, far more technical and complex. Even if th… Continue Reading

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08.04.16

Murkowski: FWS Rule Is Unwarranted Takeover of State’s Rights

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today slammed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for finalizing a new rule that preempts the State of Alaska's jurisdiction over wildlife management in national refuges within Alaska. The rule grants the FWS broad authority over predator control, bans science-based practices developed by the State of Alaska in consultation with the public, and will ultimately threaten wildlife populations that are vital for both subsistence and non-sub… Continue Reading

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08.02.16

Alaska Delegation Praises F-35 Progress

ANCHORAGE, AK - Today the Alaska Congressional Delegation released the following statements after the U.S. Air Force announced that the first F-35A squadron capable of handling a range of combat missions, known as Initial Operating Capability (IOC), is now ready. IOC demonstrates the confidence the Air Force has in the F-35 program and their success in ensuring the first squadron is ready for combat. "This is a great step forward in our efforts to bring two squadrons of F-35s to Alaska. The IOC… Continue Reading

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07.29.16

Murkowski Blasts BLM Proposal for Eastern Interior Planning Area

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today strongly criticized the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) "Proposed Regional Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement" (RMP/EIS) for the Eastern Interior Planning Area of Alaska. "While it will take time to pore through the 1,800 pages of this excessively complex and unwieldy proposal, BLM is clearly attempting to restrict economic opportunity in our eastern Interior region, and seeking to effectively withdraw over one mil… Continue Reading

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07.29.16

Murkowski: Extension Ensures Alaskans Can Have a Voice in Public Lands Planning Process

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the National Park Service (NPS) agreed to extend the public comment period on its proposed Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve (WRST) Backcountry and Wilderness Stewardship Plan and General Management Plan by an additional 30 days. The Service's announcement comes after Sen. Murkowski sent a letter to the Service calling on the agency to extend the comment period. "This extension will he… Continue Reading

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07.27.16

Sen. Murkowski Comments on BLM’s Decision to Take Next Step on NPR-A Development

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced it will issue a Notice of Intent (NOI) to conduct an environmental review for a proposed oil and gas development project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). "I am extremely pleased BLM is taking this vital first step toward additional development in the NPR-A. The initiation of the permitting process for the GMT-2 project builds on the suc… Continue Reading