10.03.16

Murkowski: GAO Finds Serious Gaps in Federal Mineral Policies

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the release of a report she requested from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examining the federal government's approach to identifying, assessing, and facilitating domestic mineral supplies. The report outlines a series of significant shortfalls and limitations, which together underscore the urgency and importance of reforming our nation's mineral policies. "I appreciate GAO's efforts to identify weaknesses and make… Continue Reading

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09.30.16

Murkowski, Heitkamp Bill Creating Native Children’s Commission Heads to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today announced that their bipartisan bill to improve the lives of Native American children passed Congress unanimously and now heads for the president's desk for his signature. The Senators' bill, the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act, implements solutions that would address the overwhelming obstacles Native children face - including experiencing levels of post-traumatic stre… Continue Reading

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09.28.16

Senate Passes Continuing Resolution, Funds Military Construction Programs for Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after voting for the continuing resolution (H.R. 5325) that passed the Senate, 72-26: "By passing the continuing resolution today, we have avoided an unnecessary government shutdown, which would have harmed individuals, families, and businesses across the nation. And we provided funding to combat the public threat from the Zika virus, as well as address the heroin and opioid epidemic. "This bill is gr… Continue Reading

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09.28.16

Senate Overrides President Obama’s Veto of 9/11 Lawsuit Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after she voted to override President Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). "This bill, long demanded by families of 9/11 victims, provides victims of terror attacks with an avenue to justice by giving them an opportunity to have their case heard in court. I'm pleased that my Senate colleagues and I were successfully able to override President Obama's veto. But it should… Continue Reading

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09.26.16

Bill to Empower Native Communities, Boost Tourism Signed into Law

WASHINGTON, DC - A bill co-sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) to enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in the United States, the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act, has been signed into law by President Obama. Congressman Don Young (R-AK) co-sponsored companion legislation in the House of Representatives. The NATIVE Act would require federal agencies w… Continue Reading

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09.26.16

Murkowski Continues To Push For AMHT Land Exchange

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, last week held a legislative hearing to receive testimony on her bill to accelerate a land exchange between the Alaska Mental Health Trust (Trust) and the U.S. Forest Service. Legislation is needed to accelerate the exchange, which will protect important community viewsheds, local trails, and other conservation values while expediting much-needed timber for local operators. "This hearing brought good news for everyone, and brought us one st… Continue Reading

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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