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.

10.20.15

Murkowski Commends Approval of Alaska Railroad to Transport LNG

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski responded to the news that the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) became the first railroad in the nation permitted to transport liquefied natural gas by rail, saying: "I am pleased the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently approved the Alaska Railroad's request to move liquefied natural gas via rail to Fairbanks. The Interior of Alaska is in need of an affordable energy source and natural… Continue Reading


10.16.15

Murkowski: Interior Attempting to Shut Down Arctic Development for Decades

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski today issued the following statement after the Department of the Interior announced its rejection of Shell Alaska's request to extend its leases off of Alaska's northern coast and the cancellation of future leases in the region. "This is a stunning, short-sighted move that betrays the Interior Department's commitments to Alaska and the best interests of our nation's long-term energy security. Today's decision is the latest in a destructive pattern of hostility toward en… Continue Reading


10.09.15

Murkowski Praises Court Decision to Delay Implementation of WOTUS

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today released the following statement after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a nationwide stay against the enforcement of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) rule: "Today's decision to put a national hold on the controversial WOTUS rule is further good news for opponents of the EPA's culture of overreach. I've been fighting to reign in the EPA and the harmful impacts the WOTUS rule could have on alm… Continue Reading


10.09.15

Another Fix to the Affordable Care Act Signed into Law

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski released the following statement on the President signing the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees (PACE) Act into law. Senator Murkowski is a co-sponsor of the bill, which halts a change of what is considered "small employer" within the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Currently, a "small employer" is defined having less than 50 employees. However, a provision in the law was set to redefine a small employer as having up to 100 employees, beginning on Januar… Continue Reading


10.08.15

Senate Energy Panel Considers Legislation Promoting Alaska Native Land Ownership

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today heard testimony on legislation designed to rectify an injustice done to the Alaska Native residents of five Southeast communities 44 years ago. (Click image to watch video.) Thursday's hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining considered a number of public lands bills, including Murkowski's Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act, S. 872. The bill would p… Continue Reading


10.08.15

Senate Energy Committee Considers Two Bills Promoting Hydropower in Alaska

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski held a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on legislation to expand the generation of affordable energy from renewable hydropower in Alaska. "Hydropower is a major part of meeting our energy needs in an affordable, reliable and clean way. That is true nationally and it is certainly true in Alaska," said Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "Hydropower supplies 24 percent of Alaska's electricity n… Continue Reading


10.07.15

Murkowski Supports Final Passage of Defense Authorization Measure: A Victory for Servicemembers and Military Families

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski cast her vote in support of the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), protecting our homeland and supporting our troops and their families. The bill passed in a vote of 70-27, however, President Obama has threatened to veto the bill. "This defense bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation Congress considers every year. And if the President signs it into law, this will be the 54th consecutive year that Congress and the a… Continue Reading


10.06.15

Murkowski and Cantwell Introduce Volcano Monitoring Bill

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced bipartisan legislation to modernize and improve the nation's volcano monitoring and early warning capabilities. The National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring Program Act (S. 2056) establishes a National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System, which includes the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) and the Cascadia Volcano Observatory, to monitor, warn, and protect citizens from undue and avoidable harm from volcanic … Continue Reading


10.02.15

Murkowski Bill Fixes Definition of “Indian” in Affordable Care Act

Senator Murkowski recently introduced legislation to clarify the meaning of "Indian" within the Affordable Care Act-ensuring that Alaska Natives aren't denied Indian-specific exemptions and protections under the law. The current definition of "Indian" within the ACA applies to only "members of federally-recognized tribes" or shareholders of an Alaska Native corporation-potentially excluding up to 20,000 Alaska Natives. Many young Alaska Natives are not shareholders in Alaska Native Claims Settle… Continue Reading


10.01.15

Murkowski Blasts Democrats for Blocking Debate of VA Funding Bill

Today Senator Murkowski implored her Senate colleagues to allow debate on the appropriations bill that funds veterans' health services and benefits, military housing and family support, and hospital and military construction. Ultimately, Senate Democrats blocked efforts to advance this bill, which failed to receive the 60 votes needed to proceed. Prior to the vote, Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor about the amendments she had hoped to attach to the bill, relating to the failures of the VA he… Continue Reading


09.30.15

Senate Clears Hurdle to Avoid Government Shutdown

Today Senator Murkowski shared her thoughts after voting for the continuing resolution (H.R. 719) that passed the Senate, 78-20: "Today I'm pleased that my Senate colleagues and I have passed a 10-week continuing resolution to fund the government through December 11. "I was troubled that a government shutdown was even being considered as an option, causing great economic hardship and further eroding the diminishing trust Alaskans and the American people have in Washington. It so important that… Continue Reading


09.29.15

Senators Cantwell and Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Protect Pacific Northwest Seafood

Today, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced bipartisan legislation to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to change the market name of "Alaska pollock" to "pollock". The change aims to better distinguish the pollock harvested in Alaskan waters from Russian pollock passing itself off as "Alaskan pollock" in stores nationwide. This legislation is co-sponsored by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). In 2012, 113 million pounds of Ru… Continue Reading


09.28.15

Murkowski Comments on Shell’s Arctic Drilling Program

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski today released the following statement regarding Shell's decision to suspend operations in Alaska's offshore waters: "I am extremely disappointed by this decision, just as I have been deeply frustrated by the years-long path that led to it. "In the more than seven years that Shell has held leases in the Chukchi, it has only recently been allowed to complete a single well. What we have here is a case in which a company's commercial efforts could not overcome a burdensom… Continue Reading


09.24.15

Murkowski Reflects on Pope Francis’ Historic Visit

Today Senator Murkowski joined her Senate and House colleagues to listen to Pope Francis' historic address to the United States Congress. Senator Murkowski was among a select group of lawmakers who accompanied Pope Francis into the House Chamber prior to his speech. Murkowski shared her reflections on the Pope's message: "Pope Francis encouraged us to participate in dialogue, and I think that was an important message to leave with us. And something that I felt very strongly was his call for us … Continue Reading


09.22.15

Alaska Delegation Fights for Arctic Subsistence Rights

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young recently sent a letter (attached) to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Dan Ashe expressing serious concern over the agency's upcoming subsistence harvest quota limits. On January 1, 2016, FWS is planning to implement a quota on the subsistence harvest of polar bears from the Chukchi Sea population and intends to enforce this quota through criminal sanctions. "For thousands of years, Alaska Native subsistence hu… Continue Reading


09.21.15

Alaska Delegation Seeks Answers for Alaskans Affected by Knik Post Office Closure

Responding to the sudden, indefinite site closure of the Knik Contract Post Office located in Wasilla, AK, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young have requested clarification and answers from the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General David Williams (see attached letter). "It has come to our attention that the United States Postal Service (USPS) Knik Contract Postal Unit (CPU) #2, located in Wasilla, Alaska was abruptly closed without prior public notice on Frid… Continue Reading


09.18.15

Murkowski Combats Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski recently introduced S. 2060, the Advancing FASD Research, Prevention, and Services Act, a bill to provide support for individuals and their families afflicted with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). This bill would reauthorize and extend the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome prevention and services program, which provides support programs for adolescents with FASD like vocational training and mental health services, and raises public awareness and education. Senator Murko… Continue Reading


09.17.15

Murkowski Praises Settlement of Contract Support Cost Case

Senator Lisa Murkowski released the following statement after the Obama administration reached a $940 million proposed settlement with Native American tribes, Alaska Natives, and tribal entities nationwide over the Department of the Interior's failure to cover the expenses incurred by tribally-run federal programs: "For over 30 years, the federal government continuously shortchanged tribes who provide federal Indian programs and critical health services throughout the nation, including in rural… Continue Reading


09.17.15

Alaska Senators Co-Sponsor Legislation to Repeal “Cadillac Tax”

Today, Alaska Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski joined Senators Dean Heller (R-NV) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) in introducing S. 2045, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation will fully repeal tax provisions on high-cost insurance plans in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) known as the "Cadillac Tax". Beginning in 2018, the "Cadillac Tax" would tax employers whose health insurance plans cost more than $10,200 a year for individuals and $27,450 a y… Continue Reading


09.16.15

Alaska Land Conveyance Legislation Heads to President’s Desk

The U.S. House of Representatives today unanimously passed S. 230, legislation introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski to transfer 23 acres of federal lands in Bethel, AK to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) for the expansion and renovation of existing health programs and facilities. Senator Murkowski and Alaska Congressman Don Young, who sponsored and passed companion legislation out of committee in the House, both applauded the passage of the bill which they say will pave the way for… Continue Reading

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Page 135 Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 Page 139 Page 140 Page 141 Page 142 Page 143 Page 144 Page 145 Page 146 Page 147 Page 148 Page 149 Page 150 Page 151 Page 152 Page 153 Page 154 Page 155 Page 156 Page 157 Page 158 Page 159 Page 160 Page 161 Page 162 Page 163 Page 164 Page 165 Page 166 Page 167 Page 168 Page 169 Page 170 Page 171 Page 172 Page 173 Page 174 Page 175 Page 176 Page 177 Page 178 Page 179 Page 180 Page 181 Page 182 Page 183 Page 184 Page 185 Page 186 Page 187 Page 188 Page 189 Page 190 Page 191 Page 192 Page 193 Page 194 Page 195 Page 196 Page 197 Page 198 Page 199 Page 200 Page 201 Page 202 Page 203 Page 204 Page 205 Page 206 Page 207 Page 208 Page 209 Page 210 Page 211 Page 212 Page 213 Page 214 Page 215 Page 216 Page 217 Page 218 Page 219 Page 220 Page 221 Page 222 Page 223 Page 224 Page 225 Page 226
Showing page   of 226