04.20.16

Murkowski: Alaska Will Greatly Benefit from Passage of Bipartisan Energy Bill

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today led the Senate's approval of broad, bipartisan energy legislation that contains a wide range of provisions vital to Alaska's future. The bill, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016, was authored by Murkowski and passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 85-12. It is the first major energy bill to pass the Senate in almost a decade. "My top priority as chairman is to deliver for Alaska - and I worked hard to add dozens of our sta… Continue Reading

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04.20.16

Murkowski, Cantwell Lead Senate Approval of Broad, Bipartisan Energy Bill

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the committee's ranking member, today led the Senate's approval of their broad, bipartisan energy legislation by a vote of 85 to 12. The passage of S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016, marks the first time the Senate has approved a major energy bill in almost a decade. "The Senate's overwhelming approval of our broad, bipartisan bil… Continue Reading

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04.20.16

Senate Unanimously Approves Murkowski’s Major Lands and Water Package for Energy Bill

Washington, D.C. - On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved two amendments offered by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to her broad, bipartisan energy bill. The first, to provide needed flexibility to the Alaska gasline project, passed the Senate by voice vote. The second, to add a resources title composed of 30 lands and water bills to the underlying bill, later passed by a roll call vote of 97 to 0. "With the passage of these amendments, a bill that was already very good from Alaska'… Continue Reading

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04.19.16

FAA Reauthorization Bill Passes Senate

Today U.S. Senator Murkowski voted for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, legislation that enhances security at airports, improves safety measures for airlines, makes travel easier for passengers, and maintains access for rural communities. The bill also contains an amendment Senator Murkowski co-sponsored which reauthorizes the six Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) test sites for five years until 2022, which includes the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The bill passed … Continue Reading

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04.15.16

Senate Appropriators Urge VA to Abandon Flawed Choice Program in Alaska

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski voted for the 2017 Military Construction/Veterans Affairs (MILCON-VA) appropriations bill which successfully passed out of the full Appropriations Committee. The bill, which contains several Alaska-specific priorities secured by Senator Murkowski as a member of MILCON-VA Appropriations Subcommittee, allocates federal resources for military construction projects and the Veterans Affairs (VA) system across the nation. The bill now heads to the full Senate for considerat… Continue Reading

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04.14.16

Murkowski Reacts to Interior’s Final Well Control Rule

Washington, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement in response to the Department of the Interior's final Well Control Rule: "The administration's regulatory onslaught against Alaskan energy production continues unabated. In a period when we should be thinking about ways of making American oil and gas more competitive, the federal government's prescriptive approach to rulemaking often fails to capture the capabilities of American workers that are more nimble and m… Continue Reading

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04.14.16

Murkowski: Federal Government Forcing Isolated Alaska Native Community to Live in Fear

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today conducted oversight of the Department of the Interior's callous decision to deny the Alaska Native community of King Cove reliable access to medical transportation. Murkowski pointed to the administration's rejection of an 11-mile, non-commercial use, gravel road that would give residents of King Cove access to emergency medical care through the all-weather airport in nearby Cold Bay, Alaska. Click picture to view video "The Interior… Continue Reading

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04.13.16

Murkowski Secures Military Construction Funding for Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MILCON-VA) approved the Fiscal Year 2017 appropriations bill, which contains several priorities U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski secured for Alaska. As a member of this subcommittee, Murkowski secured the full $561 million requested by the Pentagon to support crucial defense projects in Alaska. More than half of that funding is allocated to support the F-35 beddown at Eiel… Continue Reading

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04.12.16

Senate Passes Major Education Reform Bill

Today Senator Lisa Murkowski voted in support of the final version of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the long-overdue overhaul of the No Child Left Behind Act, which became law in 2002. Today's legislation passed by a vote of 85-12. The House of Representatives passed the bill on December 2nd by a vote of 359-64. It now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. ESSA Myths vs Facts Common Core Standards are CodifiedHigher Ed Alignment and Common CoreNo Improvement Over NCLB… Continue Reading

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04.12.16

Murkowski: Advanced Manufacturing Holds “Unprecedented Opportunities” for U.S.

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today conducted oversight of the status of innovative technologies in advanced manufacturing by highlighting the economic importance of the sector - an estimated 24 million domestic jobs - while cautioning that there is much room for improvement in workforce development. Click picture to view video "The truth is that not only do advanced manufacturing industries merit more national attention, but we need to do a better job of preparing a w… Continue Reading

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04.07.16

Murkowski Highlights Important Work of USGS, Outlines Areas for Improvement

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today conducted oversight of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) during a hearing that focused on the agency's important mission, its current priorities, and core mandates that lack attention and resources. Murkowski frequently referenced her home state of Alaska during the hearing, where the USGS plays a critical role in helping residents cope with the daily threat of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and other natural hazards. Click picture … Continue Reading

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04.07.16

Murkowski Works to Fund Military Projects in Interior Alaska

Following Monday's announcement that Eielson Air Force Base will host two squadrons of F-35s arriving in 2020, the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee took the first step towards considering the administration's request for $561 million in Fiscal Year 2017 to support crucial defense projects in Alaska. A little over half of that request is allocated to support the F-35 beddown. As a member of that subcommittee, Senator Murkowski questioned military officials on two budget r… Continue Reading

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04.06.16

Murkowski Questions Forest Service Chief on Wildfire Suppression, Misplaced Budget Priorities

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) questioned Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell on the priorities contained within the agency's $4.9 billion request for Fiscal Year 2017-specifically addressing the issues of wildfire suppression, fire-borrowing, and forest management reforms. Senator Murkowski began the hearing by reaffirming her commitment to finding a long-term solution for active forest management that would reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and end the practice of fire-borrowin… Continue Reading

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04.05.16

Murkowski Stands Up for Sportsmen and Subsistence in Alaska

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, sent a letter to Dan Ashe, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pushing back against a rule proposed by the agency that targets Alaska refuges. In the letter, Murkowski casts doubt on the Service's claims that the proposed rule won't affect subsistence activities, explains how the proposed rule would preempt state wildlife management regulations, and shows how it is contrary to the special protections granted to the stat… Continue Reading

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04.04.16

AK Delegation: Military Boost Coming to Alaska, F-35 Squadrons Officially to be Based at Eielson AFB

Today the Alaska Congressional Delegation praised the news that Eielson Air Force Base was selected as the new home for the U.S. Air Force's first F-35As in the Pacific Theatre. Construction is scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2017, with the arrival of the F-35s expected in 2020. The Record of Decision was signed this morning by the Air Force, finalizing plans to base the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter at Eielson, bringing 54 new aircraft and 2,765 additional residents to Interior Alaska. The two s… Continue Reading

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03.29.16

Murkowski Highlights Benefits of Alaska Resource Production

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, held a field hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Fairbanks to examine opportunities to create jobs and strengthen national security by increasing Alaska's resource production. The field hearing was held on Monday at the Pipeline Training Center and featured testimony from stakeholders in Alaska's oil, gas, mineral, and economic development sectors. Click picture to view archived video of the hearing "Alaska has what virtually no o… Continue Reading

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03.29.16

Murkowski Slams Interior for Wasting Time, Money on King Cove Study

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today criticized the Department of the Interior for wasting more than $100,000 on a study of "non-road alternatives" that will not adequately provide emergency medical transportation for the residents of King Cove, Alaska. Murkowski posted the study after Interior, despite a recent public commitment from Secretary Sally Jewell, only provided it to a small handful of King Cove officials. "Interior has again made clear that help for King C… Continue Reading

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03.22.16

Alaska Delegation: Supreme Court Delivers Setback to Federal Overreach

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion on Sturgeon v. Frost, remanding the case back to the lower courts. In an 8-0 opinion, the court overturned the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision that the National Park Service could ban the use of hovercraft in eastern Alaska's Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. The court found the 9th Circuit's decision "surprising" and "topsy-turvy." While not a decisive victory for John Sturgeon, the Alaska moose hunter who brought the case forw… Continue Reading

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03.21.16

AK Congressional Delegation Applauds Army Decision to Keep 4-25 Brigade Combat Team Intact

Alaska's Congressional Delegation today responded to the news that the U.S. Army has officially announced that it is delaying its decision to remove 2,600 soldiers from the 4-25 Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. In July 2015, the U.S. Army announced the reduction at JBER as part of a larger force-structure reduction from 490,000 to 450,000 troops. Since that announcement, a unified Alaska Congressional Delegation has fought to retain the 4-25 a… Continue Reading

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03.18.16

Murkowski to Hold Field Hearing in Fairbanks

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a field hearing on Monday, March 28 to examine opportunities to create jobs and strengthen national security from increased Alaska resource development. The hearing will be held in Fairbanks at the Pipeline Training Center and feature testimony from a dozen stakeholders from across Alaska. "Alaska is blessed with vast natural resources that we can use to fulfill the promises of s… Continue Reading