04.21.15

Sen. Murkowski Applauds House Action to Approve Energy Efficiency Legislation

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded action taken by the House to approve, by voice vote, energy efficiency legislation authored by Sens. Portman, R-Ohio, and Shaheen, D-N.H. The Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 would promote increased energy efficiency for grid enabled water heaters and in buildings and is now on its way to President Obama for his signature. "The House's action today sends a strong signal that increasing energy efficiency is a bipartisan issue that ena… Continue Reading

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04.21.15

Murkowski: Veterans Are People, not Numbers

Senator Lisa Murkowski today reminded U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald that while he works to cut the backlog of cases and make the care system more efficient, not to lose sight of the impact of personal care with patients. Given the VA's nationwide goal of fixing its difficulties in retaining staff, she told McDonald that such a human focus would improve the overall work environment at VA centers nationwide. That exchange was part of a conversation in the Senate M… Continue Reading

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04.20.15

Sen. Murkowski Calls for Lifting Prohibition on Crude Oil Exports

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced plans to introduce legislation this year to end the 40-year-old ban on exporting domestic crude oil production. In her keynote address to national and international energy leaders at the 34th annual CERAWeek, Murkowski also underscored her efforts to increase access to America's natural energy resources, including those in her home state of Alaska, and to secure America's place in "Energy's New World." "America has entered an era of energy … Continue Reading

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04.20.15

Closure, At Last – Murkowski Applauds DoD Decision to Identify Remains of WWII Pearl Harbor Victims

Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the news that the Department of Defense has decided that remains of 388 unaccounted-for victims of the USS OKLAHOMA at Pearl Harbor will be exhumed for identification where possible, in order for families to give their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers a proper burial. Now that 21st century technology exists that can determine the identity of many of these fallen sailors and Marines, the remains will be transferred to the Defense POW/MIA Accounti… Continue Reading

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04.17.15

Murkowski Educational Efforts Empower Teachers, Students Through Major Legislation

Senator Lisa Murkowski successfully worked with her Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee colleagues this week to finalize and unanimously pass (22-0) the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 out of committee and send it to the Senate floor for debate. The bill - an attempt to undo the many harmful impacts of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) bill - restores major decisions and oversight of the educational system back to the state and local level and allows greater flexibility … Continue Reading

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04.15.15

Murkowski Presses Military on North Korea Nuclear Threat

Though recent Congressional debate has been focused on the future nuclear ambitions of Iran, Senator Lisa Murkowski reminded her Senate colleagues today of the clear and present danger posed by North Korea - which is now capable of mounting a nuclear warhead on a missile with potential range to hit the U.S. In a hearing of the Defense Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, Murkowski questioned top military officials on the current status of this threat and whether Alaska - and Ameri… Continue Reading

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04.14.15

Murkowski: Medicare Fix, Secure Rural Schools Extension a “Win-Win” for Alaska

Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted for H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act that would reform how doctors are paid under Medicare and provide a two-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools program. The bill passed the U.S. Senate 92-8. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2 by an overwhelming vote of 392 to 37, so it now heads to the President's desk. The legislation avoids a potential 21 percent reimbursement rate reduction to Medicare providers, by replacing the pr… Continue Reading

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04.14.15

Sen. Murkowski Applauds House Efforts to Highlight Importance of Crude Oil Exports

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the House Foreign Affairs Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee's decision to hold a hearing on the importance of ending the 40-year-old prohibition on exporting crude oil from the United States. "I applaud House members for continuing to shine a spotlight on the security and economic benefits that will accrue to America by allowing crude oil to be freely traded on the world market," Murkowski said. "Today's hearing marks the eigh… Continue Reading

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04.14.15

AK Delegation: F-16s to Stay Put Because “America Needs Eielson”

Alaska's Congressional Delegation received good news today, as U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah James called each of them to announce that the F-16 Aggressor Squadron will remain at Eielson Air Force Base for the long-term future. When the U.S. Air Force announced that Eielson was the preferred location for two squadrons of F-35s, it began a nationwide review of whether the F-16s should stay there after the arrival of the F-35s or be considered for moves to either Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardso… Continue Reading

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04.02.15

Murkowski Responds to Tentative Iran Nuclear Deal

Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the news that the United States and Iran have reached a tentative nuclear agreement, saying: "Regardless of whether this proves to be a good deal or a bad one, today's agreement must be presented to Congress for consideration. My support for Senator Corker's bipartisan legislation that requires the President do just that before relieving sanctions remains rock solid. The President must acknowledge Congress' legitimate role in this process and resist the… Continue Reading

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04.01.15

Sen. Murkowski: Alaska Must Have a Say in Federal Offshore Leasing Program

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, criticized the Obama administration's lack of consultation with Alaska in developing its draft 2017-2022 outer continental shelf (OCS) oil and natural gas leasing program (DPP) for Alaska in comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). "The fact that the president's moratorium withdrawing some 9.8 million acres of waters off Alaska's coast, including the Hanna Shoal, identified in the draft program as a potential deferral, was released to the pub… Continue Reading

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03.27.15

Murkowski: Senate Budget Gets U.S. “Back on Track”

Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted for the Senate Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 11) that will balance the budget within ten years without raising taxes, while also boosting the nation's economic growth by $500 billion over the next decade, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. She explained her vote afterwards, saying: "Today the Senate passed an important budget resolution that represents a turning point in our nation's fiscal path. The President's budget request for … Continue Reading

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03.26.15

Sens. Murkowski, Sullivan Legislation Honors Former Alaska Gov. Jay Hammond

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today introduced legislation to honor former Alaska Gov. Jay Hammond. The Jay S. Hammond Wilderness Bill would name 2.6 million acres of wilderness in the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve after the former governor. The wilderness area represents 60 percent of the Lake Clark's 4 million acres. "Jay Hammond was one of Alaska's truly great statesmen and a real individual. During his time as governor, Hammond balanced the need to deve… Continue Reading

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03.26.15

Sen. Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Strengthen America’s Mineral Security

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced the American Mineral Security Act of 2015, to prevent future mineral supply shocks and boost the competitiveness of our energy, defense, electronics, medical, and manufacturing industries. "Minerals are critical to every aspect of our daily lives. We rely on them for everything we do and everything we make - from our smallest computer chips to our newest energy technologies to our most advanced defense systems," Murkowski said. "Despite this… Continue Reading

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03.25.15

Murkowski Wins Commitment from Energy Secretary to Attend Arctic Energy Conference in Fairbanks

U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz today committed to Senator Lisa Murkowski that a high-level Department of Energy (DOE) official would travel to Alaska to participate in the Arctic Energy Summit in Fairbanks at the end of September. "It's important for those who set the policy priorities to see for themselves both the opportunity and the need for economic development in the Arctic," Murkowski said. "The region holds great potential but we have to remember that it is also home to tens of t… Continue Reading

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03.25.15

Murkowski: Military Must Receive Consistent Medical Care Amid Potential Changes

Senator Lisa Murkowski today pressed the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Surgeons General for certainty about the medical care available to Alaskan soldiers, airmen and their families as the Pentagon considers various reductions and additions. Given the unique and efficient interconnectedness of the Army and Air Force communities in Interior Alaska and Anchorage - with Army doctors treating airmen and vice versa - Murkowski sought answers about whether any changes in troop levels would diminish the… Continue Reading

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03.24.15

Sen. Murkowski: Federal Government Failing to Manage America’s National Forests

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today criticized the Forest Service and Department of Agriculture for failing to actively manage federal forest lands in Alaska and across the West. Murkowski said the Forest Service's reluctance to issue timber sales has harmed local communities that depend on jobs in the industry and revenue from timber harvests to pay for schools and emergency services. Click to view video "The federal government's failure to manage our nation's federal forests has resu… Continue Reading

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03.24.15

Bipartisan Senate Coalition Introduces Comprehensive Nuclear Waste Legislation

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), today introduced bipartisan legislation to safeguard and permanently dispose of the nation's stockpiles of spent nuclear fuel, which are currently accumulating at separate sites across the country. "Nuclear energy is a vital part of America's energy portfolio and for far too long, the American taxpayer has been on the hook for the federal government's failure to implement… Continue Reading

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03.24.15

Murkowski Congratulates Alaska’s 2015 Cherry Blossom Princess

Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced that she has selected Mimi Troxel of Anchorage to serve as Alaska's representative in the 2015 Cherry Blossom Princess Program. Murkowski is serving as honorary Co-Chair of this year's Congressional Reception with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), both of whom were state representatives in the past. Mimi is a graduate of West Anchorage High School and is currently a second year student at Georgetown University, majoring in psychology. She volunteers he… Continue Reading

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03.23.15

Sen. Murkowski Urges Action After 60 Minutes Report on Rare Earths

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after 60 Minutes reported on the United States' dependence on China for rare earth elements - and the consequences that could hold for our nation. "I'm grateful that 60 Minutes investigated the depth of America's dependence on China for rare earths, and has now shared that story with its millions of viewers," Murkowski said. "From my perspective, this is not just a matter of what China has done to pull ahead, but what our … Continue Reading