05.13.15

Bipartisan Senate Coalition Introduces Bill to End Ban on Crude Oil Exports

U.S. Sens Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., along with 11 of their Senate colleagues today introduced the Energy Supply and Distribution Act of 2015 (S.1312). This bipartisan legislation would modernize federal energy policy by ending the outdated ban on crude oil exports. Murkowski and Heitkamp were joined by Sens. Hoeven, R-N.D., Barrasso, R-Wyo., McCain, R-Ariz., Corker, R-Tenn., Alexander, R-Tenn., Risch, R-Idaho, Flake, R-Ariz., Capito, R-W.Va., Inhofe, R-Okla., Rubio,… Continue Reading

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05.12.15

Murkowski Defending Alaska-Caught Pollock Against Inferior Russian Product

Senator Lisa Murkowski today reached out to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reasserting her push to change the legal market name of Alaska-caught pollock simply to "pollock." The change would allow Alaskan-caught pollock to be differentiated by region and better distinguish the fish harvested in Alaskan waters from inferior Russian pollock passing itself off as "Alaskan pollock" in stores nationwide. Currently, Russian-caught pollock is capitalizing on Alaska's world-famous reputation fo… Continue Reading

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05.12.15

Sen. Murkowski Introduces Bill to Increase Alaska’s Share of Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Revenues

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, took an aggressive step today to ensure that Alaska receives its fair share of revenue from oil and natural gas production on Alaska's outer continental shelf (OCS) by introducing the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Lease Sale Act (S. 1278). "Alaska's natural resources are vital to our prosperity" Murkowski said. "With exploration proceeding in the Chukchi, and the Alaska offshore emerging as a key part of our national energy security, it is critical that we e… Continue Reading

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05.12.15

Murkowski: Mineral Security Must Be a National Priority

U.S. Sen Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, stressed the importance of strengthening our nation's mineral security at today's Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's hearing on S. 883, the American Mineral Security Act of 2015. The legislation, authored by Murkowski, would revitalize the United States' minerals supply chain and help reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers. Click to view video "We have a real problem on our hands, as a result of our nation's borderline-insidious reliance on … Continue Reading

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05.12.15

Murkowski Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Effort to Fight Youth Suicide

Senator Lisa Murkowski joined her colleague Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) to introduce the Garrett Lee Smith Reauthorization Act in order to improve mental health services for young people and in turn, help prevent youth suicide. A recent study found that "suicide rates for young people are almost twice as high in rural areas" than cities, lending urgency to this bill's aims. "Suicide casts an enormous and dark shadow across our state, and we must do everything we can to fight it. This suicide epi… Continue Reading

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05.11.15

Chairman Murkowski Welcomes DOI Approval of Shell Exploration Plan

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the Interior Department's conditional approval of Shell's Arctic exploration plan for this summer with the following statement: "Approval of Shell's exploration plan for Alaska's Chukchi Sea marks another important step toward the United States assuming a leadership role in the Arctic. With an estimated 25 percent of the world's undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources and active exploration by countries like Russia, it's critical that w… Continue Reading

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05.11.15

Murkowski Bill Aims to Protect Rural Subsistence Status from Federal Regulators

Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced the introduction of the Subsistence Access Management (SACSMAN) Act to undo the federal government's decision that determined the Alaska Native village of Saxman (population: 410) was 'urban' under their guidelines, a judgment deemed 'arbitrary and capricious' by the Organized Village of Saxman, since it barred residents from legal subsistence practices on federal lands and waters. The SACSMAN Act would also require Congressional approval before the fede… Continue Reading

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05.08.15

Murkowski Announces First Session of Summer Interns

Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced the names of her first session of summer interns who will work in her Washington, D.C. office beginning next month. Just weeks after graduating from high school, these young Alaskans will participate in the operations of her Senate office and get an up-close view of the legislative process. "These interns bring such a fresh perspective on various issues and great energy levels to my team. I truly enjoy having interns in my office, and my staff and I greatl… Continue Reading

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05.08.15

Murkowski Votes for Congressional Voice, Oversight in Iran Agreement

Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted for H.R.1191, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, and shared her thoughts with Alaskans afterwards: "A nuclear-armed Iran is a threat to the United States and the world, and whatever final agreement is reached must be Congressionally approved and enforceable - not just at the outset but at regular and continuous inspections several times a year. It's very important to me that Congress have a say in whether the sanctions we legislated are to be lifted when … Continue Reading

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05.07.15

Attorney General Tells Murkowski Tribal Justice “Must Be Improved”

Senator Lisa Murkowski raised the issue of Alaska's rural safety challenges to the nation's top law enforcement official: Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Murkowski seized the opportunity of Ms. Lynch's testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee to get Ms. Lynch's thoughts on tribal courts, human trafficking, drug trafficking and the difficulties in getting full-time law enforcement for some villages. Lynch committed to Murkowski that she would participate in a dialogue with Senator M… Continue Reading

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05.07.15

Murkowski Pursuing “Sensible Options” for Caribou and Cattle on Remote Alaska Islands

Senator Lisa Murkowski today followed up with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) - the day after a face-to-face meeting with FWS Director Dan Ashe reiterate the need for the agency to reconsider some recent decisions involving the use of taxpayer dollars. In the past few weeks, the FWS announced it was planning to spend federal resources to send hunters out to the remote island of Kagalaska to remove any caribou that may have swam there from Adak, as well as conduct an environmental impac… Continue Reading

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05.07.15

Chairman Murkowski Continues to Champion Alaska’s Energy Priorities

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has introduced a number of legislative proposals to facilitate the development of Alaska's energy and mineral resources as part of her efforts to win Senate approval of the first broad energy bill in nearly a decade. Murkowski's most recent legislative efforts promote the production of hydropower and other renewable energy resources; authorize research into Alaska's prolific methane hydrate resources; provide for predictability in rules for onshore oil and ga… Continue Reading

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05.05.15

Budget Means a “Stronger, Sturdier American Economy”

Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted for the Senate Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 11) and explained her vote afterwards, saying: "Today the Senate did something it hasn't done since 2009: pass a budget resolution agreed upon by both chambers of Congress. It's just the most recent example that the United States Senate is getting back to being a functioning body Americans and Alaskans deserve. Getting a budget agreement on Capitol Hill is important for the nation because it gets us closer to re… Continue Reading

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05.05.15

Senator Murkowski Co-Sponsoring Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2

Senator Lisa Murkowski has signed on as co-sponsor of the Pilot's Bill of Rights 2 - legislation that grants aviators more common-sense results and transparency in their interactions with the FAA and allows certified pilots to fly if they meet the medical requirements needed to acquire a driver's license. This bill broadens and expands the original Pilot's Bill of Rights that Senator Murkowski also co-sponsored in the previous Congressional session. "Alaskans depend heavily on aviation-with ove… Continue Reading

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05.04.15

Murkowski Blasts “Big Brother” Surveillance of Civilians, Backs Bill to Restore Privacy Rights

Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced her co-sponsorship of the USA FREEDOM Act, a bipartisan bill designed to restore American citizens' privacy rights and halt the federal government's far-reaching dragnet collection of phone records under the controversial Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act. Building on a decade of resistance to government surveillance efforts in the wake of 9/11, Murkowski joined a bipartisan group of Congressmen in both chambers and called on leadership to take up this le… Continue Reading

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05.01.15

Alaska Delegation to Bring Together Grant Applicants, Federal Agencies at 2015 Symposium

Alaska's Congressional Delegation today announced it will hold the 2015 Federal Grants Symposium at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and visit with representatives from federal agencies offering grants and loans. Additionally, The Foraker Group, Rasmuson Foundation, and Alaska Community Foundation will provide educational seminars highlighting information about federal grant and… Continue Reading

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04.30.15

Sen. Murkowski: EPA’s Troubling Policy and Budget Priorities are Harmful to Alaska

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today challenged the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to justify the agency's efforts to expand its regulatory reach through its Waters of the United States and power plant proposals, despite the potential economic consequences for Alaska and the rest of the nation. Click to view video Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee, criticized the EPA's proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) ru… Continue Reading

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04.29.15

Murkowski Blasts EPA on Harmful Budget and Policy Priorities

Senator Lisa Murkowski today pressed Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy about what she and Alaskans consider clear examples of federal government overreach the EPA is engaged in - from its power plant guidelines to the economic "show stopper" presented by the Waters of the United States policy. Towards the close of the lengthy Interior Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Murkowski blasted the EPA on the sheer lack of common sense and understanding of the harmful impact… Continue Reading

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04.29.15

Murkowski: DHS Must “Step It Up” on Arctic Commitment

Senator Lisa Murkowski today questioned Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson on his department's commitment to the Arctic - saying the U.S. is "woefully behind" in Arctic investments. In a Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the DHS budget request for Fiscal Year 2016, Senator Murkowski noted that only $4 million out of a total $41 billion requested was designated for "initial acquisition activities" for a new polar icebreaker. Senator Murkows… Continue Reading

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04.29.15

Nat’l Guard to Murkowski: Military Code “Needed to be Beefed Up” in Alaska

Senator Lisa Murkowski today sought answers from the National Guard Bureau about its investigation into military sexual assault and misbehavior in the Alaska National Guard, asking the official in charge where things stand in terms of policy changes and the guards' readiness levels. At a hearing of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Murkowski leveraged the appearance of National Guard Bureau Chief General Frank Grass to follow up on the investigation done by the Office of Complex I… Continue Reading