03.24.14

Murkowski Welcomes Rural Water Funding for Alaska

Senator Lisa Murkowski - as Ranking Republican on the Interior Appropriations Committee - today shared news with Alaskans that $10 million in funds she successfully was able to include in the FY2014 Interior Appropriations Bill for the EPA's Alaska Native Villages program was released by the agency to provide grants to implement critical wastewater and drinking water projects for Alaska Natives. "When I work with my Senate colleagues from the lower 48 on basic infrastructure needs, they are env… Continue Reading

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03.24.14

Murkowski Applauds Admiral Tom Ostebo’s Nomination to Key Nat’l Position

Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the White House nomination of Rear Admiral Tom Ostebo to be the Deputy Commandant for Mission Support of the United States Coast Guard, saying: "Rear Admiral Ostebo's nomination is great news for the United States and our national Arctic agenda. Knowing Tom well, I am sure he will step into the role of Deputy Commandant for Mission Control with a depth of knowledge after spending three years in Alaska's tough conditions. It's reassuring that his passion… Continue Reading

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03.19.14

Murkowski Announces New Rural Outreach Coordinator

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced the addition of Deborah Vo to be her Rural Outreach Coordinator. In her new capacity, Vo will engage with rural Alaskans to assist them with the challenges facing them from a federal perspective and advise Senator Murkowski's policy team in Washington, DC. "Rural Alaska has a unique set of possibilities and issues, and I welcome an experienced woman like Deborah to help contribute to my work for Alaskans," said Senator Murkowski. "Debo… Continue Reading

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03.14.14

Murkowski Makes Push to Improve Accountability, Transparency at Justice Department

Senator Lisa Murkowski joined her colleagues Mike Lee (R-UT) and John Tester (D-MT) to introduce legislation to boost transparency and accountability within the Department of Justice. The Inspector General Empowerment Act would make an important internal change within the DOJ: currently, allegations of attorney misconduct are investigated by an agency that reports directly to the Attorney General rather than the autonomous Office of the Inspector General. The bill would remove this obvious c… Continue Reading

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03.13.14

Murkowski: Flood Insurance Bill Gets Rid of “Sticker Shock”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After years of Senator Lisa Murkowski pushing back against the federal government's fuzzy math and "bizarre" property risk decisions - with some Alaskan homes abruptly re-classified as 'high' risk based on flawed or outdated data and maps - she was happy to vote for the H.R. 3370, The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act today, that rolls back risk-based flood insurance premiums for many Alaska homeowners. H.R. 3370 allows many homeowners with flood insurance policies … Continue Reading

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03.13.14

Three Murkowski Amendments Help to Alaskanize Child Care Block Grant Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today proudly cast her vote for S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act - a critical bill that will improve how states and tribes use federal block grants to assist low-income parents who are working or going to school - which included three bipartisan amendments introduced by Murkowski to provide customized solutions for states like Alaska. "This bill walks the fine line between asking states, tribes, and providers to take a 21st Century… Continue Reading

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03.13.14

Murkowski Urges FDA Involvement in Lifting China Shellfish Ban

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today took the opportunity of the Food and Drug Administration Director's appearance on Capitol Hill to get answers for Alaskans about FDA's role in resolving China's ban on West Coast shellfish imports. Her focus was on an upcoming meeting with officials in China that will be the next important step towards lifting the ban. The China trip - which Senator Murkowski urged federal agencies to schedule quickly - was confirmed by the National Oceanic and A… Continue Reading

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03.13.14

Murkowski Takes Frankenfish Fight to FDA in Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today took the opportunity of the Food and Drug Administration Director's appearance on Capitol Hill to remind the FDA of Alaskans' deep concerns over genetically-engineered salmon, urging her repeatedly to not approve Frankenfish and to look critically at the wide range of threats it poses. After Murkowski's remarks and questioning, the FDA Director committed to her that unless safety can be guaranteed, then approval will not be granted. (Senator… Continue Reading

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03.13.14

Sen. Murkowski: Leak of Sensitive Energy Infrastructure Data Dangerous and Irresponsible

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today released the following statement in response to the leak of internal Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) information on potential vulnerabilities of the nation's electric grid: "I have grave concerns about the dangerous and irresponsible release of information apparently based upon a single analysis of potential vulnerabilities of our nation's critical energy infrastructure. The information could provide a road map to those wh… Continue Reading

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03.12.14

Murkowski Amendment Strengthens Alaska Native Childhood Development

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Al Franken (D-MN) today successfully introduced and passed an important amendment to S.1086 the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act to help address the employment crisis in Native communities, provide additional high-quality childcare to Native children, and enable tribes and tribal organizations to continue to prepare their members for the workforce. The Child Care Development Block Grant provides funds to States and Tribes to help low inco… Continue Reading

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03.12.14

Murkowski Presses Cabinet Secretary on Arctic Agenda

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today took the opportunity of Department of Homeland Security Director Jeh Johnson's appearance before the Appropriations Committee to drill down on DHS' vision of the nation's Arctic future, given the lack of details and prioritization specified in the Obama Administration's 2015 budget. Though Secretary Johnson testified that DHS is focused on the commercial potential in the region, Murkowski will continue to seek answers for how the White House views… Continue Reading

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03.12.14

Murkowski Works with Feds, Gets Village Road Permitted

Senator Lisa Murkowski today was pleased to work with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize a permit that will allow for the construction of a 5.8 mile gravel road in Nuiqsut to protect and support cultural traditions, as well as the economic activity in the North Slope village. Consistent with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, the simple gravel road will assist residents to provide food for their families through subsistence activities, as well a… Continue Reading

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03.11.14

Murkowski Protecting Alaskan Historical Documents from Uncertainty

Senator Lisa Murkowski today reached out to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) about the planned closure of the Anchorage facility, in order to seek a fiscally-responsible solution that maintains access for Alaskans to historical documents and information. With Alaskan media reports suggesting that the documents contained at the National Archives facility in Anchorage would be relocated to Seattle - alarming Alaskan historians and curious, casual researchers as well - Senat… Continue Reading

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03.11.14

Murkowski Congratulates Dallas Seavey on “One for the Ages” Dramatic Iditarod Win

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today congratulated Dallas Seavey for his thrilling, come-from-behind victory of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Capturing his 2nd Iditarod victory in 3 years - and the third straight Seavey family Iditarod win - Dallas fought off extreme conditions and a dramatic duel with Aliy Zirkle down the final stretch. "I want to congratulate Dallas Seavey on a dramatic victory, but also a tremendous accomplishment - just hours before the finish line he was in third p… Continue Reading

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03.10.14

Murkowski: People of King Cove Deserted by Federal Government

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today testified before the Alaska State House Resources Committee in support of House Joint Resolution 30, which calls on Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to reconsider her rejection of a land exchange that would have provided the people of King Cove with access to medical care in emergencies. "On Dec. 23, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced her decision to reject a lifesaving, limited-use, one-lane gravel road through a miniscule fraction of the Izembek… Continue Reading

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03.10.14

Murkowski Votes to Support Victims of Military Sexual Assault

Today Senator Murkowski cast her vote in support of S. 1917 - the Victims Protection Act of 2014, introduced by Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) - and was pleased to support this bill which removes the ability for commanding officers to overturn lower level command decisions on sexual assault crimes and heighten the punishments for offenders. The bill passed the U.S. Senate 97-0 moments ago. "The issue of military sexual assault is an incredibly serious one I worry is corroding our armed force… Continue Reading

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03.07.14

Murkowski Teams to Reform Jobless Programs, Fund Long-Term Unemployment Insurance Extension

With the nation's economy recovering at a sluggish pace, Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced she joined with six of her Republican colleagues in proposing a five-month extension of long-term unemployment benefits that also reforms key jobless programs without adding a dime to the federal deficit. The measure - co-sponsored by Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Dan Coats (R-IN), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Dean Heller (R-NV) - would retroactively provide relief back to when long-term… Continue Reading

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03.07.14

Murkowski Questions Delay on Shellfish Negotiations

On the heels of conversations with Southeast Alaskan fishermen economically impacted by a Chinese ban on West Coast shellfish, Senator Lisa Murkowski is reaching out to federal authorities to encourage them to follow through quickly on plans to travel to China and resolve the dispute. Though the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration planned on sending representatives to China this past week to work through issues preventing imports of American products into China and determine how bes… Continue Reading

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03.07.14

Murkowski Pushes Pentagon for Pearl Harbor Victims to be “Unknown” No Longer

Senator Lisa Murkowski joined a bipartisan group of 15 Senate colleagues in urging the Department of Defense to have the bodies of 21 victims of the Pearl Harbor attack exhumed and identified so that they can either be brought home for burial in their community, or be buried in a marked grave in Hawaii. Military researchers and scientists have concluded that the remains of 21 of the 429 men who perished in the explosive beginning of America's involvement in World War II are buried at the Nat… Continue Reading

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03.06.14

Murkowski: Military Sexual Assault is “Underside of Military Culture,” Calls for Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today took to the floor of the United States Senate to encourage her Senate colleagues to pass legislation providing reforms to the military when seeking justice for victims of military sexual assault. After over a year of pressing the Pentagon for a 'culture change' and co-sponsoring several bills that would improve and expand victims' rights and protections, the Senate held procedural votes on two bills offering such measures to get within one step of… Continue Reading