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.
Sens. Murkowski, Scott Present New Indicators to Measure U.S. Energy Insecurity
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Tim Scott, R-S.C., today offered a new set of economic indicators to measure the impact of rising energy costs on American families. Murkowski and Scott described the tools in a new report entitled, Plenty at Stake: Indicators of American Energy Insecurity. The report is available on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee website. "As we seek to understand the consequences higher energy costs have on our constituents, this tool will enable us… Continue Reading
09.16.14
Murkowski’s Work Leads to Alaskanized Food Assistance Policies
Senator Lisa Murkowski's outreach to the Secretary of Agriculture has yielded an agreement from the USDA that they won't use Lower 48 perishable food availability standards to judge how Alaska's rural residents and retailers participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). With the logistical and economic challenges of getting affordable perishable food out to Alaska villages, as well as the lack of broadband connectivity, Murkowski reminded USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack that s… Continue Reading
09.15.14
Sen. Murkowski Criticizes Forest Service for $2 Million Expenditure to Study Tongass Transition
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today questioned the U.S. Forest Service's decision to award a $2.1 million contract to a private firm to develop a report on the effects of the agency's proposed transition to young-growth timber management in the Tongass National Forest. Murkowski said the money would have been better spent assisting Southeast Alaska's struggling timber mills retrofit their existing equipment to handle young-growth. To date, the Forest Service has yet to provide any money -… Continue Reading
09.15.14
Murkowski: GAO Findings Reinforce Reliability Concerns
At the request of U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released a report documenting federal agencies' inadequate response to concerns about the potential electric reliability impacts of multiple federal regulations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The report is an update to GAO's previous work in 2012 on electric reliability. The nonpartisan GAO found that federal agencies have in the last two years taken only "initial step… Continue Reading
09.11.14
Murkowski Statement on 13th Remembrance of 9/11 Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today Senator Lisa Murkowski shared her thoughts on the 13th anniversary of 9/11: Thirteen years after the tragedies of 9/11, thousands of Alaskans still remember waking up to the national nightmare playing out on every single television; many of us were awakened by friends and relatives in the Lower 48 calling us about the horrible news: that 3,000 people were killed for simply living, working, and being in America. When I reflect back on September 11, 2001, I remember the … Continue Reading
09.10.14
Murkowski: Action Without a Plan Is Not Effective Foreign Policy
Senator Lisa Murkowski tonight responded to President Barack Obama's national remarks explaining his thoughts on dealing with the Islamic State: "Like all Americans, I am extremely concerned with the rapid growth of ISIS and the threat this barbaric group poses to Americans abroad, at home, and our allies around the world. "President Obama recently inadvertently admitted what many Alaskans already knew: that he did not have a strategy to protect Americans against the spread of violent Islamic … Continue Reading
09.10.14
Sen. Murkowski Welcomes DOE Action on LNG Export Licenses
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the Department of Energy (DOE) for granting final approval to two liquefied natural gas export projects - Cameron LNG in Louisiana and Carib Energy in Florida. The approvals come after repeated calls from Murkowski for DOE to streamline its export review policies to ensure that American natural gas maintains its competitive edge in the world marketplace. "I have long advocated for expediting federal approval of increased natural gas exports. … Continue Reading
09.03.14
Murkowski Helps Convince Administration to Buy Millions in Alaska Pink Salmon for Americans in Need
Just more than a month after Senator Lisa Murkowski urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to consider Governor Sean Parnell's proposal to use existing federal funds to buy extra Alaska canned pink salmon for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has agreed to purchase up to $13 million worth. This news is welcomed by Alaska's seafood industry, which has been burdened by a glut of pink salmon from last year's record harvest, and boosts the nutrition options… Continue Reading
09.02.14
Murkowski’s Behind-the-Scenes Effort Makes UAF Drone Research Flight a Reality
This past weekend, a small, unmanned aerial system (UAS) conducted flights over Alaska's skies and waters, collecting vital data and information on whales and marine wildlife to inform the resource development work being considered for oil leases in the Chukchi Sea - but the flight would not have been possible without Senator Lisa Murkowski's involvement. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) originally declined to authorize continuing University of Alaska-Fairbanks' research flights - the … Continue Reading
08.26.14
Alaska Delegation: U.S. Should Push Back Against Russian Seafood Boycott
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska's Congressional Delegation today reached out to the White House, encouraging strong and immediate action from the administration to respond to Russia's boycott of American food imports, including seafood. In a letter (attached) to the White House, Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich and Congressman Don Young suggest America increase the intensity of its negotiations with Russia, and if needed, that the nation respond with a ban on Russian seafood imports They writ… Continue Reading
08.21.14
Murkowski: Obama Administration’s Bergdahl Transfer Broke Law, According to Independent Report
ANCHORAGE, AK - Senator Lisa Murkowski today shared the findings of a U.S. Government Accountability Office legal opinion into the administration's controversial negotiations with the Taliban for the release of Bowe Bergdahl. The GAO inquiry - done at her and a number of her U.S. Senate colleagues' request - found that the Obama Administration broke federal law when the Pentagon swapped five high-risk Taliban members from Guantanamo Bay for the release of Bergdahl without providing advance noti… Continue Reading
08.07.14
Murkowski Lauds F-35 Preliminary Basing Decision for Eielson
Senator Lisa Murkowski today greeted the news from the United States Air Force that Eielson Air Force Base has been judged to be a "Preferred" base for two squadrons of F-35 II Lightning aircraft. During a conversation with the Alaska Delegation, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said that an environmental impact analysis process would now begin, that will result in an Environmental Impact Statement -- with a Record of Decision expected to be made publicly in the fall of 2015. (Mu… Continue Reading
08.01.14
Murkowski Announces Results of Interior Funding Negotiations, Funding Bill to Strengthen Alaska’s Tribes, Lands and Parks
Senator Lisa Murkowski is proud to share the results of her negotiations with Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) through the release of today's draft fiscal year 2015 Senate Interior Appropriations bill. With the Department of the Interior managing a majority of Alaska's lands, forests and waters - in addition to providing oversight of many services and programs for Alaska Natives and tribes - this bill has a significant impact to Alaska. (Click image to vi… Continue Reading
08.01.14
Murkowski Votes for VA Reform Bill, Calls it a “First Step”
Senator Lisa Murkowski today cast her vote in favor of the Veterans Access to Care Act, saying: The Veterans Administration's mission is a promise to the men and women who put their lives on the line around the world for our defense, and it's a simple promise that we will look after them in their times of medical need. Red tape and systemic failures cannot stand between our veterans and the care they have earned. I am voting for this bill because it represents a critical beginning to reform… Continue Reading
07.31.14
Murkowski Votes Against Advancing Emergency Supplemental Bill
Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against advancing to a final vote on S.2648, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill that would sent $2.7 billion to address the complicated surge at the southern border of unaccompanied minors: "This emergency supplemental bill to address the border crisis had no opportunity for amendments. While not quite a blank check, it mostly throws money at a problem without addressing the root causes or dealing with any real reforms when thoughtful proposals fr… Continue Reading
07.31.14
Sen. Murkowski Applauds Shell Offer to ASRC of Equity Stake in Chukchi Sea
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the joint-venture agreement between Shell Oil and Arctic Inupiat Offshore (AIO) - a new company formed by Arctic Slope Regional Corporation with several North Slope native village corporations - which gives native-owned AIO the option to acquire a working interest in Chukchi Sea oil and gas development. "Shell's decision to invest in the future of the region and its people should be applauded," Murkowski said. "This announcement ensures that … Continue Reading
07.31.14
Murkowski to McDonald’s: Alaska’s Fisheries Are Protected, Sustainable
Senator Lisa Murkowski today reached out to the President and CEO of McDonald's, urging him to ignore an anti-fishing campaign from Greenpeace that is attempting to shut down one of the most sustainably managed fisheries in the world. Murkowski cites McDonald's own website and promotional materials touting the company's support for Alaska Pollock sourced from a "wild-caught and sustainable fishery." (McDonald's own website stresses the superiority of the Bering Sea fishery.) For years, G… Continue Reading
07.31.14
Murkowski Votes Against “Déjà Vu Messaging” Bill
Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against proceeding to S.2569, the Bring Jobs Back to America bill, which is identical to legislation introduced by Democrats and that also failed in 2012. Murkowski shared her reasoning with Alaskans: "If you want to have a productive and responsible conversation about creating jobs and simplifying our tax code, you can count me in. But to cut-and-paste a failed bill without making any changes or without considering Republican amendments to improve it and mak… Continue Reading
07.30.14
Murkowski: Lessons of Galena Need to Be Learned Nationwide
Senator Lisa Murkowski today used the example of the devastating Galena flood last year to illustrate the dysfunction within the federal government when it comes to addressing natural disasters in Native communities. A Federal Emergency Management Agency official who testified before Murkowski acknowledged that the agency "hasn't been the best at learning our lessons," though the Senator remained unconvinced they were tapping into local knowledge in an effective way to handle rural responses. … Continue Reading
07.30.14
Murkowski Stresses Urgency in Support of Native Languages Immersion
Senator Lisa Murkowski today spoke before the National Indian Education Association - pledging her support for native language immersion programs across the country. Murkowski committed to work with her colleagues to advance two bills currently before the United States Senate: S.1948, the Native Language Immersion Student Achievement Act, and S.2299, a bill to amend the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to reauthorize a provision to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native Americ… Continue Reading