01.09.14

Murkowski Pushes Back Against Unwelcome NOAA “Holiday Surprise”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration having opened a one month comment season on an important issue between Christmas and New Year's - when most Alaskans were attending to personal matters - Senator Lisa Murkowski today sent a letter to NOAA (see attached) pushing for more time. On December 27th, NOAA released its Draft Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammals, which seeks to improve understanding of acoustical impacts on… Continue Reading

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01.09.14

Murkowski Responds to Wal-Mart’s Commitment to Alaska Seafood

Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to Wal-Mart's announcement that it remains "committed to buying Alaska seafood" in the wake of Juneau discussions with state officials and experts: "I am pleased that Wal-Mart decision-makers took me up on my offer to visit Alaska before making a final determination, and it's clear Alaska's sustainable wild seafood continues to be its own best advocate. The management of Alaska's fisheries - and our commitment to sustainability - should never be in doubt.… Continue Reading

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01.08.14

Murkowski Responds to U.S. Army Force Structure Changes

Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the overall Alaskan U.S. Army reductions reflected in the nationwide "sweeping reorganization" and personnel overhaul announced by U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK): "Though Alaska is disappointed to lose any U.S. Army personnel, these numbers show that the Last Frontier remains a premier location for the nation's defense. With the United States Army responsibly conducting a regular evaluation of their positioning worldwide to boost efficiency, many states are… Continue Reading

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01.07.14

Murkowski Supports Unemployment Benefit Extension Debate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted to proceed to a debate on S.1845, the Unemployment Insurance Extension Bill, sharing her thought process with Alaskans: "It is important that we have compassion for those Americans caught up in the administration's economic policy failures - particularly during the more difficult winter months - but these extensions cannot be unlimited. "Instead, we need to see far more productive actions to strengthen job creation and restructure existing … Continue Reading

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01.06.14

Murkowski Efforts Help Bring Fresh Produce to Alaskans In Need

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced they are allocating existing funds to purchase fruit and vegetables for those in need, following a bipartisan effort spearheaded by Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and 23 of their colleagues in August. The produce will be distributed to needy families under The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Murkowski was the lead Republican on an August letter (attached) and commends the decision by the USDA. "T… Continue Reading

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12.23.13

Murkowski’s Advocacy Helps Reap Secure Rural Schools Payments “Holiday Gift”

Senator Lisa Murkowski today commended the Administration for its decision to not reduce the next round of payments to be made to Southeast Alaska timber communities under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Earlier this year, Senator Murkowski was sharply critical of the Forest Service's decision to apply the automatic, across-the-board federal budget cuts commonly known as "sequestration," to Secure Rural Schools payments that had previously been made for 2013. Ala… Continue Reading

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12.20.13

Murkowski Co-Sponsors Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act

WASHINGTON, DC. - Senator Lisa Murkowski has joined 27 of her Senate colleagues to back and co-sponsor the bipartisan Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act, proposing severe new sanctions on Iran should the regime violate the interim Joint Plan of Action agreed to in Geneva or should Iran fail to reach a final agreement. The prospective sanctions legislation requires further reductions in purchases of Iranian petroleum and applies additional penalties to strategic elements of the Iranian economy, to inc… Continue Reading

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12.20.13

Delegation Land Transfer Passes Congress, Benefitting Native Health Efforts

Today the Senate unanimously passed H.R. 623, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act. The bill directs the Indian Health Service to transfer a 2.79 acre parcel of federal land located in Anchorage to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC). The bill now heads to the President, and will allow ANTHC to strengthen critical healthcare delivery for Alaska Natives by constructing a patient housing facility on the parcel. The patient housing facility will expand the C… Continue Reading

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12.20.13

Murkowski Responds to White House Health Care Flip-Flop

Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the Obama Administration's "rules change" where it will allow a new set of exemptions to the health care law, saying: "Tonight's flip-flop from the White House on the health care bill is a stunning admission that its signature achievement is clearly not ready for prime time. Just weeks ago, President Obama vowed that Americans needed to be 'protected' from these basic plans. At this point, I think Alaskans need to be protected from this bill and the a… Continue Reading

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12.20.13

Murkowski: Defense Bill Highlights Alaska’s Key Military Role

Senator Lisa Murkowski tonight voted in favor of the HR 3304 the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act to give military members a one percent raise and enact certain policies for the upcoming year - including her amendment making 8 C-23 aircraft available to the State of Alaska. The bill, which passed overwhelmingly 84-15, also contains numerous provisions that underscore Alaska's prominence for the military, given the Pentagon's focus on the Asia-Pacific region - as well as including dozens o… Continue Reading

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12.19.13

Murkowski Secures Amendment Protecting an Alaska Family’s Cabin from Demolition

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today secured support for an amendment protecting a privately owned subsistence cabin on an Alaska Native veteran allotment in the Yukon-Delta National Wildlife Refuge from demolition by federal land managers. The cabin was built on the edge of a designated wilderness area because of a mistake made by federal land management agencies. The members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously supported Murkowski's amendment, which prov… Continue Reading

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12.18.13

Murkowski to Wal-Mart: “No Doubt” Alaska Seafood is Sustainable

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today sent a letter (attached) to the incoming President and CEO of Wal-Mart, introducing him to Alaska's world-renowned sustainable fisheries - calling it "the benchmark for fishery management." Her outreach is aimed at advocating that Wal-Mart make an informed decision to continue to bring Alaskan fish to its consumers nationwide, and at inviting the new CEO to Alaska to "see and taste" it for himself. After spending much of 2013 fighting against thir… Continue Reading

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12.17.13

Murkowski Statement on Bipartisan Budget Deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted in favor of proceeding to a final vote on H.J. Res 49, the Budget Resolution, a result of bipartisan negotiations between Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to set funding levels for the federal government into 2015. She shared the following statement with Alaskans afterwards about the bill and her prospective vote tomorrow: "After much thought, I cast my vote in support of the Budget Act. The bill is far from perf… Continue Reading

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12.16.13

Murkowski Casts Vote for Coast Guard Future, DHS Nominee

Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted to confirm the nomination of Jeh Johnson as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, a critical position in Alaska where DHS watches over the United States Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Transportation Security Administration -- sharing her thoughts with Alaskans: "Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mr. Johnson to discuss his outlook on the issues facing our state, where DHS has a rather large presence. Mr. J… Continue Reading

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12.13.13

Murkowski Helps Bring State of the Art Cancer Technology to Alaska

ANCHORAGE, AK - Senator Lisa Murkowski's office this week helped a local cancer treatment center bring a state of the art machine online that will allow for the treatment of some brain cancers without ever cutting into the patient's skull. It is called a Gamma Knife, and it focuses 200 tiny beams of radiation directly at a tumor with minimal impacts to the surrounding, healthy tissue. Previously, Alaskans needing this type of brain cancer treatment were forced to travel to Seattle on their ow… Continue Reading

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12.13.13

Murkowski Votes for Air Force Secretary Nominee

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted to confirm Deborah Lee James as the next Secretary of the Air Force, sharing the following thoughts: "The Air Force community is incredibly important to Alaska's identity, and it is being seen in a new light by the Pentagon as we embark on a Pacific era in the military - and the United States Air Force has developed a stronger partnership with Alaska in recent months. Over the past several years the Air Force relationship with Alaska and Co… Continue Reading

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12.12.13

Murkowski Commends VA Backlog Progress: Service is a Two Way Street, Keep Moving Forward

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the new Department of Veterans Affairs report (attached) outlining its improved Anchorage Regional Office statistics in cutting through the backlog of claims. The VA provided her with information detailing the positive changes in claim processing time, as well as delays in decisions and benefits. While statistics are slowly increasing in the lower 48, the more dramatic turnaround in Alaska is partly the result of Murkowski's demand t… Continue Reading

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12.12.13

Sen. Murkowski Calls Out Interior’s Inconsistency on King Cove Road

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today pressed Rhea Suh, nominated to be the next assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks at the Interior Department, on the importance of approving a life-saving road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to protect the health and safety of the people of King Cove, Alaska. Murkowski asked how Interior agencies could continue to defend their opposition to the King Cove road with the argument that it could harm the region's mi… Continue Reading

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12.12.13

Murkowski Amendment Bringing Disaster Relief Aircraft to Alaska Added to Defense Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski is pleased to see that the amendment she filed to the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act to transfer eight surplus Army C-23 "Sherpa" aircraft to the State of Alaska has been added to the bill released yesterday by the House and Senate Armed Services Committee. The bill is expected to be considered in the Senate next week. Murkowski's amendment requires the U.S. Army to offer title of eight specific aircraft, preselected by the State of Alaska to … Continue Reading

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12.07.13

On Pearl Harbor Anniversary, WWII Veteran Says “Life is Magnificent”

Anchorage resident Norman Hogg carries with him an Army-issued Bible received during his service time in World War II, bearing an inscription from then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He also carries a remarkable abundance of stories, observations and an authentic Alaskan brand of optimism. As the nation remembers the December 7th, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the United States into the Second World War - a "date which will live in infamy" in Roosevelt's words - Senator Lisa Mu… Continue Reading