04.18.13

VA Secretary Committed to ‘All of the Above’ Care for Rural Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Veterans Affairs General Eric Shinseki today assured Senator Lisa Murkowski that he is deeply committed to delivering the care earned by America's veterans in rural and remote areas - critically important in Alaska where 80 percent of communities are "off the road system" - during a hearing of the Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. After Senator Murkowski pointed out that there have been some difficulties in creating "c… Continue Reading

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04.18.13

Sen. Murkowski: ‘All of the Above’ Missing from DOE Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today said the Department of Energy's $28.4 billion budget proposal fails to support the kind of comprehensive policies needed to improve the nation's security and return its economic vitality. (Click for video of Murkowski's opening statement) "While the administration has repeatedly pledged to support an 'all of the above' energy policy, I still do not see that reflected here," Murkowski told Deputy Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman at … Continue Reading

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04.17.13

Murkowski Brings Nautical Officials Together for Maritime Boundary Line/ IUU Panel

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today hosted top oceans and marine officials at the U.S. Capitol to discuss the many issues surrounding the Maritime Boundary Line (MBL) and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU) - from the government's mission of enforcement to protecting vital marine resources like Alaska's $4.5B fishing industry. In the second briefing on maritime issues requested by Senator Murkowski in as many years, officials from the Department of State, Coast Guard, N… Continue Reading

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04.17.13

ANG Tells Murkowski It Supports Added Staff and Equipment for 168th Refueling Wing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today received a response indicating support from the Director of the Air National Guard for added staff and equipment for the 168th Air Refueling Wing through an Active Association with the United States Air Force - saying it would increase its ability to be the "mobility backbone" of the Air Force. Active Associations are partnerships where National Guard operations share supplemental staff and equipment with the United States Air Force. Murkowski to… Continue Reading

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04.16.13

Murkowski Statement on Gun Legislation Proposals

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today decided that she will not be supporting the Manchin-Toomey gun legislation and will instead support an alternative amendment proposed by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA): "Law-abiding Alaskans have been watching the Senate debate gun legislation closely, because they want to keep Americans safe as much as anyone but don't believe they need to sacrifice their 2nd Amendment rights to get there. "We all agree that we want to keep guns out of the hands … Continue Reading

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04.16.13

Murkowski Meeting Today With Iceland President Grímsson

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today is meeting with the President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, to discuss a variety of Arctic policy issues that continue to affect Alaska and the nation. Grimsson is in the nation's capital to offer the keynote address for an energy forum hosted by the Brookings Institution, as well as to raise awareness for the newly assembled Arctic Circle organization - which has named Senator Murkowski an honorary board member, due to her stat… Continue Reading

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04.16.13

Murkowski: Forest Service’s Attempt to Take Back Secure Rural School Payments ‘Adding Insult to Injury’

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today blasted the U.S. Forest Service for trying to retroactively "claw back" payments made to Southeast Alaska timber communities under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing Tuesday on the Forest Service's 2014 budget request, Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said that because of the automatic, across-the-board federal budget cuts commonly known as "sequest… Continue Reading

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04.16.13

Pentagon Agrees With Murkowski: No Special Drone Medal

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski has received word from Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel that he has revisited the controversial decision of his predecessor Leon Panetta and will not proceed with plans to decorate military men and women who control drones over combat veterans - including Purple Heart recipients injured or killed in combat. Instead, Hagel announced that the award will be bestowed as a "distinguishing device" to be attached to existing medals, instead of a new classifica… Continue Reading

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04.12.13

Murkowski: Suggesting Alaska Should Pay for Overdue Federal Obligations is Outrageous

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today criticized the Department of the Interior (DOI) for attempting to stick Alaska with the bill for federal responsibilities that have been neglected for decades. Under the president's 2014 budget proposal for DOI, Alaska's 50-percent share of revenue from oil and natural gas activity in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) would be diverted from the state to pay for the cleanup of legacy wells that were drilled by the federal g… Continue Reading

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04.11.13

Murkowski: Suggesting Alaska Should Pay for Overdue Federal Obligations is Outrageous

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today criticized the Department of the Interior (DOI) for attempting to stick Alaska with the bill for federal responsibilities that have been neglected for decades. Under the president's 2014 budget proposal for DOI, Alaska's 50-percent share of revenue from oil and natural gas activity in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NP -A) would be diverted from the state to pay for the cleanup of legacy wells that were drilled by the federal g… Continue Reading

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04.11.13

Commerce Secretary to Murkowski: Debris Aid Increasing 20%

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today questioned Acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank on several critical ocean policies facing Alaskan coastal communities during a Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, and was informed that NOAA's national marine debris removal program is being increased twenty percent, mostly to deal with tsunami debris. Among the topics raised in a rapid-fire question and answer period were: tsunami marine debris relief; issue… Continue Reading

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04.11.13

Murkowski Statement on Gun Legislation Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against proceeding to consideration of gun votes on the U.S. Senate floor without the legislation being fully detailed in advance. The 'cloture vote' passed 68-31, though, and Murkowski shared here reasoning afterwards: "More than most states, Alaskans are protective of our 2nd Amendment rights and we guard them as we guard our property and loved ones. Today we voted to proceed to consider a bill unacceptable to Alaskans based solely on th… Continue Reading

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04.10.13

Murkowski Critical of President’s Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the budget proposal submitted to Congress by President Obama, originally due for introduction on February 4th, saying: "The President once again is leading from behind, this time leading us deeper into debt. 65 days after his budget was due and two-plus weeks after we voted on the Senate budget, the President is now entering the budget conversation, after the smoke has cleared - with a plan for billions more in tax and spend policy. … Continue Reading

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04.10.13

Murkowski’s Bill Fighting Youth Suicide Passes Major Hurdle

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today was proud that components from one of the first bills she co-sponsored this year - the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Reauthorization Act, a bill to combat youth suicide - was passed out of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee this morning, as a piece of the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act. Murkowski's work and legislation is included through parts of the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act: Early Diagnosis… Continue Reading

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04.09.13

Murkowski Responds to Grounding of Eielson F-16s

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the news the F-16 Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base has been grounded as part of a nationwide "stand down" effort connected to federal spending cuts, saying: "Congress should replace automatic spending cuts, known as "sequestration," with a comprehensive approach of targeted spending cuts, mandatory spending changes, and tax reform. "Among the services, the Air Force has been hit disproportionately hard by sequestration.… Continue Reading

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04.09.13

Murkowski Questions DOE Nominee Moniz on Support for LNG Exports

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today challenged Ernest Moniz, President Obama's nominee to lead the Department of Energy, to be, if confirmed, a strong voice within the administration for policies that are clearly and unambiguously working to keep energy abundant, affordable, clean, diverse and secure. (Click for video of Murkowski's opening statement) Murkowski questioned the Energy Department nominee on his support for exporting natural gas, efforts to expand the u… Continue Reading

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04.08.13

Murkowski: Suspension Reversal Ruling Shows Oversight “Remains a Mess”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the news that an administrative judge has overturned the suspensions of two prosecutors in the ethics case against Senator Ted Stevens - deciding that the Department of Justice had gone against internal procedure in its punishment of the two attorneys in question, by saying: "The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) decision to overturn the suspensions of prosecutors' misconduct in Senator Ted Stevens' case teaches us nothing we didn… Continue Reading

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04.05.13

Alaska Delegation United for Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With negotiations over comprehensive immigration reform continuing over the Easter state work period, Alaska's Congressional Delegation is weighing in on the matter in a letter (attached) to leaders in both chambers, citing Alaska's historic commitment to diversity and inclusion as the spirit to be kept in mind as the process moves forward. Leading with an allusion to Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich's successful fight for equality during the 1940s, and pointing out that Alask… Continue Reading

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03.28.13

Capitol Hill Chooses Respect in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Though Alaska's Washington, D.C. delegation is back home for the Easter work period, Alaskans on Capitol Hill held a rally today to participate in Alaska Governor Sean Parnell's "Choose Respect" movement along with over a hundred other communities within the state. (Alaskans in Washington, DC participated in the "Choose Respect" campaign to end domestic violence and sexual assault. Click HERE to view video of the event.) Where Murkowski and Young will be today: Senator … Continue Reading

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03.27.13

Murkowski Honors U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski released her tenth Veteran Spotlight installment today, showcasing Jim Vance - a United States Marine Corps veteran and Purple Heart recipient who served in Vietnam. An active member of Alaska's veteran community, Vance shared his incredible story of facing sniper fire during the war, which led to a life-changing moment on the morning of April 30th, 1970 - a firefight he still remembers today as when "all hell broke loose." Born in 1950, Vance knew he wa… Continue Reading