03.20.13

Continuing Resolution Delivers for Alaska’s Rural, Military Needs

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today cast her vote for H.R. 933, the Continuing Appropriations Act, which would fund the federal government through the remainder of the fiscal year ending September 30th. Included in the bill are key Alaska funding priorities, many of which were directly included by Murkowski in her role as the top Republican on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. Murkowski's determination to provide basic and essential medical needs to Alaska's First People was s… Continue Reading

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03.20.13

Murkowski Unveils Offshore Revenue Sharing Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced major bipartisan legislation today with Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) to ensure that all states receive a fair and equitable share of the revenues from energy production on federal lands and waters. The Fixing America's Inequities with Revenues (FAIR) Actwould give 27.5 percent of revenue from offshore energy development, including oil, gas, wind and other renewable energy sources, to coastal states, plus another 10 percent if the state create… Continue Reading

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03.19.13

Murkowski: New Alaska VA Director Has the Tools for “Outside In” Progress in Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed news that the Department of Veterans Affairs has named Susan Yeager to be the new Director of the VA Alaska Health Care System. Yeager currently serves the VA as Alaska's Rural Health Program Manager, and has been a hands-on advocate for improving rural care for Alaska's veterans. Murkowski was quick to note, though, that Yeager's momentum in providing rural care must be continued and sustained to address Alaska's veteran community in ur… Continue Reading

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03.19.13

Murkowski Introducing Federal Offshore Revenue Sharing Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) tomorrow will introduce the Fixing America's Inequality with Revenues(FAIR) Act - designed to ensure all energy-producing states receive a fair share of the revenues they help produce while also encouraging investments in clean energy and conservation. "The federal treasury benefits from the royalties and taxes on production in federally owned waters off Alaska's coast. Providing a portion of that money to Alaska would help the… Continue Reading

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03.19.13

Murkowski Welcomes “About Face” on Drone Medal Status

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed news that Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is reviewing the status level for the new "Distinguished Warfare Medal" - an award with the potential to regard drone pilots higher than Purple Heart or Bronze Star recipients. The news comes soon after Murkowski reached out to the Pentagon about this imbalance and her co-sponsorship of legislation to prohibit the medal's prominence. Secretary Hagel announced a review by Chairman of the Joint Chi… Continue Reading

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03.18.13

Senators Call for Proper Labeling of Genetically Modified Salmon

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich, today announced their next step in protecting Americans from potentially harmful and invasive "Frankenfish" by filing an amendment to the Continuing Resolution being debated on the Senate floor that would require clear and unquestionable labeling of GE salmon when sold to consumers. The amendment would ensure millions of Americans know the difference between natural salmon cultivated in our streams and oceans rather than in science lab… Continue Reading

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03.18.13

Murkowski Leads Effort to Prevent Sexual Assault in the Military

Washington, DC - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) have announced they are lead co-sponsors of bipartisan legislation to help fight sexual assault in the military. The Military Sexual Assault Prevention Act of 2013 would prevent sexual offenders from serving in the military, improve tracking and review of sexual assault claims in the military, and help ensure victims can get the justice they deserve. "Our men and women in uniform put their blood, sweat and tears into defending A… Continue Reading

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03.18.13

Murkowski and Begich Protect Eielson, Prioritize Alaska’s Military

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today co-sponsored an amendment to the Senate Continuing Resolution (CR) which would prohibit until 2014 any force structure adjustments which would halt the proposal to move the F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks to Joint-Base Elmendorf Richardson (J-BER) in Anchorage. "When the Air Force released their proposal, I encouraged them to go back to the drawing board: Do more thoughtful research of the housing markets than surfing Craigslist; co… Continue Reading

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03.15.13

Murkowski: Greely Missile Defense Back on Track to Full Capacity

WASHINGTON, DC - With North Korea raising its rhetoric and threat levels, Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the news from Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel that the Pentagon was "dusting off" its national missile defense considerations and adding to America's Pacific Coast capabilities at both Alaska's Fort Greely complex - including resurrecting the previously-mothballed Missile Field One - and Vandenburg Air Force Base in California. According to Secretary Hagel, Greely's missile arsenal w… Continue Reading

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03.15.13

Murkowski: Fighting Frankenfish Also Good For Business

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today contacted the President of Whole Foods Markets to commend him for taking the proactive step of making it corporate policy to label all genetically modified foods they sell - a practice she advocated for on genetically modified salmon in a bill she co-sponsored last month. With genetically-modified salmon still being considered by the Food and Drug Administration, Murkowski shared her concerns in a letter: "Frankenfish starts from a transgenic Atlan… Continue Reading

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03.15.13

Murkowski Bringing Tribes, State, Feds Together to Improve Rural Justice

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today reached out to Alaska's tribal leaders with the outlines of a proposal - years in the making- that would create a collaborative framework to solve the public safety crisis in rural Alaska. The Senator's Rural Public Safety Initiative is an attempt to bring Alaska Native tribes and the State of Alaska together to increase the public safety presence and authority in some of the most remote communities in Alaska. "We face a crisis of public safety in … Continue Reading

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03.14.13

Postmaster General to Murkowski: USPS Always a Defender of Bypass Mail

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Lisa Murkowski had a face-to-face meeting with United States Postal Service Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe and used the opportunity to get answers to questions Alaskans have asked about the future of bypass mail and the Alaskan impacts of the post office's decision to end Saturday envelope delivery. Bypass Mail: After Murkowski defended Alaska's bypass mail delivery service from potentially damaging proposals last year, she and Postmaster General Donahoe shared the… Continue Reading

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03.14.13

Murkowski Passes Legislation to Improve Energy Access in Denali

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today applauded the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for passing by unanimous consent the Denali Park Improvement bill, which includes three separate measures to decrease the use of diesel fuel and improve energy access in Denali, as well as honor Athabascan climber Walter Harper. The bill was passed as part of a package of public lands bills approved by the committee Thursday morning. A land exchange for the Kantishna Hills micro-hydroe… Continue Reading

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03.13.13

Alaska Delegation Introduces Maritime Lien Reform Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Alaska delegation today renewed their commitment to protecting Alaskan commercial fishermen by introducing the Maritime Lien Reform Act of 2013. This legislation would prohibit maritime liens from being imposed on commercial fishing permits, while protecting the rights of fishermen as they continue to engage in the commercial industry in order to provide for their families. "The Maritime Lien Reform Act is a serious way to ensure fisherman from across my state and the cou… Continue Reading

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03.13.13

Senators Introduce Capitol Construction Fund Reforms for Fishermen

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski, Mark Begich, Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced bipartisan legislation to allow commercial fisherman - in Alaska, Oregon, Washington and nationwide - to use their Capital Construction Fund (CCF) savings without incurring significant tax penalties. "Millions of dollars have been invested wisely through the Capital Construction Fund to make our nation's fishery fleet more robust… Continue Reading

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03.13.13

Murkowski Congratulates Mitch Seavey on Historic Iditarod Win

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today congratulated Mitch Seavey and his team on winning the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Crossing the Burled Arch at 10:39pm Alaska Time, Mitch Seavey became the oldest champion in race history, at age 53. This is his second Iditarod win. "Mitch Seavey and his family continue to write new chapters in the Iditarod story. Today's historic win makes him the oldest winner of the Last Great Race -- just a year after his son Dallas became the youngest champion … Continue Reading

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03.12.13

Murkowski Announces “Serving Soldiers” Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced her co-sponsorship of three pieces of legislation to give back to the military men and women who have given of themselves through service on American soil or combat in areas of conflict. "For all the heroics, there are scars that many veterans wear - whether physical or mental - that deserve our respect and attention," said Murkowski. "Alaska has over 70,000 veterans, and the honors that have been bestowed upon them must not be devalued… Continue Reading

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03.11.13

Murkowski Fights for Native Health Hiring Resources

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski successfully ensured that language to have the Indian Health Service (I.H.S.) deliver the resources it previously pledged to staff Alaska Native and other tribal health facilities around the country was included in the Senate's Fiscal Year 2013 funding bill filed today to run federal operations through September. "I am the first to tell Alaskans that we need to prioritize our funding and cut where we can, to give our nation a promising, prosperous future… Continue Reading

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03.11.13

Murkowski: “We Are All Connected” on Tsunami Damage, Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On the two year anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Senator Lisa Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor to remind her colleagues and the nation of the long road ahead to rebuilding that country, the increasing risks and threats along the Pacific Coast posed by marine debris - and that this disaster has created a more intense bond between the Japanese people and Alaskans. Murkowski also made the case again for an interagency task force to be formed, fo… Continue Reading

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03.08.13

Murkowski to Pentagon: Honor Combat Over Drones

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski reached out to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today and asked him to rethink the status level attached to the new "Distinguished Warfare Medal." The new award places the service provided by military men and women who pilot unmanned aerial vehicles in a higher status than that of men and women under fire - including the Purple Heart, bestowed upon those veterans who have been injured or killed in combat. Senator Murkowski and 22 of her Senate colleagues a… Continue Reading