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.
Murkowski Pushes Administration for Follow Through, More Rural Doctors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today urged Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius to enforce existing law on rural medical training - and create an environment that will boost rural medicine nationwide. The Senator wrote a letter with Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) - co-signed by a bipartisan group of 18 other Senate colleagues - that was sent to the HHS Secretary. Congress passed a bill in 1999 that included a provision called the Rural Training Trac… Continue Reading
07.25.12
Murkowski Calls for Action on Critical Minerals Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - What do 450,000 scientists plus thousands of miners and manufacturers have in common? They all want the "Critical Minerals Policy Act" (S.1113) enacted. Today, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, again called for a markup of the "Critical Minerals Policy Act" after receiving a letter from a broad coalition of stakeholders supporting of the legislation. "Critical minerals make it possible for us to innovate and invent - and in the process they shape our daily lives, our stand… Continue Reading
07.24.12
Murkowski Lauds Skagway Post Office Hire
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today was informed by the United States Postal Service that a new staff member has been hired for the Skagway Post Office. She welcomed the news, coming less than two months since she visited Skagway and encouraged Skagwegians to share their stories and concerns about the Postal Service to seek reinforcements for the then under-staffed facility. "The situation in Skagway was unacceptable for all parties involved, and this is the first step in getting t… Continue Reading
07.24.12
Murkowski Comment on Expanding Natural Gas Use in Vehicles
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today spoke about the potential benefits of increasing the use of natural gas in the transportation sector, as well as the danger that government intrusion in the marketplace could jeopardize continued increases in natural gas production. Click photo to play video "Our interest today is in hearing about both the existing federal barriers but also in what federal policies threaten the ability of entrepreneurs and innovators to compete i… Continue Reading
07.20.12
Murkowski Condemns Shooting in Colorado
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski released the following statement regarding the shooting at an Aurora, Colorado movie theater last night: "I join all Alaskans in mourning the needless, senseless loss of life in Aurora, Colorado - who did nothing different from millions of Americans every weekend. We salute the first responders who came to the aid of those injured and those who quickly apprehended the man behind this. Alaskans and Americans are united in thought, prayer and support f… Continue Reading
07.19.12
Murkowski Urges Greater Tribal Consultation from Administration
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski reminded the Environmental Protection Agency that federal consultation with Alaska Native Tribes is not optional, as she pressed the EPA for greater collaboration with Alaska's First People in a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing today. She also took the opportunity of the hearing to share the rising threat of coastal erosion being faced by numerous small Alaskan coastal villages. Senator Murkowski questioned the EPA representative about the ag… Continue Reading
07.18.12
Murkowski Gets Transparency Pledge from Next USAF Chief of Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today met with General Mark Welsh III, recently nominated to be the next Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. Over the course of the meeting, Welsh agreed with Murkowski that recent developments in Alaska have created a level of tension - committing to a higher level of transparency and collaboration. Senator Murkowski said Alaska's relationship with the military remains strong, and looks forward to working with him. In a meeting held at Senator Murk… Continue Reading
07.17.12
Murkowski: Campaign Finance Tranparency “Critically Important”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today took to the Senate floor as the United States Senate considered proceeding onto the DISCLOSE Act, legislation that would require a greater degree of disclosure when it comes to sums donated to political causes. In a speech prior to the vote, the Senator noted she is very concerned about the rising influence of SuperPACs, but that the bill contained too many inconsistencies to support. Senator Murkowski closed by pledging to address this issue on a… Continue Reading
07.17.12
Murkowski: SECURE IT Act Offers Best Path Forward on Cybersecurity
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today reiterated her support for the Strengthening and Enhancing Cybersecurity by Using Research, Education, Information, and Technology Act (SECURE IT), S. 3342, to protect and secure the United States against cybersecurity attacks. "I think there's near agreement that we need a comprehensive approach to the cybersecurity problem. Some would have us believe that only the Department of Homeland Security and a host of new federal regulatio… Continue Reading
07.16.12
Murkowski Demands Missing Report on Stimulus Jobs in Indian Country
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Lisa Murkowski wrote to Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar regarding the DOI's failure to issue the American Indian Population and Labor Report as required by law. In a letter (attached) sent from Murkowski and her colleague on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), they criticize the DOI for failing to release vital labor information which will help Congress, Alaska Natives and Indian tribes evaluate employment conditions i… Continue Reading
07.13.12
Murkowski Welcomes New Southeast Coordinator
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced Sonia Henrick (previously Christensen) will join her team Monday as the new Southeast Alaska Representative -- working out of Murkowski's Ketchikan field office. "Sonia's knowledge base is that of a born-and-raised Ketchikan resident, combined with a high degree of policy expertise from her time working for Governor Parnell," Murkowski said. "She has broad experience working on issues of statewide interest, as well as focused backgroun… Continue Reading
07.13.12
Murkowski, Hastings Press NOAA, BSEE About Arctic Protests
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska and Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Washington, sent a letter to Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and James Watson, Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), asking what measures NOAA and BSEE have taken to ensure that the planned protest activities in the Arctic by Greenpeace do not disrupt or threaten safe operatio… Continue Reading
07.12.12
Alaska Delegation Supports AFN Request for Y-K Disaster Declaration
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Concerned with low Chinook salmon returns on the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers this fishing season, the Alaska Congressional delegation today wrote to Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank in support of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) request for a disaster declaration. This letter of support comes after AFN requested federal assistance to address immediate subsistence needs for the region, and states in part: "Chinook salmon returns to Alaska are weak statewide t… Continue Reading
07.12.12
Begich, Murkowski Call for National Arctic Strategy
Washington, D.C. - Making the point that the United States is the only Arctic nation lacking a formal strategy on the Arctic, U.S. Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski are calling on President Obama to create of an overall U.S. strategy for the Arctic. In a letter to the President, Sens. Begich and Murkowski stress that now is the time for the United States to develop an expanded policy which ties together all of the policies and visions of the multiple federal agencies dealing with energy a… Continue Reading
07.12.12
Abandoned Federal Wells Represent Another Failed and Broken Promise to Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today questioned Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officials about the agency's 40-year failure to clean up federally drilled oil and natural gas exploration wells in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). Click photo to play video "This is the type of crime the federal government would fine a private company millions of dollars for, but since these wells were drilled and are owned by a federal agency they are allowed to willful… Continue Reading
07.11.12
Murkowski Fights Against Military Fraud
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined the fight to punish attempts by individuals to make money through misrepresenting themselves as heroes from military service - as a co-sponsor of S.1728, the Stolen Valor Act. The bill would impose a punishment on individuals who commit fraud by lying about their military service with the intention of receiving anything "of value" in return. "Alaska has over 75,000 men and women who have served their country bravely, none of whom deserve… Continue Reading
07.09.12
Murkowski Submits Comment on JPARC EIS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the deadline approaching tonight for public comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement surrounding the expansion of Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, Senator Lisa Murkowski today finalized and submitted her thoughts on the enhancements and modernization via letter (attached). To the unique advantages provided by Alaska, Murkowski writes: "As the comment period on the DEIS closes my office has not been given the opportunity to review the comments submitted… Continue Reading
07.06.12
Murkowski Announces High School Interns for July Session
Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced the names of her second session summer interns who will work in her Washington, D.C. office starting next week. These recent Alaskan high school graduates will have the opportunity to observe the fast-paced Senate environment and legislative process from an up-close view. The 2nd session will run from July 9th - August 3rd. Senator Murkowski selected Jenessa Albertson of Ketchikan; Courtney Lewis of Soldotna; Sierra Udland from Juneau; Carly Colligan of… Continue Reading
07.05.12
Murkowski: EPA Leadership Does Not Understand Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today criticized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for refusing to give Alaskans more time to comment on the agency's controversial watershed assessment of the Bristol Bay region. "The EPA's refusal to provide additional time for the public to comment on the draft watershed assessment for Bristol Bay demonstrates, once again, that the agency does not understand Alaska," Murkowski said. "There is no deadline - other than the one a… Continue Reading
07.04.12
Murkowski Honors Purple Heart Veteran in July 4th Spotlight
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Independence Day, Senator Lisa Murkowski is commemorating it by releasing her latest "Veteran Spotlight" featuring Alaskan veteran Benno Cleveland - a Fairbanks Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War. In his Veteran Spotlight interview, Benno talks about volunteering for the U.S. Army in 1968 under the Great Society Choice after running into trouble with the law in Fairbanks. He served two tours in Dong Tam, Vietnam, earning the Purple Heart before being discharged f… Continue Reading
