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, Begich Laud Passage of Pilot’s Bill of Rights
The U.S. Senate today unanimously passed the Pilot's Bill of Rights, legislation important to Alaska's aviation community. The Pilots Bill of Rights was championed by Sen. Mark Begich and Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and was cosponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski. "Flying is a way of life in Alaska. It's key to economy, jobs and tourism," Begich said. "With six times more pilots per capita than the re… Continue Reading
06.29.12
Murkowski Calls for White House Action on Looming Tsunami Debris
Senator Lisa Murkowski is advising President Barack Obama to act immediately to prevent additional damage to Alaska's shores from approaching debris resulting from the devastating March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. In a letter to the White House (attached), the Senator recommended taking preemptory actions by instructing several federal agencies to work together and halt any unnecessary harmful impacts, writing: "I have already seen the impacts of this debris in Alaska while touring c… Continue Reading
06.28.12
Murkowski Satisfied with Transportation Bill’s Progress for Alaska
Senator Lisa Murkowski today applauded the news that the Transportation Reauthorization Bill negotiated in a House-Senate conference will deliver critical funds to Alaska's unique infrastructure needs through rail, road and water transportation projects and maintenance - on top of the resources she was able to direct to Alaska through negotiations in the U.S. Senate. Murkowski also lauded the work of Congressman Don Young - particularly for his work benefitting the Alaska Railroad - who sat at … Continue Reading
06.28.12
Supreme Court Decision “A New Precedent for Governmental Overreach”
Moments after the United States Supreme Court ruled to uphold the health care reform bill - while identifying the mandate as a new tax on Americans - Senator Murkowski had the following response to the decision. "Today's news from the Supreme Court is troubling to me in that it sets a new precedent for governmental overreach into our health care choices, and a wide majority of Alaskans and Americans feel the same way. "Moving forward, we must repeal this bill and responsibly address health ca… Continue Reading
06.27.12
Murkowski Urges Colleagues to Alaskanize Mount McKinley, Talkeetna Ranger Station
Senator Lisa Murkowski today pushed for support of her bill that would officially restore the nation's tallest peak, Mount McKinley, to its traditional Interior Alaska Athabascan name: Denali. In a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources National Parks Subcommittee, she also advocated for her legislation that would rename the Talkeetna Ranger Station after the first man to summit Denali: Walter Harper. "My two bills both focus on probably the most storied and photographed geographic… Continue Reading
06.26.12
Murkowski Responds to Pentagon’s Decision Delaying Proposed F-16 Move
Senator Lisa Murkowski had the following response to the news surrounding the proposal to move the F-16 Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base: "Along with many Alaskans, I am pleased to learn that the Pentagon is delaying the decision to move the F-16 Aggressors from Eielson Air Force Base to J-BER. But while today's announcement provides us with breathing room, we need to use this time and opportunity to make today's victory a permanent one for Alaska and the nation's defense. "On F… Continue Reading
06.26.12
Murkowski Votes to Outlaw Synthetic Drugs Nationwide
Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted for S.3187, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act that contains several high-profile Alaska-related benefits - from making Alaska's tough policy against synthetic drugs the national standard to improving the issue of drug shortages in Alaska and across the country. The bill passed 92-4. "I'm pleased that my vote today takes the common-sense Alaskan policies against these synthetic drugs and raises the national standard to match our own," … Continue Reading
06.26.12
Murkowski Presses Attorney General On “Avalanche of Leaks”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski joined 26 of her Republican colleagues in demanding Attorney General Eric Holder immediately appoint a special counsel to investigate the "avalanche of leaks" originating out of the White House regarding critical classified intelligence materials. The 27 Senators sent a letter today making their case, including references to then-Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden requesting an independent counsel on two separate occasions during the Bush presidency fo… Continue Reading
06.22.12
Murkowski: Administration’s Consultation Policies Failing Tribes
Senator Lisa Murkowski today urged President Barack Obama to follow through on the federal government's commitments and fulfill the expectations surrounding tribal consultation - enumerating the core frustrations and federal agency shortfalls she is hearing from many of Alaska's 229 federally recognized Tribes. In her letter to the White House (attached), she stresses that the requirements of notice and meaningful consultation with Alaska's Tribes appear to be being violated by numerous federal… Continue Reading
06.21.12
Murkowski Opposes Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against the $969 billion 2012 Farm Bill, saying it contains far too many subsidies and is not the cost-saving bill that it is being portrayed as. She shared her reasoning after the vote: "In 2008, I voted against the five-year Farm Bill because it was too bloated and gave unnecessary handouts to farmers across the country. That bill averaged $61 billion a year. This one averages nearly $97 billion a year. There are new subsidies for map… Continue Reading
06.21.12
Murkowski Introduces Bill to Assist Southeast Alaska’s Economy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced legislation to permit road access to two proposed multi-mineral mines on southeast Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska. The Niblack Mining Area Road Authorization Act would authorize a road across 18 miles of inventoried roadless lands. "With unemployment as much as 12 percent higher than the national average, Southeast Alaska is in dire need of new job opportunities," Murkowski said. "These mines will provide stabl… Continue Reading
06.20.12
Murkowski: Whaling Defines Alaska Natives As a People
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today spoke at a Capitol Hill event hosted by the Ocean Caucus Foundation to educate embassy officials from many countries active in the International Whaling Commission on the importance and role of subsistence whaling in Alaska. As the Senate considered over 70 amendments to the Farm Bill, Murkowski shared with the attendees that in Alaska, a harvest critical to northern coastal communities comes not from our land but our water, saying: "The whale h… Continue Reading
06.20.12
Murkowski Lauds Title IX on 40th Anniversary
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined 35 Senate colleagues in saluting Title IX - the law that leveled the educational playing field for women and girls - as it nears its 40th Anniversary this weekend. Murkowski co-sponsored the bipartisan resolution which passed unanimously moments ago. The resolution (S. Res. 500) touts the law and its accomplishments, spotlighting that: "Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in the administration of any education program … Continue Reading
06.20.12
Senator Murkowski: EPA's New Rules Carry Crippling Costs, Few Benefits
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today spoke on the floor about her opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency's new rule governing power plant emissions - the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards rule. The Senate is set to vote today on a measure by Sen. James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, to block the Utility MACT Rule. (Click for full video of floor speech) "The EPA is proceeding with an unprecedented litany of new rules whose benefits are murky but whose costs are very real a… Continue Reading
06.18.12
Murkowski Argues Case Against Eielson Proposal to Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today reached out to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey regarding the U.S. Air Force proposal to move the F-16 Aggressor squadron - within days of him testifying he will become personally involved - outlining the many flaws and incorrect presumptions contained within the plan. Murkowski also informed him that she supports the ideas laid out in a recent letter to the Pentagon from Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator Carl Le… Continue Reading
06.18.12
Murkowski Announces Kenai Peninsula Mobile Office Stops
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to advance her engagement efforts and connectivity with constituents, Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced that members of her staff will be visiting the communities of Hope, Moose Pass, Seward, Cooper Landing, Fritz Creek, Seldovia, Nanwalek and Homer from June 25-29, 2012. Senator Murkowski's staff members are holding mobile office hours throughout the summer to meet with constituents and community leaders. During mobile office hours, staff representatives a… Continue Reading
06.18.12
Murkowski Announces Parks Highway Mobile Office Stops
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to advance her engagement efforts and connectivity with constituents, Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced that members of her staff will be visiting the communities of Talkeetna, Cantwell, Healy, Anderson, Nenana and Minto from June 25-28, 2012. Senator Murkowski's staff members are holding mobile office hours throughout the summer to meet with constituents and community leaders. During mobile office hours, staff representatives are available to take casework … Continue Reading
06.15.12
Murkowski, Begich Announce Plan to Halt Scrapping of Polar Sea
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senators Lisa Murkowski, Mark Begich and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) have reached an agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard to postpone the scrapping of the Polar Sea through the end of 2012 - scheduled to begin within days, on Monday. The agreement was reached during a meeting of the Senators and the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Robert Papp, Jr. The icebreaker, based in Seattle, had been scheduled to be dry-docked and taken apart beginning Monday. This process would ha… Continue Reading
06.14.12
Murkowski Pushes for Boost to Fight “Staggering” Suicide Rates
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski urged her colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to give resources to Alaska Natives, Native Americans and Native Hawaiians a higher priority by filing an amendment to the Labor/Health and Human Services Appropriations bill that would move $10 million from the health care law to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) suicide prevention efforts. Funding the Fight Against Suicide In remarks shared before the Appropriatio… Continue Reading
06.14.12
Murkowski Welcomes PILT Payments to Alaskan Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that the Department of the Interior is distributing nearly $27 million to Alaskan communities in compensation for taxes that could not be levied on federal lands in their jurisdictions during fiscal year 2012. The Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program provides monetary compensation to local governments that contain National Forests, Bureau of Land Management public lands, National Parks and other lands dedicated to water … Continue Reading
