03.16.12

Murkowski: Failure to Pursue Bill Allen Sends “Awful Message”

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski questioned Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Bill Mueller about the lapsed investigation of former VECO head Bill Allen on sex trafficking charges. Given the FBI's partnership with the Anchorage Police Department in investigating the allegations against Allen, she asked Mueller if there is any reason the Justice Department has not moved forward on the case, adding "this has stunned people in Alaska who cannot understand why the Department of Justic… Continue Reading

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03.15.12

Sen. Murkowski: 'All of the Above' Should Be More Than Rhetoric

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, went to the Senate floor today to speak about the importance of a rational energy policy, including serious steps to increase domestic oil production, and to respond to President Obama's comments on high energy prices. "It was a step forward for the President to embrace Republicans' long-standing calls for an 'all of the above' energy policy. But those remain words, not actions, on his part. And if today's speech is any indication, he does … Continue Reading

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03.15.12

Murkowski: "Justice Should Be Blind, Not Blindly Ignored"

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced major bipartisan legislation, the Fairness in Disclosure of Evidence Act, designed to create a nationwide standard for disclosure of exculpatory evidence to defendants in federal courtrooms nationwide. Senator Daniel Inouye (D-IL) is the lead Democratic co-sponsor of the bill, introduced the same day as the release of U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan's report into prosecutorial misconduct in the 2008 trial of Senator Ted Stevens… Continue Reading

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03.15.12

Murkowski Calls for VA Improvements in "Closer to Home" Care

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski pushed for improved service for Alaska's widely-dispersed veteran community from Veterans Affairs Secretary Erik Shinseki - while expressing her appreciation to Shinseki for "incremental progress" in recent improvements in VA care provided Alaskans. "We've seen a 38% reduction in vets who have to travel out of state for care," observed Murkowski. "That's good progress, but as we've discussed there are still those who are sent outside to Seattle when ther… Continue Reading

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03.14.12

Murkowski Continues Questioning Air Force on “Problematic” Eielson Proposal

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today questioned Secretary of the United States Air Force Michael Donley and USAF Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz on the reasoning behind their proposed move of the F-16 Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. Calling the proposal "problematic," Senator Murkowski asked General Schwartz, "We've currently got about 400 soldiers at J-BER already in temporary barracks. By relocatin… Continue Reading

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03.14.12

Murkowski Spotlights Legacy Well Double Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today questioned Interior Department officials over the agency's failure to properly plug and clean up more than 100 abandoned federally-drilled oil wells in Northern Alaska. At a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Interior Subcommittee, Sen. Murkowski asked Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey why it's taking the agency so long to remediate an estimated 137 abandoned wells that were drilled by the federal government, between 1944 to 1981, in … Continue Reading

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03.14.12

Murkowski Transportation Fight Reaps Results for Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today cast her vote for S.1813, MAP-21 (the Surface Transportation Bill), and came out of the process pleased that Alaska's needs were addressed after several rounds of negotiations with her Senate colleagues. Under this legislation, Alaskans will see: Funding of over $500M per year for highway programs; Unnecessary duplicative programs consolidated; Project delivery times improved by streamlining the environmental review process; Continued federal fin… Continue Reading

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03.14.12

Statistics "Speak for Themselves"

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today questioned Interior Department officials about the decline in oil production from federal lands and waters - despite the President's claims that production is up. President Obama has said that "under my administration, America is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years," but the Department of the Interior's own data indicates that oil production is actually down 14 on federal lands and down 17 percent from fe… Continue Reading

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03.13.12

Murkowski Congratulates Dallas Seavey on Iditarod Victory

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today congratulated Dallas Seavey and his team on winning their first Iditarod Sled Dog Trail Race: "I congratulate Dallas and his team on their remarkable victory in this year's Iditarod sled dog race, becoming the youngest musher to ever win, at age 25. He has skills and a determination beyond his years. His win today continues what is already a busy 2012 for his family - with his 15-year old brother Conway winning the Junior Iditarod in February. … Continue Reading

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03.13.12

Murkowski Welcomes Home First of the 1st Stryker, 25th Infantry Division

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today personally shared a "Welcome Home" message with roughly 200 soldiers of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division that returned home to Fort Wainwright after a year-long deployment: "I want to join all your friends, all your family in welcoming you home, to our brave Arctic warriors. Know that you have done a phenomenal job serving us as you have been over in Afghanistan this past year. We are proud of you as a Nation, we are certa… Continue Reading

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03.13.12

Murkowski Expresses Disappointment in BLM-OSM Merger Analysis

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today responded to an analysis released by the Interior Department related to its plan to merge the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) into the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). "While I appreciate Interior's commitment to avoid violations of its statutory responsibilities, this analysis fails to quantify how the proposed merger will actually generate savings and efficiencies," Murkowski said. "We asked for a clear summary of the costs and bene… Continue Reading

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03.13.12

Murkowski: President Should Look Closer to Home for Critical Minerals

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement in response to President Obama's announcement that the administration was filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization over China's policy of restricting export of its rare earth minerals: "The president wants to sue the Chinese for something that we could - and should - be producing for ourselves. Instead of settling for Chinese imports, the president should be taking steps to jumpstart develop… Continue Reading

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03.13.12

Murkowski: Implementation of DOE Loan Programs Requires Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed a willingness to reform the Department of Energy's loan programs but said that if she had to grade DOE's handling of the programs it would "not receive a passing grade." Her comments came during the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's long-awaited oversight hearing, which was scheduled only after completion of an audit by former Fannie Mae CEO Herb Allison. Murkowski had been calling for a hearing on DOE loan p… Continue Reading

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03.13.12

Murkowski Delivers Keynote Address at TREM Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today delivered the keynote address at the Technology and Rare Earth Metals (TREM) Center's 12th Annual Conference. The Senator's remarks highlighted the importance of domestic mineral production and the urgent need to update federal policies in this area. "There is no question that a stable and affordable supply of minerals is critical to America's future competitiveness. And yet - despite that - our mineral-related capabilities have … Continue Reading

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03.12.12

Murkowski Addresses Int’l Boston Seafood Show: Alaska Seafood Feeds the Nation, is Economic Engine for State

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski attended the 2012 International Boston Seafood Show over the weekend, kicking off a roundtable discussion on the seafood industry's importance to the United States - highlighting the crucial role Alaska plays in the industry with the panel of industry leaders, government officials and seafood enthusiasts. "Alaska accounts for just over half of the entire U.S. seafood harvest, directly employing more than 50,000 workers as fishermen and processors - plu… Continue Reading

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03.11.12

Senator Murkowski Responds To Shooting in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today had the following response to the reports coming out of Afghanistan indicating a U.S. soldier shooting Afghan civilians: "Alaskans have a close bond with our men and women in uniform - and we are all shocked and disturbed by the developing reports coming out of the Panjwai district of Kandahar Province. "America offers the families of the victims our deepest condolences, and we stress to everyone around the globe that this is not indicative … Continue Reading

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03.08.12

Murkowski Vents Alaskans’ “Anxieties” with TSA Travel Fees

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about many Alaskans' air travel concerns, reminding her that "because 80 percent of our communities are not connected by roads," the proposed increases to security fees for flying affect Alaskans disproportionately. (Click to Watch) Senator Murkowski first confirmed with Secretary Napolitano that passenger security fees are not stacked on Alaskans for each leg of their trip. "So … Continue Reading

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03.08.12

Murkowski Questions DHS Whether Icebreaker Is A True Priority

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano whether the $8 million requested for opening work on a new United States Coast Guard icebreaker truly indicates support for Alaska's and America's needs as an Arctic Nation, given the $860 million total price tag for an icebreaker. After pointing out her concern about the relatively small initial down payment on the project, Senator Murkowski asked the Secretary "My question is whether o… Continue Reading

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03.08.12

Attorney General: "Magnitude of Errors" in Stevens Case Warrant Release of Independent Investigation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today pressed United States Attorney General Eric Holder on whether members of the prosecutorial team in the Ted Stevens trial - accused by an independent court appointed investigative counsel of "significant, widespread and at times intentional misconduct" - is using taxpayer dollars to block public release of the independent counsel's report. The prosecution team has spent $1.8 million defending themselves from contempt charges in the Stevens case, most re… Continue Reading

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03.07.12

Alaska Leaders Urge Air Force to Conduct Rigorous Eielson Visit

WASHINGTON, DC - Alaska's Washington, DC delegation and Governor Sean Parnell today sent a letter (attached) to Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and United States Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz, encouraging the USAF to take a complete and comprehensive look at the proposed move of the F-16 Aggressor squadron from Eielson Air Force Base. In the letter, they express concern that the proposal is based on a "tabletop exercise," in the words of General Schwartz. They also… Continue Reading