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 Opens Juneau Office to Strengthen Outreach
Senator Lisa Murkowski announced the opening of a new office today in Juneau, to improve her connectivity with constituents in the capital city. While Murkowski staffer Colleen McCowan has been working in Juneau for a number of months, Senator Murkowski's new office, which is located in the heart of downtown Juneau, provides a place for Alaskans to more easily connect with the Senator. "The city of Juneau is a vibrant community with a high fluency in politics, and I'm glad this opens up an imp… Continue Reading
02.10.12
Murkowski Fights for Rural Justice Commission Return
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski is proposing a framework to restart the Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission -- which has exhausted its authorized funding levels - in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. Other Murkowski provisions successfully included in the bill during a Senate Judiciary Committee working session promote the health and safety of Alaskan women in remote locations. "The Rural Justice Commission has been a critical component to provide public s… Continue Reading
02.10.12
Murkowski Renews Request for Oversight Hearing on DOE Loan Guarantee Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today renewed her request to Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hold an oversight hearing on the Department of Energy's loan programs. This renewed request comes as the Obama administration released an audit of the Loan Program Office (LPO) at DOE. "It's clear that implementation of the DOE's loan programs has flaws that need to be addressed," Murkowski said. "As the Senate committee of juris… Continue Reading
02.09.12
Murkowski, NY Yankee Teixeira Discuss Afterschool Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today met with New York Yankees First Baseman Mark Teixeira to share ideas about how afterschool programs benefit youth in Alaska, Harlem, and across the nation. "While I wish Mark had played in the Alaska Baseball League, he really recognizes the positive impacts sports and afterschool programs can bring," said Murkowski. "The confidence and discipline that sports instills in youth can be applied across the board - as can afterschool programs that p… Continue Reading
02.09.12
Alaska Delegation Questions Air Force Over Eielson Decision
Following a meeting with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz today, the Alaska Congressional Delegation released a set of unified statements. The meeting was requested by the Alaska Congressional Delegation to question as well as hear the reasoning behind the Air Force's recently announced plan to relocate the 18th Aggressor F-16 Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Congressman Don Young: "Overall, I was pleased with the candidness of t… Continue Reading
02.09.12
Murkowski Applauds NRC Approval of New Reactors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval of a Combined Construction and Operating License for two new nuclear reactors at Southern Co.'s Vogtle plant in Georgia. "Today's decision clears the way for the first construction of new nuclear reactors here in decades," Murkowski said. "This was the right decision both for our energy security and our economy. The greatest thing we can do to ensure a robust economy is to make … Continue Reading
02.08.12
Murkowski Welcomes News on Prosecutorial Misconduct Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the March 15th release of the investigation he ordered into prosecutorial misconduct during the trial of Senator Ted Stevens - a report that he said in November showed "systematic concealment of significant exculpatory evidence." Senator Murkowski had the following reaction to the news: "The legacy of the Stevens trial - not just in Alaska, but nationwide - has become bigger than one man; it's become a national example of abus… Continue Reading
02.07.12
Murkowski Fights for Religious Freedom from Health Care Mandate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today co-sponsored S. 2043, The Religious Freedom Restoration Act that would halt the recent Obama Administration directive that some religiously-affiliated institutions will be required to defy their belief systems when providing some health care services for current employees. "Religious freedoms are a large part of what makes this country great," Murkowski said. "This is a Catholic issue as well as a concern for every Baptist, Jew, Muslim or anyone… Continue Reading
02.07.12
Alaska Senators Ask Panetta to Explain, Reconsider F-16 Decision
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta expressing their concern over an Air Force proposal to move the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks to Joint Base-Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage. In a joint letter to Sec. Panetta, the Senators point out nothing has changed since a similar proposal was rejected in 2005 by the independent Defense Base Closure and Realignment… Continue Reading
02.07.12
Alaskan’s Story Wins National Job Corps Gold, Scholarship
Senator Lisa Murkowski today congratulated Wasilla resident Megan Dauphinee after her first-prize finish in the 2012 National Job Corps Student Oratory Competition this morning. Participants shared their life stories, and Dauphinee told how her professional aspirations were boosted by Job Corps after a difficult childhood - winning a $1,500 scholarship along with the recognition before a crowd of 300. (Photo courtesy: Office of Senator Murkowski) (Photo courtesy: R… Continue Reading
02.07.12
Murkowski Addresses NARUC at Winter Meeting
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today gave the following remarks at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' (NARUC) winter meeting: "Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to initiate your Capitol Hill Update. It is a pleasure to be with such a large group of distinguished public officials and industry leaders - and an honor to be your 'lead-off batter' this morning. I am grateful to Commissioner David Wright for the invitation and for his … Continue Reading
02.06.12
Murkowski Votes to Have Essential Air Service Funded Through 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today voted for the first FAA reauthorization since 2007 - after a series of 23 short-term extensions - giving needed certainty to Alaska's aviation industry and a 21st century infrastructure to the nation's airways. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 passed the Senate 75-20. "I'm always stressing to my Senate colleagues that Alaska's intrastate highway system is our skies - linking communities like Nikolski and Icy Bay to the rural hubs - so it… Continue Reading
02.06.12
Murkowski, Begich File Legislation Prohibiting F-16 Move
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Murkowski and Begich today introduced legislation (attached) in the U.S. Senate that would expressly bar the United States Air Force from planning or executing the relocation of F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson - and requires that just as many, if not more, F-16s are based at Eielson this September. Alaska's entire Congressional Delegation will be sitting down with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz on Thursday,… Continue Reading
02.03.12
Murkowski, Begich Fighting F-16 Aggressor Squadron Move from Eielson to Elmendorf, 4 C-130 Retirements at Elmendorf
Senators Murkowski and Begich today issued a united set of statements opposing the Department of Defense's plans to relocate the F-16 Aggressor squadron from Eielson Air Force Base to Elmendorf Air Force Base and retire four C-130 transport aircraft at Elmendorf - as part of a nationwide Pentagon budget reduction strategy. When the Senate returns to session on Monday, Murkowski and Begich will introduce legislation that would prohibit the Air Force from making these moves. Senator Lisa Murk… Continue Reading
02.03.12
Begich, Murkowski Join Call for Tax Fairness
Washington, D.C. - In an effort to provide fairness to residents of states without an income tax, U.S. Senators Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are joining a call to make extending the state and local sales tax deduction a top priority on Capitol Hill. The deduction, which expired at the end of 2011, gives tax fairness to residents of eight states without an income tax. "As a tax extenders package is considered in the Senate, we urge you to ensure that our constituents are… Continue Reading
02.02.12
Alaska Delegation Appreciates Kenai Peninsula Borough Disaster Declaration
Washington, D.C. - Alaska's Congressional Delegation is pleased to see action just two weeks after they supported Governor Parnell's request that a disaster declaration be issued for the storm-afflicted Kenai Peninsula Borough. On January 19th, the delegation urged the White House to "act on the request expeditiously" and disburse funds - and today the White House released the following information: On February 2, 2012, President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the State… Continue Reading
02.02.12
Co-Sponsor Murkowski Lauds Passage of Insider Trading Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today voted for the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012 (the STOCK Act), which she co-sponsored. The legislation - which passed the U.S. Senate by an overwhelming 96-3 vote - would expressly prohibit elected officials and staffers from using nonpublic information they come across in their work for their own benefit. "This legislation is an important step as Congress attempts to rebuild and regain some of the trust that voters have lost with … Continue Reading
02.02.12
Banking Committee Approves Section Two of Murkowski Iran Certification and Reporting Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded Sen. Robert Menendez, D-NJ, and the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee for passing a portion of her legislation requiring a report to be regularly made to Congress describing the movements of both crude oil and refined petroleum products to and from Iran, as well as the entities that are financing these transactions, providing the necessary shipping and insurances, or helping Iran invest in their petroleum in… Continue Reading
02.02.12
Murkowski, Manchin Introduce Bill to Protect Hunting Rights on Federal Lands
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, today introduced legislation to ensure the rights of recreational hunters, fishermen and shooters on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands. "Instead of further empowering federal officials, this bill will mandate cooperation by federal agencies with state fish and wildlife agencies regarding resident wildlife on BLM and Forest Service lands," Senator Murkowski said. "Our bill prese… Continue Reading
02.02.12
Sen. Murkowski’s Opening Statement on Nuclear Fuel Storage Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following opening statement at today's Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on President Obama's Blue Ribbon Commission's report on what to do about America's spent nuclear fuel: "The issue of nuclear waste management has been frustrating Congress, multiple administrations, utilities, and rate payers for many decades now. Efforts to address it through the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and the 1987 Amendments … Continue Reading
