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, Sullivan, Peltola Announce Disaster Declarations for Alaska Fisheries
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) welcomed determinations from the U.S. Department of Commerce that fishery disasters have occurred in numerous Alaska fisheries, allowing Alaska fishermen to receive critical relief funding. The funding can be distributed to fishermen and their crews, seafood processors, and research initiatives in the impacted regions. "Our fisheries have faced incredible challenges-from the fall r… Continue Reading
12.15.22
Murkowski Helps Send NDAA Bill to President’s Desk
Click here to watch Senator Murkowski's statement. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of H.R. 7776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, which authorizes $857 billion for national defense priorities. The bill strengthens America's national security, supports military members and their families through provisions to improve quality of life, ensures those who serve have needed equipment and resources, and invests in everything from air… Continue Reading
12.13.22
Bill Recognizing Congressman Don Young’s Legacy Passes Senate
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) applauded Senate passage of their legislation, the Don Young Recognition Act. The bill honors the legacy of the late Don Young, Congressman for All Alaska and Dean of the House, who passed away in March 2022 after serving Alaska in the House of Representatives for 49 years. The legislation recognizes Congressman Young's lifelong contributions to Alaska by designating one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian Islands, currently know… Continue Reading
12.12.22
Murkowski Effort to Recognize Female Veterans, Honor Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson Passes Senate
Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded Senate passage of her bill, the Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson Campus of the Alaska VA Healthcare System Act of 2022. Murkowski introduced the bill in October 2022 with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) as a cosponsor. The bill, which has garnered widespread support from Alaska's veteran organizations, designates the name change from the "Alaska VA Clinic" to "Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson Campus of the Alaska VA Healthcare System," after the late… Continue Reading
12.09.22
Grant Roundup: Senator Murkowski Announces Federal Grants Heading to Alaska
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the following grants to organizations, tribal entities, and communities in Alaska: Statewide Alaska-Statewide: $1.4 million to the Alaska Conservation Foundation from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to identify coastal resilience challenges in remote communities and identify nature-based solutions through regi… Continue Reading
12.09.22
Cantwell, Murkowski Bill Would Spur Hydropower Upgrades, Restore Free Flowing Rivers
Washington, DC -U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), introduced legislation that will help ensure that existing hydroelectric facilities are able to continue to provide emissions-free, affordable electricity to millions of Pacific Northwest ratepayers. The Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2022 creates new a federal tax incentive to encourage safety, security, fish migratio… Continue Reading
12.02.22
Grant Roundup: Senator Murkowski Announces Federal Grants Heading to Alaska
Over $24 million in federal funds to benefit and strengthen Alaska's communities and economy Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the following grants to organizations, tribal entities, and communities in Alaska: Statewide Alaska - Statewide: $8.7 million to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for … Continue Reading
12.02.22
Murkowski Applauds Senate Passage Of The Stop Act
WASHINGTON, DC - This week, the Senate unanimously approved H.R.2930, the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021 (STOP Act). The STOP Act now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have led the Senate companion bill since 2016. "Safeguarding and repatriating tribal items of cultural and sacred heritage remains at the forefront of protecting Native customs and history. I have worked for several Congresses t… Continue Reading
12.01.22
Murkowski Supports New Rail Contract, Votes to Prevent Harmful Rail Strike
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today voted in favor of H.J.Res.100, a resolution to codify the "Tentative Agreement" reached earlier this year between railroad carriers, union representatives, and officials in the Biden administration. Its imposition will prevent a railway strike that would have cost the U.S. economy an estimated $2 billion per day, disrupted supply chains, harmed public health, and negatively impacted consumers and businesses-including in Alaska. H.J.Res.100 passed by a vot… Continue Reading
11.18.22
Grant Roundup: Senator Murkowski Announces Federal Grants Heading to Alaska
Over $178 million in federal funds to benefit and strengthen Alaska's communities and economy. Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the following grants to organizations, tribal entities, and communities in Alaska: Statewide Alaska - Statewide: $2 million to State of Alaska from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development replace the septic tank effluent pumping system's tanks, demolish and properly … Continue Reading
11.18.22
Schatz, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan National Native American Heritage Month Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, led passage of a Senate Resolution recognizing November 2022 as National Native American Heritage Month. "In November we celebrate Native American Heritage Month to recognize American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian peoples and their unique cultures and contributions," said Chairman Schatz. "I am honored to… Continue Reading
11.17.22
Alaska and Washington Senators Call on Administration to Quickly Declare Federal Fishery Disaster
Today U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Raimondo urging her to rapidly declare a federal fishery disaster for the 2022-2023 Bering Sea snow crab, the 2022-2023 Bristol Bay red king crab, and the 2021-2022 Bristol Bay red king crab fisheries. Following last month's harvests being canceled, declaring a fishery disaster for the Bering Sea snow crab and Bristol Bay red king crab fisheries is… Continue Reading
11.17.22
Murkowski, Sullivan Applaud An Additional $135.9 Million in Broadband Investment for Alaska
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) applauded the announcement of an additional $135.9 million in federal broadband grants for communities across Alaska. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) announced the grants Thursday for broadband programs in Western, Southcentral, and Southeastern Alaska. Newly announced grant recipients include the NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., Central Council Tlingit… Continue Reading
11.16.22
Murkowski Statement on Respect for Marriage Act
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after voting in favor today on the motion to proceed to the Respect for Marriage Act: "Today, I voted to begin debate on a bipartisan compromise of the Respect for Marriage Act. This bill protects the marriage of countless couples across the country. States will continue to set their own definitions of marriage, the federal government will be required to recognize all lawful marriages, and no out-of-state marriages will be able t… Continue Reading
11.15.22
Senators Call Out DOI, USDA Failure to Produce Permitting Report Required by Infrastructure Law
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) this week led a letter to the Departments of the Interior (DOI) and Agriculture (USDA), questioning whether they would produce a report outlining options to improve the federal mineral permitting process on the timeframe required by federal law. Under Section 40206 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Departments were required to complete the report within one year of enactment—which is today—but have failed to adhere to that statutory deadl… Continue Reading
11.15.22
Murkowski Marks One Year of Infrastructure Law: Nearly $3 Billion and Counting for Alaska
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today released the following statement marking the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, under which nearly $3 billion has already been announced for Alaska. Murkowski helped write, negotiate, and shepherd this historic law through Congress last year with a small bipartisan group of Senators. It focuses on building and rebuilding the nation's roads, bridges, rail, ferries, ports, airports, water systems, and broadba… Continue Reading
11.14.22
Murkowski, Sullivan Continue to Press for Fair Process, Timely Re-Approval of Ambler Access Project
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) sent a new letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland reiterating their strong support for the Ambler Access Project (Ambler Road). The Senators' letter, in response to the Department of the Interior's (DOI) recent request for public input as it scopes a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the project, urges DOI to limit its analysis to court-identified issues and to quickly complete the SEIS so development of this vi… Continue Reading
11.11.22
Senator Murkowski Honors American Veterans
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) shared the following message with Alaskans in recognition of Veterans Day: For video of Senator Murkowski, click here. "Veterans Day is an opportunity to honor Americans who have answered the call to serve, whether in times of peace or in times of war. We owe so much to those who have sacrificed their safety, their time, and so much more in the name of America's freedom and security. "We are so fortunate that so many Veterans call Alaska home. They are ou… Continue Reading
11.03.22
Alaska to Receive $13 Million to Address High Energy Costs
Anchorage, AK - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced that Alaska was awarded $13.7 million through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this funding will help low-income individuals and families pay for home heating costs this winter and cover unpaid utility bills.These funds will also help families make cost-effective home energy repairs to lower their heating and cooling bills. The funding announced today … Continue Reading
11.02.22
Alaska Tribes and Organizations Receive over $18 Million for Tribal Climate Resilience Projects
Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today announced 48 awards benefitting Tribes and tribal organizations in Alaska amounting to more than $18 million to address the impacts of climate change. These investments will support adaptation planning, climate implementation actions, ocean and coastal management planning, capacity building, relocation, managed retreat, and protect-in-place for climate risks projects. "Communities across Alaska face growing risks from coastal er… Continue Reading
