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.

12.09.11

Murkowski Invites Alaskans To Join “#MyAKTree” Campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced the "#MyAKTree" holiday campaign, inviting Alaskans to share pictures of their household Christmas trees on her Facebook page and via her Twitter account. "We do everything bigger in Alaska - whether it's the hefty trees many of us chop down and take home to decorate, or the festive spirit we display through the holiday season," said Murkowski. "I'm always talking up Alaskans to my Senate colleagues from the lower 48, so I'm encouragin… Continue Reading


12.09.11

Murkowski: State Offer Proves More Attractive in Dueling Lease Sales

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today congratulated state officials in Alaska for this week's successful petroleum lease sale, which netted the state nearly $21 million in high bids. "The state's successful sale clearly sends the message that Alaska is open for business," Murkowski said. "Unfortunately, because of the problems with the federal permitting process there was a lot less interest in the federal sale." Wednesday's offer of state-owned acreage on the North S… Continue Reading


12.09.11

Alaska Delegation: Take Care of Our Alaska Workers

The Alaska Congressional Delegation is calling on the U.S. Army's top officials to make sure workers impacted by a recent announcement to reduce civilian personal numbers at Army bases are treated in a manner which recognizes their dedication in support of our troops. The Army has announced it would decrease the total civilian workforce nationwide by 8,741, to include 78 positions in Alaska, to achieve efficiency and cost savings directed by former Secretary Robert Gates. The Alaska Delegation… Continue Reading


12.08.11

Murkowski Continues Fight For LIHEAP Aid

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation that attempts to fund the low income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) at 2011 levels. Senators Snowe (R-ME) and Reed (D-RI) are the sponsors of S.1961, the LIHEAP Protection Act which would maintain a flat funding level of $4.7 billion instead of the $3.6 billion currently in the 2012 Labor, Health and Human Service, Education and Related Agencies bill. "I worry that so many rural Alaskans are facing high price… Continue Reading


12.08.11

Murkowski Comment on Cloture Vote Against Richard Cordray

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against the cloture motion on the confirmation of Richard Cordray, nominee to head the newly-created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She had the following statement afterwards: "My decision to oppose cloture on Mr. Cordray's nomination wasn't due to his credentials, but due to my concerns regarding the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau itself. Everyone agrees that Wall Street reform is necessary but the CFPB crea… Continue Reading


12.08.11

Murkowski: Nominee Will Need to Take on Tough Challenges at DOE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed support for nominee Arunava Majumdar to be the Under Secretary of Energy during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources nomination hearing. "Dr. Majumdar's background as a scientist and an engineer makes him a good candidate and a good fit for DOE," Murkowski said. "And while it's not always easy - or fun - to be responsible for a big piece of a federal department, I think his experience at ARPA-E will give him the necessary … Continue Reading


12.06.11

Murkowski Honors John Katz on Senate Floor

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today took to the U.S. Senate floor to share her reflections on long-time Alaskan public servant John Katz - who is retiring at year's end - and honor him for his four decades of advocating for policies between the federal government and Alaskan interests. Katz announced his retirement in early October, citing a rising level of frustration with the polarization in Washington, DC - a sentiment echoed by Senator Murkowski in her speech. Additional exc… Continue Reading


12.06.11

Murkowski Statement on Cloture Vote for Caitlin Halligan

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today voted to allow Caitlin Joan Halligan of New York an up or down vote to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit in a cloture vote that failed 54-35. She offered the following explanation afterwards: "I stated during the Bush Administration that judicial nominations deserved an up or down vote, except in "extraordinary circumstances" and my position has not changed simply because there is a different President making the nomin… Continue Reading


12.05.11

Murkowski Praises Coast Guard for Efforts to Assist Nome

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Murkowski today spoke with Commandant of the United States Coast Guard Admiral Papp, discussing a number of plans to cut through an ice block off the Nome coast and allow the remaining winter's supply of heating oil and other petroleum products to arrive in the region by year's end. "Admiral Papp and the Coast Guard are working on overcoming a host of logistical hurdles to help Nome find a way forward," said Murkowski. "I appreciate his determination and insistence o… Continue Reading


12.05.11

Murkowski: Agreement Clears Way for NPR-A Production

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the agreement in principle between Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow construction of a road across the Colville River, clearing the way for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to approve the first oil and natural gas production from the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). "This agreement is long overdue, but no less welcomed," Murkowski said. "With this agreement I expect the Cor… Continue Reading


12.02.11

Delegation Refutes USPS Inspector General Bypass Mail Report

Alaska's Congressional Delegation today sent a letter to the United States Postal Service Inspector General, prodding the department for answers to nine questionable claims made in this week's report "Bypass Mail: Beyond Its Original Purpose." Among the questions raised in the letter: False Equivalencies: To criticize the passenger air service supply and demand imbalance created by bypass mail, the report states there are 80 flights/month between Anchorage and Juneau, compared to 90 between… Continue Reading


12.02.11

Murkowski Responds to IPHC Preliminary Halibut Recommendations

WASHINGTON, D.C. -The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) held a briefing earlier this week, discussing its stock assessment and preliminary recommended catch limits for 2012. After following all the proceedings, Senator Murkowski had the following reaction to the announcements: "It is disappointing to hear further reductions are likely, and that the IPHC is suggesting potentially drastic model changes may be needed that would cause steeper reductions. Whether the changes are inco… Continue Reading


12.01.11

Murkowski Votes to Extend Alaskans’ Payroll Tax Holiday

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today voted to extend the current payroll tax holiday for all Americans in a Republican-sponsored measure, while voting against the approach presented in an opposing vote. She had the following statement after casting her vote: "When I conducted an informal survey during my economic tele-town hall last month, I found 80% of Alaskans responding indicated they plan to spend less this Christmas than just last year. Alaskans are feeling an economic pinch like… Continue Reading


12.01.11

Alaska’s “Arctic Tough” Military Receiving 2012 Support

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today voted for the 2012 Defense Authorization bill, featuring a pay raise for military members, hundreds of millions to fund Alaska's critical military operations, improved mental health care, a move to 'Alaskanize' the housing allowance formula - along with several amendments sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Murkowski for the Alaskan military community. "As I said at the Spartan Brigade deployment ceremony on Tuesday, our troops are Arctic tough and a… Continue Reading


12.01.11

Murkowski: Have the USCGC Healy Clear a Path For Fuel to Nome

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Murkowski today reached out to United States Coast Guard Admiral Papp, requesting that he make full use of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Healy's capabilities to clear an ice block outside the Port of Nome that is preventing the city from receiving a full winter's supply of fuel. In a letter written today, the Senator acknowledged the Coast Guard's heroic missions during the course of last month's massive winter storm. After giving the Coast Guard full credit f… Continue Reading


12.01.11

Murkowski: Sanctions Necessary to Send Clear Signal to Iran

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voted to sanction the Central Bank of Iran and impose restrictions on foreign financial institutions involved in the sale or purchase of Iranian petroleum products. The sanctions were added to the National Defense Authorization Act (S.1867) as an amendment. The amendment, which was cosponsored by Murkowski, passed by a vote of 100 to 0. "Stricter sanctions are necessary to send a clear signal to Iran that their aspirations of dev… Continue Reading


12.01.11

Murkowski Wants Answers on Reports of Earlier Salmon Virus

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to news reports that Canada kept decade-old findings of a salmon virus secret, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski is asking the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) what details, if any, were known by the U.S. and how this new information is being taken into account in plans to expand testing efforts. "Weeks ago, I was troubled to hear of the possibility of infectious salmon anemia in nearby fisheries. But now I am absolutely alarmed that this w… Continue Reading


11.30.11

Delegation Wants Equal Treatment for Alaska’s Fisheries

Washington, D.C. -Alaska's Congressional Delegation today sent a letter to Dr. Jane Lubchenco - the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator - making the case that Alaska's waters should receive the funds necessary to improve operations, while similar endeavors are being funded on an ongoing basis in New England and on the West Coast. "You have made commitments to fund observers in other regions while they transition to catch share programs," wrote the delegation. … Continue Reading


11.30.11

EPA Rules Continue to Raise Electric Reliability Concerns

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska today reiterated her concerns about potential threats to the reliability of the nation's electric grid posed by the Environmental Protection Agency's pending regulations. Murkowski's comments come in light of this week's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Annual Technical Conference on Electric Reliability, as well as the release of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's (NERC) 2011 Long Term Electric Reliability Asses… Continue Reading


11.30.11

Sen. Murkowski: Keystone Bill Promotes U.S. Jobs, Energy Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today cosponsored legislation that would require the Obama administration to issue a construction permit for the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days. "A decision on Keystone is pretty straightforward - we're either serious about creating jobs and spurring economic growth or we're not. There's no downside here. The Obama administration has put politics ahead of common sense and I think this legislation will help ensure federal review of … Continue Reading

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