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 to Hold Senate Hearing on Alaska Native Youth Suicide
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced she will be holding a Senate Indian Affairs Committee Field Hearing on H.O.P.E.- Helping Our People Engage on October 22, 2011 - during next week's AFN Convention in Anchorage. "I will be conducting a field hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee to really delve into more of the issues surrounding youth suicide, some of the connections that we know to be at play, whether it's depression, whether it's witnessing acts of viol… Continue Reading
10.11.11
Murkowski: “Let’s Tackle This Problem Head On”
Washington, dc - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against proceeding to Senate bill S. 1660, the American Jobs Act, and issued the following statement after she cast her vote: "I voted against proceeding with the American Jobs Act because it is not the solid, comprehensive plan that our country needs. Even the Treasury Secretary has said that of the over 14 million Americans presently unemployed, the bill will help only 7 percent find work. "I understand the fear and frustration of Americ… Continue Reading
10.11.11
Murkowski Votes Against “Short-Sighted” Currency Bill
Washington, dc - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against U.S. Senate bill S.1619, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Act of 2011: "This bill is a short-sighted approach that's more political than practical, with serious negative possible impacts on Alaska and across America. China is Alaska's second largest export market, behind Japan - we sold $920 million worth of seafood, forest products and mineral ore to China in 2010 alone. These attempted punitive measures could have serious ramif… Continue Reading
10.06.11
Rural Alaska’s Internet Connectivity “Absolutely Inadequate”
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski called national attention today to the lack of Internet infrastructure in rural Alaska in a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing. "Nearly 40% of Alaska's land area doesn't have reliable high speed broad band internet," Murkowski said. "It would be the equivalent area of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and parts of Ohio having an absolutely inadequate access to what everybody else in the country knows and expe… Continue Reading
10.06.11
MURKOWSKI, MERKLEY, MORAN, TESTER INTRODUCE PROTECTING RURAL POST OFFICES BILL
Washington, DC -A bipartisan coalition of Senators today introduced the Protecting Rural Post Offices Act, which would require that a post office closure cannot result in more than a ten mile distance between post offices, measured on roads with year-round access. The bill is sponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jon Tester (D-MT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Begich (D-AK), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). "In Oregon, 80% of the post offices on the potential closure list are more… Continue Reading
10.05.11
Murkowski Lauds Former Alaskan’s Nobel Prize
Bartlett High School Alum Brian Schmidt ('85) and his research team has been honored with the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics for his work in Astrophysics. Upon hearing the news, Senator Murkowski had the following thoughts: "All Alaskans - and Alaskan educators especially - are proud that one of our former students has been awarded with one of the most significant international awards in the world: The Nobel Prize. "Brian's findings have led many experts in the field of astrophysics to rethink … Continue Reading
10.05.11
Murkowski Introduces Reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced she will co-sponsor a bipartisan effort to re-authorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. The bill, to be introduced within the next week, will extend payments to boroughs and unorganized communities and schools in southeast and southcentral Alaska for five years, beginning in 2012. The legislation would also extend Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) to boroughs and unorganized communities in the … Continue Reading
10.05.11
Murkowski: "Time Out" On New Regulations
Washington, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced she is joining her colleague Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) as a co-sponsor of the Regulatory Time Out Act of 2011 (S.1538) that would create more regulatory certainty for job creators and some breathing room for employers with 4,257 new rules up for consideration. "Our businesses are wasting hours and productivity on paperwork and don't need more boxes to check; they need more time to work and create opportunities for new employees," Murk… Continue Reading
10.04.11
Murkowski Files Critical Minerals Amendment to Currency Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Dean Heller, R-Nevada, today filed an amendment promoting the domestic production of critical minerals to the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform bill currently being debated on the Senate floor. The amendment (S. Amdt. 673) would help create jobs by addressing the domestic critical minerals supply chain in a comprehensive way. Majority Leader Reid, D-Nevada, has moved to prevent votes on all amendments, but Murkowski hopes that … Continue Reading
10.04.11
Murkowski Hires Stefanie Moreland as Fisheries Advisor
Washington - Senator Murkowski today announced she has selected Stefanie Moreland to be her legislative aide covering fisheries issues and Arctic matters. "Alaska's fisheries are one of our largest economic drivers - employing more people in Alaska than the oil and gas and mining industries combined - so Alaska needs a smart, strong advocate," said Murkowski. "Stefanie's expertise and Alaska focus will be a great addition to my staff." An Alaskan for over a decade, Moreland joins Senator Mur… Continue Reading
10.04.11
Murkowski Statement on Katz Resignation
Washington, dc - John Katz, Alaska's Director of State and Federal Relations and Special Counsel to the Governor in Washington, D.C., today announced that he will be retiring at the end of the year. Senator Murkowski issued the following reaction to his statement: "Today's announcement comes as a shock to the system of Alaska. John Katz has worked for the people of Alaska for over half the time we have been a state - always working and fighting tirelessly for Alaska's interests, whether at h… Continue Reading
10.04.11
Murkowski: Natural Gas is One of Our Most Promising Resources
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today spoke about the importance of exploring the full potential of America's unconventional natural gas resources at today's Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. "We've witnessed game-changing technological innovations that have unlocked tremendous volumes of previously inaccessible natural gas," Murkowski said. "These resources are already benefitting our nation by further diversifying our energy supplies, growing our e… Continue Reading
09.29.11
Murkowski Pleased With Progress on Fire Island Wind Project
ANCHORAGE, AK - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that it will continue to move forward with efforts to construct, test and commission a new Very High Frequency Omni-directional Radio Range (VOR) navigation beacon that will replace the existing VOR on Fire Island. This announcement allows the Fire Island Wind Project to proceed while the FAA transition to the new VOR continues. Senator Murkowski had the following reaction to the news: "I'm glad the FAA sees what I see a… Continue Reading
09.29.11
Senators Call for Stronger Support of Tribal Health Care
Today U.S. Senators from the Western states protected the needs of Native Americans, Native Hawaiians and Alaska Native peoples in a letter calling on President Obama to strengthen tribal self-governance, support economic self-sufficiency, and honor the government's agreements with Indian Tribes by fully funding contract support costs and joint venture staffing in his Fiscal Year 2013 budget request. Tribal groups around the country contract with the government to deliver services such as runni… Continue Reading
09.27.11
Murkowski Joins Six Senate Colleagues Urging Indian Health Service Improvements
WASHINGTON - Senator Murkowski today joined a bipartisan group of her Senate colleagues in urging Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and other top administration officials to act quickly to improve health care delivery to American Indians and Alaska Natives. In a letter to Secretary Sebelius and Indian Health Service Director Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, the senators pointed to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report issued Friday that highlights billing and other problems … Continue Reading
09.23.11
Murkowski Criticizes ‘No Child Left Behind’ Waiver Offer
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Murkowski today challenged the Department of Education's waiver process for states to opt out of some provisions of the "No Child Left Behind Act" - reminding the administration they do not have the authority to do so, unilaterally. "I'm disappointed that President Obama's solution to his predecessor's top-down, one-size-fits-all policy is his own top-down, one-size fits all policy." At a White House press conference today, President Obama offered states the chance to … Continue Reading
09.23.11
Murkowski: Solyndra Bankruptcy Casts Shadow on Pending Loan Guarantees
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday sent a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu urging him to correct any shortcomings in the Department of Energy's loan guarantee program under the 2009 stimulus bill before taxpayers are asked to shoulder additional risk. The Department of Energy (DOE) may issue up to $9.2 billion in new loan guarantees under the temporary Section 1705 loan guarantee program in the next week. "In these critical days, as the cabinet officer respon… Continue Reading
09.23.11
Murkowski Fights Attempt to End Alaska’s Bypass Mail Funding
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Murkowski today defended the United States Postal Service's core duty as two Congressmen push legislation that would require Alaska to pay the USPS for the costs of bypass mail in Alaska - a critical service for Alaskans off the road system who cannot get their mail through other means. "Bypass mail connects rural Alaska to our hubs, but it also works the other way around," Murkowski said. "Millions of dollars worth of groceries, medications, and construction supplies … Continue Reading
09.21.11
Murkowski Makes Move to Help Rural Alaskans’ Energy Costs
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Murkowski took the opportunity today during a Senate Appropriations Committee markup to advocate increased funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - a key program to many Alaskans dealing with expensive heating bills - by diverting some of the $1 billion being set aside for implementation of the health care reform bill, known as the Affordable Care Act. "I find it unconscionable that so many rural Alaskans are facing high prices on heating oi… Continue Reading
09.21.11
Alaska’s Essential Air Service Getting Critical Funding
WASHINGTON, DC - Millions of dollars for Alaska's transportation projects were approved by the full Senate Appropriations Committee earlier today, in a bipartisan vote supported by committee member Senator Lisa Murkowski. "It is my priority and my duty to do all I can for the state of Alaska," said Murkowski. "And that means I must make sure that even in an era of cuts and tough decisions, we continue to receive our fair share." The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations … Continue Reading
