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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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11.29.11

Murkowski Speaks to “Arctic Tough, Resilient and Brave” 4th Brigade

Senator Lisa Murkowski today spoke to thousands of members of the 4th AIRBORNE Brigade Combat Team - the "Spartan Brigade" - and their families as they prepare to for a year-long mission deployment to Afghanistan. Some moments from Senator Murkowski's speech: "Every American soldier is an ambassador of American exceptionalism. I am told that this brigade has a certain reputation. You are a cut above the rest. Arctic tough, resilient and brave. Blessed with strong officers and NCOs, you fight… Continue Reading

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11.29.11

Murkowski to Obama: Rethink General Aviation Fees

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski wrote a letter to President Obama, taking issue with the Administration's recent proposal to impose a $100 fee per flight on general aviation aircraft, as a way to reduce the nation's growing deficit. "I write to voice my opposition to your Administration's recent proposal to impose user fees on general aviation aircraft," Murkowski wrote. "While I agree that our nation's debt must be reduced, increasing taxes on general aviation aircraft through new u… Continue Reading

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11.28.11

Murkowski Calls for Independent Investigation on Allen Case

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski has contacted the US Department of Justice (DOJ), calling for an "objective, thorough and independent investigation" to determine why the federal government is declining to prosecute Bill Allen over allegations he transported Paula Roberds across state lines for immoral and exploitive purposes. In a letter, Murkowski also asked two DOJ independent investigating offices to look into why the Justice Department halted the State of Alaska's efforts to prosec… Continue Reading

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11.23.11

Interior Spikes Proposed BLM Restrictions on Gun Owners

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's decision to reverse a new Bureau of Land Management policy proposal that threatened to restrict recreational shooting and hunting opportunities on public lands. Salazar's decision comes just days after Murkowski questioned Interior officials about the proposed policy at a Nov. 17 hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Murkowski had also prepared legislation, to be intro… Continue Reading

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11.23.11

Murkowski Wishes Alaskans Happy Thanksgiving

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today offered the following reflections on Thanksgiving Day: "It has now been 222 years since George Washington himself designated Thanksgiving Day as 'a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God.' "Other countries have followed our lead in the centuries since, but this makes Thanksgiving itself an example of America leading by example, of our shared heritage - an… Continue Reading

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11.23.11

Murkowski: USS Anchorage Should Be Commissioned In Anchorage

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski wrote Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, encouraging him to have the Navy commission the USS Anchorage - a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship - in Anchorage once it completes its sea trials. "Alaskan hospitality is legendary. It is well known through the Armed Forces that no people support our men and women in uniform more enthusiastically than the people of Alaska," Murkowski wrote. Murkowski concluded that "the commissioning ceremony p… Continue Reading

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11.22.11

Murkowski Pushes Investigation of Stolen Military Medical Records

Washington, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced an amendment to the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act that calls for a Department of Defense Inspector General investigation into the theft of 4.9 million TRICARE records containing personal information of active duty service members, military families and retirees from the vehicle of a military contractor. TRICARE is the health care program serving the military, retirees and their families worldwide. "Our military families are justifia… Continue Reading

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11.22.11

Murkowski Staffer Provides Details on "Human Side" of Storm

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today received information and images from staff member Bob Walsh upon his return from a three-day, 11 village tour of Western Alaska storm damage. Walsh, a Nome native, visited communities impacted by the violent weather system in early November - including Nome, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Kotzebue and Kivalina - and provided Murkowski pictures, anecdotes and experiences he heard from residents. "The constant phone calls with officials and updates were he… Continue Reading