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 Bill Would Boost Alaska Village Development
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced the Native American Challenge Demonstration Act (NACDA) of 2011 - with co-sponsors Senators Mark Begich and Daniel Akaka (D-HI) - to create the same opportunities for America's First People that countries worldwide receive, in terms of U.S. investment. "There's a lot of talk about nation-building and sending American funds around the world to needy areas," said Senator Murkowski. "But Alaska Natives all too frequently face the same chall… Continue Reading
06.28.11
Murkowski: Cook Inlet Assessment Shows Region’s Promise
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Geological Survey's new assessment of natural gas and oil resources in Cook Inlet: "The new assessment is good news for Southcentral residents. If these estimates prove correct, and if companies continue to invest in the region, we should have a reliable, long-term supply of natural gas to meet local power needs. "Perhaps the best news is that this new estimate reflects major r… Continue Reading
06.28.11
Murkowski Criticizes FEMA Juneau Flood Mapping Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to rethink its revised Juneau flood plain maps that could end up costing residents hundreds or thousands of dollars in flood insurance annually - in a letter sent today. "These proposed flood maps based on approximations and estimates will end up costing Juneau homeowners real money, all due to flawed science." At issue in the controversy is whether homeowners were informed sufficiently about the process… Continue Reading
06.23.11
Murkowski, Begich Announce Richardson Highway Mobile Office Stops
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today announced that members of their staffs will visit the communities of Delta Junction, Tok, Glennallen, Copper Center and Valdez from June 27-29, 2011. Congressional staff members hold mobile office hours throughout the summer to meet with constituents and community leaders. During their mobile office hours, staff representatives will be available to take casework requests and listen to constituent concerns about issues related to … Continue Reading
06.23.11
Murkowski Applauds House Passage of Legislation to Improve Offshore Permitting Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today congratulated the House of Representatives on passage of legislation to improve permitting of offshore oil and natural gas activity in Alaska and elsewhere. The House passed H.R. 2021, The Jobs and Energy Permitting Act, introduced by Rep. Cory Gardner, R-CO, by a vote of 253-166, with 23 Democrats supporting the legislation. "When we have companies that have to wait years to get a permit from the EPA, it's clear that the c… Continue Reading
06.23.11
Murkowski Calls Proposed SPR Sale Political Shortcut
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement in response to the Obama administration's announcement that it would sell off 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in an attempt to lower world oil prices: "It seems that the administration is tampering with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to deflect attention from the continuing bad economic news and dodge political accountability. These reserves are not a polit… Continue Reading
06.22.11
Murkowski Responds to President Obama’s Speech on Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Tonight, President Obama addressed the nation with his plan to begin withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan. Senator Murkowski issued the following reaction: "Regardless of the number of soldiers the President decides to pull out of Afghanistan, it's critical that we begin the withdrawal as responsibly as possible. The last thing we want is for the drawdown to endanger our soldiers remaining there. I don't want to see that happen to Alaska's troops in action, … Continue Reading
06.22.11
Murkowski, Begich Announce Mobile Office Visits to Interior Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today announced that members of their staffs will visit the communities of Talkeetna, Cantwell, Healy, Anderson and Nenana from June 27-29, 2011. Congressional staff members hold mobile office hours throughout the summer to meet with constituents and community leaders. During their mobile office hours, staff representatives will be available to take casework requests and listen to constituent concerns about issues related to the … Continue Reading
06.21.11
Murkowski Votes In Favor of Panetta to Run Pentagon
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski voted in support of Leon Panetta to replace Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and oversee the Armed Forces starting July 1st, and said of her vote: "Mr. Panetta has served at the highest levels of government as Director of the Office of Management and Budget, White House Chief of Staff and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He possesses the high level experience and know-how the Obama administration needs to lead the Armed Services through… Continue Reading
06.21.11
Murkowski Stresses Need for Arctic Policy, Pledges Commitment
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski spoke to the "Symposium on the Impacts of an Ice-Diminishing Arctic on Naval and Maritime Operations" today in downtown Washington, D.C. - the culmination of four events casting a spotlight on Alaska's prominent role in leveraging America's status as an Arctic nation. "I believe that the pace of change in the Arctic demands that greater attention be focused on the region," Murkowski said towards the end of her speech today at the Navy War Memorial. "… Continue Reading
06.17.11
Murkowski Introduces Bill to Improve Offshore Permitting Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has introduced legislation to improve permitting of offshore oil and natural gas activity in Alaska and beyond. The Offshore Energy and Jobs Permitting Act would stop the Environmental Protection Agency's internal appeals process from being used to kill projects through delay. "We need to end the practice of outside groups using the appeals board to veto offshore energy development in Alaska and elsewhere," Murkowski said. "The EPA … Continue Reading
06.16.11
Murkowski Testifies to Promote Accelerated NPR-A Drilling
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today testified before a House Natural Resources subcommittee on the importance of reforming permitting processes that have stalled responsible development of critical oil and natural gas resources in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). While the Obama administration has promised to hold annual lease sales in NPR-A, the biggest obstacle to responsible oil and gas development is not the lack of leases but the inability of… Continue Reading
06.15.11
ALASKANS UNITED IN OPPOSITION TO NEW WILDERNESS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska's congressional delegation today sent the following letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar reminding him of his promise not to designate new wilderness areas in Alaska without the support of the state's elected representatives. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska: "I want to be unequivocally clear, there is no support from the Alaska delegation or the state of Alaska for any new legislative or administrative wilderness designations." Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska: "Th… Continue Reading
06.15.11
Murkowski, Wyden Introduce Bill Reforming CCFs for Fishermen
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) today introduced a bill that gives commercial fisherman - in Alaska, Oregon and those nationwide - added flexibility when it comes to funds they've set aside for renovations or new construction of their fishing boats. "Right now, the way this fishery finance program works is that we penalize fishermen in the wallet just as they're trying to retire," said Murkowski, the lead Republican sponsor of the bill. "By making a … Continue Reading
06.15.11
Murkowski: Does Drawdown Increase Risk For Alaska Troops?
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to make certain the safety of Alaska-based troops recently deployed to Afghanistan does not decline as the military begins its planned drawdown this summer and reduces expenditures on the Afghanistan effort, asking "What assurances can you give me that our soldiers just now getting to Afghanistan and will be there for the next year, that their situation is not getting increasingly risky?" Secretary Gates… Continue Reading
06.15.11
Murkowski Welcomes Streamlined Process for Village Safe Water
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today applauded the new Memorandum of Understanding signed today - by Native, Alaska State and Federal representatives - as a crucial step forward in eliminating much of the bureaucracy delaying basic infrastructure such as water and wastewater projects in rural villages. "I am pleased that the language I made sure was in the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill to streamline the Village Safe Water Program has gotten us to a simpler, smoother pro… Continue Reading
06.14.11
Murkowski, Begich Announce Mobile Office Visits to Kenai Peninsula
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today announced that members of their staffs will visit the communities of Whittier, Cooper Landing, Seward, Ninilchik and Homer from June 20-23, 2011. Congressional staff members hold mobile office hours throughout the summer to meet with constituents and community leaders. During their mobile office hours, staff representatives will be available to take casework requests and listen to constituent concerns about issues related to… Continue Reading
06.14.11
Murkowski Votes to Reform Ethanol Subsidies
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today signaled her support for reforming federal ethanol subsidies by voting for an amendment to repeal the ethanol tax credit and import tariff. "The time has come to reform the most costly and least necessary assistance provided by the government," Murkowski said. "It's difficult to justify the continuation of these policies with the deficit set to exceed $1.6 trillion this year alone, and other federal support for ethanol product… Continue Reading
06.14.11
Murkowski: Lack of Forest Management Contributes to Wildfires
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, expressed frustration with the Forest Service's wildfire policies at a hearing today of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Murkowski, the ranking member of the committee, released the following statement: "Almost 10 years ago, we had a fire season very similar to the one we're now suffering. In response, Congress passed the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, which authorized thinning and other efforts to reduce the amou… Continue Reading
06.13.11
“More Questions Than Answers” in Federal Water Fish Farms
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Obama Administration recently announced plans to create policy that allows fish farms in federal waters, in an attempt to cut the nation's dependence on imported fish. Today, Senator Murkowski responded with serious reservations: "While I recognize the motivation to increase aquaculture production in the United States, NOAA's new Marine Aquaculture policy raises far more questions than answers. My first question would be whether NOAA even has the jurisdiction to … Continue Reading
