06.08.11

Murkowski Seeks FEMA Assurances On Alaska’s Protection Levels

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today pushed Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate for an assurance that Alaska is protected equally to the communities in the Lower 48. "Communities like Crooked Creek and Red Devil do not get news coverage like Joplin, Missouri or the Mississippi River communities affected by natural disasters," said Murkowski. "But I'm asking for an assurance on their behalf, because they worry our disaster response request is at the bo… Continue Reading

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06.08.11

MURKOWSKI, YOUNG WELCOME SUPPORT FOR TANANA RAILROAD PROJECT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The senior members of Alaska's congressional delegation, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young, today welcomed the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to not oppose a proposed railroad bridge across the Tanana River in Interior Alaska. The bridge was approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Alaska Railroad's Northern Rail Extension. The project would extend rail service 80 miles from North Pole to Fort Greely, home to the U.S. Army's mis… Continue Reading

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06.07.11

Murkowski: Trio of Bills Support All of the Above Energy Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed support for three proposals that would advance an all-of-the-above energy strategy by removing restrictions on the use of alternative fuels and promoting development of small modular nuclear reactors. Murkowski, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is a cosponsor of all three bills, which were heard before the committee Tuesday. "Prioritizing the use of all of the domestic natura… Continue Reading

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06.07.11

Begich & Murkowski Support State’s Disaster Declaration Request

Alaska's U.S. Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski are urging the Obama Administration to approve a federal disaster declaration for this spring's floods in Interior Alaska as requested by Governor Sean Parnell on June 1. In a letter to President Obama, Begich and Murkowski detail the devastation caused in the villages of Crooked Creek and Red Devil as the result of the seasonal ice jam flooding along the Kuskokwim River. "These isolated areas of Alaska make emergency response chall… Continue Reading

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06.01.11

Murkowski Responds to Interior’s New Directive on Wild Lands Designations

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's decision to abide by the prohibition, contained in the 2011 continuing budget resolution, on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) designating new public lands as "Wild Lands." "I appreciate Secretary Salazar's commitment to me that the BLM will not pursue wild lands designations in Alaska," Murkowski said. "Both the Senate and the House have been clear … Continue Reading

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05.31.11

Murkowski Announces First Session Summer Interns

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski today announced the names of her first session summer interns who will work in the Senator's Washington, D.C., office next month. These young Alaskans will observe the operations of a fast-paced Senate office and the legislative process from an up-close view. For the first summer session, running June 6-July 1, 2011, Murkowski has selected Graeme Campbell from Sitka, Joseph Kelly of Thorne Bay, Bernadette Mays and Cherise Beatus from Fairbanks, Sil… Continue Reading

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05.29.11

Murkowski Reflects on Memorial Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today offered the following statement in observance of Memorial Day: "On this Memorial Day Weekend, with the promise of summer upon us, I invite you to enjoy the beautiful weather and the company of loved ones. But as we gather, it's important for us to recognize that we enjoy it, in large part, due to sacrifices made by those not here: men and women who fought to protect us. "Memorial Day is so much more than just the final day of… Continue Reading

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05.26.11

Murkowski Proposes Bill to Streamline Road Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today proposed the Project Delivery Improvement Act to strengthen and streamline the road construction and improvement process nationwide. "Alaska has over 15,000 thousand miles of public roads, nearly all of which could see faster improvements with this bill," said Murkowski. "Just as Alaska enters our summer construction season, I'm hopeful this bill will create a smoother road to safe and vital transportation in future years." The Project … Continue Reading

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05.26.11

Murkowski: Roadless Settlement Handcuffs Southeast Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following comment concerning a federal judge's decision to accept a settlement proposal by the U.S. Forest Service in Organized Village of Kake, et. al. v. USDA. The settlement re-imposes the 2001 roadless rule in the Tongass National Forest. "The settlement catches the communities in Southeast in a terrible trap. While the agreement provides limited protection for a handful of energy and mineral projects, it e… Continue Reading

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05.26.11

Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Critical Minerals Supply Chain

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced the Critical Minerals Policy Act, along with Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska), Jim Webb (D-Virginia), James Risch (R-Idaho), Kay Hagan (D-North Carolina), Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming), Kent Conrad (D-North Dakota), Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Dean Heller (R-Nevada), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Clair… Continue Reading

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05.25.11

Murkowski Statement on Budget Votes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski today released the following statement regarding the series of four budget votes, including her vote in favor of Senator Pat Toomey's (R-PA) proposal: "I share the views of Alaskans that inaction on the budget is no longer an option. After reviewing the available proposals, I concluded Senator Toomey's proposal was the best starting point to begin addressing the nation's deepening deficit from the spending side, and a step forward in negotiating t… Continue Reading

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05.25.11

Murkowski Supports Bill to Complete Sealaska Lands Exchange

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following comments in favor of legislation that would allow Southeast Alaska's Sealaska Native Regional Corp. to complete the land selection promised to its shareholders nearly 40 years ago under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA): "This legislation is important not only to keep the legal promise the federal government made in ANCSA, but also to ensure the survival of the remaining timber operations … Continue Reading

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05.25.11

Senator Murkowski’s statement on the passing of Lefty Van Brunt:

"Today, I share the thoughts of Alaska's entire baseball community in mourning the passing of Lefty Van Brunt. Lefty blazed a trail in a league that itself was a sports world pioneer - The Alaska Baseball League. "Lefty came to Alaska over a half-century ago and devoted his life to teaching Alaska's youth the simple joys of the National Pastime - a sacrifice bunt, clever defensive fieldwork - and for that we are forever grateful. He embraced teaching future pros all the way to little … Continue Reading

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05.24.11

Murkowski: USPS Move Poses Threat to Alaskan Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today sent a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, warning him the impending restructuring and relocation of Alaska's Western Area Distribution Networks office to Denver without a transition period is short-sighted. "Alaska's mail service is more complicated than the majority of systems nationwide," said Murkowski. "I understand the United States Postal Service needs to rethink everything to keep its costs under control, but this position … Continue Reading

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05.24.11

Murkowski Remembers Reverend Doctor Walter Soboleff

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Murkowski, R-AK, released the following statement regarding the passing of Reverend Doctor Walter Soboleff: "Reverend Soboleff wanted to be remembered as one who tried to do his best in a time of changing culture and one who took positives from both the Native and Western worlds. I think I can speak for all of Alaska when I say he achieved that goal. "I would like to offer Reverend Soboleff's family and many friends my heartfelt condolences. Know that he serve… Continue Reading

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05.23.11

Murkowski: America “Waking Up” To the Fact We’re An Arctic Nation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski today took to the Senate floor and stressed to her colleagues the importance of the Arctic, and how the national political conversation should reflect the realities and possibilities that come along with that. "I am pleased that ever so slowly, the United States seems to be waking up to the fact that we are, indeed, an Arctic nation," Sen. Murkowski said. Sen. Murkowski returned earlier this month from a historic trip to Nuuk, Greenland wher… Continue Reading

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05.23.11

Murkowski: Medicare “Empowerment” Bill Would Expand Options

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced a bill that would cut through bureaucratic red tape and allow seniors wider access to medical professionals through the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act. "At the age when many Americans begin to need extra medical attention, the current Medicare system puts hurdles in their path to care," said Murkowski. "Now more than ever, with the added scrutiny Medicare is getting, our seniors need solutions and certainty." The Medicare Pati… Continue Reading

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05.20.11

Murkowski: Revised EIS Should Help Resolve Challenges in Chukchi, Allow Exploration to Move Forward

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the release by the Bureau of Ocean Energy, Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) of a revised supplemental environmental impact statement for oil and natural gas development in the Chukchi Sea. "It's my hope that this additional analysis on the potential impacts on the region will help resolve the legal challenges that have held up resource exploration in the Chukchi Sea," Murkowski said. "There's still a … Continue Reading

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05.20.11

Murkowski: President Obama’s Middle East Plan “Incomprehensible”

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to President Obama's Middle East speech: "It's incomprehensible that just as the Middle East and Northern Africa are moving swiftly into the future this spring, President Obama is trying to move the clock backwards in Israel. His pronouncement that Israel commit to living within its pre-1967 borders places our most consistent ally in the region at heightened danger during a time of turbulence there. "I have long held the vie… Continue Reading

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05.19.11

ROADLESS RULE THREATENS SOUTHEAST ALASKA ECONOMY

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today questioned U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell on the potential consequences for the economy of Southeast Alaska of a proposed court settlement that would impose roadless protections on the Tongass National Forest. "The court decision on the roadless rule holds the economy of Southeast Alaska hostage and it must be dealt with and I remain unconvinced that the settlement agreement proposed by the Forest Service resolves anything b… Continue Reading