Press Releases
Media Requests: Members of the media can contact the press office by emailing hannah_ray@murkowski.senate.gov or by calling 202-224-6665 and asking for the press office.
Historic Infrastructure Package Heading to President’s Desk
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded the House passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, legislation she and a bipartisan group of ten Senators worked for months to negotiate, draft, and pass through the full Senate. The bipartisan bill will upgrade and modernize our core infrastructure-making critical investments in roads, bridges, rail, ferries, ports, airports, energy, water systems, and broadband. The landmark legislation also strengthens electric grid resiliency … Continue Reading
11.03.21
Schatz, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan National Native American Heritage Month Resolution
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, introduced a Senate resolution recognizing November 2021 as National Native American Heritage Month. "Every November we observe Native American Heritage Month to celebrate Native Hawaiian, American Indian, and Alaska Native peoples and their diverse cultures, achievements, and contributions," said Chairman Schatz. "I am honored to… Continue Reading
11.02.21
Leahy, Murkowski, Durbin And Manchin Announce Bipartisan Compromise On The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) Tuesday released a bipartisan compromise on the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This proposal - which builds on the version introduced earlier in October - reflects months of bipartisan negotiations and seeks to garner broader support in the Senate. Leahy, Murkowski, Durbin, and Manchin are committed to continuing their work on this compromise bill that will serve as a substi… Continue Reading
11.01.21
Vice Chairman Murkowski Welcomes November as National Native American Heritage Month
Today, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), issued the following statement on November as National Native American Heritage Month. "This month brings awareness to celebrate, and recognize the many contributions made by Native people in the United States-Alaska Natives, American Indians, and Native Hawaiians-along with other Indigenous peoples in our country from across the globe. Alaska is home to nearly 40 percent of all federally recog… Continue Reading
10.29.21
Sullivan, Shaheen, Capito and Murkowski Introduce POWER Act 2.0 to Combat Domestic Violence and Expand Pro Bono Legal Resources
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have introduced legislation to permanently extend the authorization for the Pro Bono Work to Empower and Represent (POWER) Act. The POWER Act, which helps combat domestic violence and sexual assault by encouraging lawyers across the country to offer pro bono legal services to victims and survivors of these crimes, was originally signed into law in 2018, but is set to expir… Continue Reading
10.29.21
Vice Chairman Examines Barriers to Voting for Native People
This week, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), welcomed the opportunity to hear from Native witnesses about the issues that continue to pose barriers to voting access during an oversight hearing she requested entitled: Voting Matters in Native Communities. "The right to vote has evolved tremendously over time, including with respect to the voting rights of our First peoples. American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians-all… Continue Reading
10.26.21
Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce Bill to Establish Offshore Revenue Sharing for Alaska
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-AK, today introduced legislation to provide for equitable revenue sharing from energy production and development in Alaska's Outer Continental Shelf. The bill, Alaska Offshore Parity Act, will facilitate the establishment of a revenue sharing program for Alaska to provide parity with onshore and offshore development in the outer Continental Shelf. This program will provide support for onshore infrastructure for coastal communities, mitigatio… Continue Reading
10.25.21
Murkowski, Sullivan Thank Judge Burgess For Service to Alaska
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) issued the following statements after Judge Timothy Burgess announced his upcoming retirement from active service as a United States Judge for the District of Alaska, effective December 31, 2021. Judge Burgess has been chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska since 2015 and joined the court in 2006 after being nominated by then President George W. Bush. "Alaska has been fortunate to have Judge Timothy Burges… Continue Reading
10.25.21
Air Force Selects Eielson Air Force Base as Preferred Location for DoD Nuclear Micro-Reactor
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for selecting Eielson Air Force Base as the preferred pilot location to host the first Air Force nuclear micro-reactor. As a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murkowski has helped secure significant funding for nuclear micro-reactor development and helped spearhead the creation of the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. During her tenure as Chairman of the Senate Energy Committe… Continue Reading
10.21.21
Murkowski, Sullivan Secure Extension on COVID Relief Dollars for Alaska Natives
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) welcomed the Senate's passage last night of S.3011, the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act, legislation that includes a provision the senators authored granting an extension until December 31, 2022 for tribes-including Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs)-to spend Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) resources from the March 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securi… Continue Reading
10.20.21
Murkowski on Voting Rights Reform
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after voting against a procedural vote on the Freedom to Vote Act, highlighting her targeted efforts on voting reform: "Americans need confidence in the integrity of our elections, and we can't instill that trust with a wholly partisan effort. We also aren't going to achieve that by micromanaging or federalizing state elections systems-which is the direction the Freedom to Vote Act takes. "I'm committed to ensuring access to vot… Continue Reading
10.20.21
Senate Passes Resolution Designating October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The Senate last night unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) designating October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. "Millions of Americans, men and women alike, are victims of domestic violence every year," said Senator Feinstein. "Addressing this problem requires a holistic approach to help survivors recover and hold … Continue Reading
10.20.21
Murkowski Secures Alaska Funding Priorities in Appropriations Bills
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after the Appropriations Committee posted the remaining nine Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bills, including the Interior-Environment appropriations bill of which Senator Murkowski serves as the Ranking Member: "The Appropriations bills posted earlier this week are a mixture of the good, the bad, and the ugly. On the good side, I am pleased that we were successful in including so many priorities from Alaskans for local projects … Continue Reading
10.20.21
Senate Passes One Year Extension for Tribal Governments to Utilize COVID Relief
Last night, the United States Senate passed the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act (S. 3011), which includes a one-year extension of the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) deadline to allow Tribal governments additional time to use CARES CRF allocations. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), is a cosponsor to S. 3011 and was able to secure inclusion of the tr… Continue Reading
10.18.21
Murkowski, Reed, Braun Introduce Bills to Address Student Loans
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Mike Braun (R-IN) have introduced two bills to address the rising cost of post-secondary education: the State-Based Education Loan Awareness Act and the Student Loan Repayment Freedom Act. The State-Based Education Loan Awareness Act would eliminate deterrents and penalties that prevent universities from informing students about student loans offered by non-profit, state agency lenders whose mission is to make college affordable and acc… Continue Reading
10.14.21
Senators Markey, Murkowski and Representative Kuster Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Expand Access to Opioid Treatment in Correctional Facilities
U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced the reintroduction of the Community Re-Entry through Addiction Treatment to Enhance (CREATE) Opportunities Act, bipartisan legislation to create a new federal grant program to support opioid-use disorder (OUD) treatment at state and local correctional facilities. Representative Ann Kuster (NH-2) will introduce identical legislation in the House of Representatives. The CREATE Opportunities Act establishes the Medication… Continue Reading
10.14.21
Senators Introduce Bill to Improve Access to Justice in the West, Create New Twelfth Circuit
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) have introduced the Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act of 2021, a bill that would codify the Judicial Conference's most recent recommendations as well as other important measures to enhance the effectiveness of the federal judiciary. The legislation would authorize 77 permanent district court judgeships, convert nine temporary district court judgeships into per… Continue Reading
10.09.21
Murkowski Responds to Reports Suggesting Crude Oil Ban
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today responded to reports that the U.S. Department of Energy is considering a ban on U.S. crude exports. "There was a reason I led the effort to lift the decades old, failed policy of a ban on the export of oil. Domestic crude oil production allows the U.S. to participate in global markets, creating jobs and opportunities for Americans, and helping our friends and allies. It was after the ban was lifted that the U.S. shifted to a position of true energy stren… Continue Reading
10.07.21
Senator Murkowski Supports Taiwan Amid China’s Unprecedented Incursion
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after Taiwan was threatened by China during the largest ever incursion by China's air force into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) with 56 aircraft: "This latest action by China, threatening the island of Taiwan, makes clear that China intends an adversarial, provocative relationship with Taiwan, those that support it, and those that value personal freedoms. It should not be this way. While the Chinese Communist Par… Continue Reading
10.07.21
Murkowski, King Introduce Bill to Strengthen Diplomacy in the Arctic
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME)-co-chairs of the Senate Arctic Caucus-today introduced the Arctic Diplomacy Act of 2021, legislation which will elevate Arctic issues in U.S. foreign policy by establishing an Assistant Secretary of State for Arctic Affairs who will lead and conduct U.S. foreign policy in the Arctic region and on Arctic issues. The Senate confirmed position will be responsible for influencing decisions and behavior of Arctic nations, Arctic issues, and ac… Continue Reading
