03.18.11

Alaska Delegation Introduces Maritime Lien Reform Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Alaska delegation introduced the Maritime Lien Reform Act of 2011 this week. The legislation would protect fishermen who hold Alaska commercial fishing permits. The legislation also would prohibit maritime liens from being imposed on permits and protect the right of fishermen to continue to earn a livelihood by engaging in commercial fishing. Similar legislation was introduced in 2006 and 2008 but neither bill became law. "The legislation is imperative to prote… Continue Reading

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03.18.11

Senators Introduce Bipartisan Hydropower Improvement Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday introduced the Hydropower Improvement Act of 2011 (S. 629), which was co-sponsored by Sens. Begich (D-AK), Bingaman (D-NM), Cantwell (D-WA), Crapo (R-ID), Murray (D-WA), Risch (R-ID), Whitehouse (D-RI), and Wyden (D-OR). The bill seeks to substantially increase the capacity and generation of our clean, renewable hydropower resources that will improve environmental quality and support local job creation and economic investme… Continue Reading

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03.17.11

Murkowski Votes for Three Week Continuing Resolution But Urges Long Term Solution

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voted to continue providing funding for federal government operations until April 8th, 2011, including $6 billion in spending cuts, and issued the following statement: "While I am pleased that the federal government will continue to be funded for the next three weeks, it's time to stop these short-term budget resolutions and finish Fiscal Year 2011 budget work. Not only do we need to move on to the FY12 budget, we really need … Continue Reading

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03.17.11

Murkowski on America’s Tremendous Resource Potential

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, spoke on the Senate floor today about a newly-released Congressional Research Service report that estimates the United States has the largest fossil fuel endowment in the world. Watch Sen. Murkowski's floor speech on her YouTube page. Below is the full text of Sen. Murkowski's floor statement: "Madam President, I've come to the floor to discuss America's tremendous natural resource potential, and to again highlight the fact that if… Continue Reading

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03.17.11

Murkowski Comments on Global Trends in Clean Energy Technologies

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following opening statement at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to examine current global investment trends in clean energy technologies and the impact of domestic policies on that investment: "Today's hearing is on a very broad topic and one where the conversation often leads to a comparison of American policies with those in other countries. These comparisons can be useful, but in making them … Continue Reading

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03.16.11

Sens. Murkowski and Begich Opposed to ‘Use it or Lose it’

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, today blasted proposed legislation - the so-called "Use It or Lose It" bill offered by Democratic Senators Bill Nelson, Bob Menendez and Chuck Schumer - that would penalize companies for leasing federal lands and waters for energy production. Murkowski, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said the bill was an attempt to shift blame for rising gasoline prices to energy p… Continue Reading

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03.16.11

Murkowski Criticizes EPA Administrator over Recent Decision, Demands Fair Treatment for Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today questioned Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson on a series of development projects in Alaska that have been adversely impacted by the agency's decisions, including efforts to explore for oil and gas in the Beaufort Sea and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Murkowski pressed Jackson in her opening statement at Wednesday's Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on EPA's 2012 budget proposal. Sen.… Continue Reading

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03.16.11

Alaskans Concern About Japan Radiation Understandable

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding the risk of radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan reaching Alaska. "It's understandable that Alaskans would be concerned about the threat of radiation from Japan drifting across the Pacific Ocean. The National Nuclear Security Administration has assured me, however, that there's no risk of radioactive material reaching Alaska, Hawaii, the territories, or … Continue Reading

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03.15.11

Murkowski Speaks in Support of Amendment to Rein in EPA’s Climate Regulations

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, spoke on the Senate floor Tuesday in support of an amendment to the pending small business bill that would block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from imposing a costly backdoor energy tax on the American people. "I remain as convinced as ever that the EPA's effort to impose backdoor climate regulations is the wrong way, and perhaps the worst way, to address our nation's energy and climate challenges," Murkowski said. "As o… Continue Reading

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03.15.11

Murkowski Congratulates John Baker and His Team on Winning the Iditarod in Record Time

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today congratulated John Baker and his team on winning their first Iditarod Sled Dog Trail Race: "I congratulate John and his team on their amazing victory in this year's Iditarod sled dog race. After ten days of racing the extraordinary 1049 mile span of terrain from Anchorage to Nome, John Baker of Kotzebue has crossed the finish line to victory ahead of his 61 fellow competitors. His team of four-legged athletes gave an amazing per… Continue Reading

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03.14.11

Murkowski Reintroduces Volcano Monitoring Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today reintroduced the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring Program Act, S. 566. The bill establishes a national volcano monitoring system that includes the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) in Anchorage and Fairbanks. "I introduced volcano monitoring legislation in 2009, as a result of the Mt. Redoubt volcano eruptions. While it brought awareness to the issue, the legislation did not become law, so I am reintroducing the bi… Continue Reading

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03.12.11

Murkowski Delivers Weekly Republican Address

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) released the following weekly Republican address. The address is available in both audio and video format: Audio of the address is available here Video of the address will be available here You can download the address here Full transcript of Senator Murkowski's Address: "This is Lisa Murkowski, Senator for Alaska and lead Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "Our hearts and prayers are with the pe… Continue Reading

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03.11.11

Murkowski Responds to President’s Comments on Rising Gas Prices

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement in response to the President's comments on rising energy prices: "At a time when oil prices remain close to $100 a barrel, and nationwide gasoline prices are averaging more than $3.50 a gallon, American families and businesses want a plan that will lead to real relief at the pump. Today, the president failed to deliver that plan. "Among the most misleading statistics used by opponents of ne… Continue Reading

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03.11.11

Murkowski Addresses the Need for a Long-Term Domestic Energy Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, spoke on the Senate floor on the urgent need to develop a long-term energy policy for America that focuses on increasing domestic production and reducing overall consumption. Murkowski's prepared remarks are attached and the speech can be seen in its entirety at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Naow4PEGZkM. ###… Continue Reading

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03.11.11

Murkowski Comments on the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commented on the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan: "I am deeply saddened by the news of the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan earlier today and my sincere condolences are with the Japanese people during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who have died and to those who are still waiting for information on the status of their loved ones." "The peo… Continue Reading

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03.10.11

Murkowski Questions Attorney General Holder on Failure to Prosecute Bill Allen and Vows to Continue to Pursue the Issue

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today questioned Attorney General Eric Holder on the Department of Justice's failure to prosecute imprisoned former Veco CEO Bill Allen on federal charges of allegedly transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Justice budget. On August 21, 2010, the Anchorage Daily News reported that "top officials of the U.S. De… Continue Reading

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03.10.11

Murkowski Comments on Energy Efficiency Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following opening statement during a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening this hearing today. We have two very different bills here to discuss. The first one, the Implementation of National Consensus Appliance Agreements Act (INCAAA), has been through several iterations, hearings, and markups over the last two years. This bill contains consensus agreem… Continue Reading

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03.09.11

Murkowski Questions Need for Federal Government to Acquire More Land

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today questioned Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on why the Interior Department (DOI) was asking for a substantial increase in taxpayer funding to buy land now in private hands when it was cutting money, for the second year in a row, for long-overdue land conveyances in Alaska. "In order to fund these large increases for land acquisition DOI has cut other programs," Murkowski said. "The Bureau of Land Management's Alaska conveyance pr… Continue Reading

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03.09.11

Murkowski Votes in Favor of H.R. 1 In an Effort to End Budget Stalemate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U. S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voted in favor of a measure that would fund the government through the end of Fiscal Year 2011 (FY11), which includes $57 Billion in cuts from last year's budget. "I voted for H.R. 1 because it was an important and necessary step to reach our ultimate goal of passing a budget for the remainder of the fiscal year," Murkowski said. "The package is clearly not the bill I would have written, but I felt it was essential to send a s… Continue Reading

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03.08.11

Murkowski: Proposed SPR Sell-Off is Political Shortcut

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding calls to raid the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to attempt to lower rising oil prices: "The SPR is our nation's insurance policy against serious disruptions in oil supply. It is not a political lever to be pulled when rising prices at the gas pump demonstrate our lack of a coherent energy policy. Right now, we do not face a supply crisis, but we could very well in the near future i… Continue Reading