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.
Murkowski: Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Bill Includes Provisions Important to Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced today that the Senate passed a $34.5 billion Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that contains several provisions important to Alaska, including one that would help ensure continued operation of Alaska flight service stations. Flight service stations provide vital air traffic and weather information to pilots. In the Lower 48, flight service stations are run by a single private contractor, while in Alaska, the FAA… Continue Reading
03.21.10
Murkowski Issues Health Care Statement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement tonight after the House of Representatives passed health care legislation: "Proponents of the partisan health care bill say that the public will like the bill once it is passed. Will they like the fact that Americans will have to pay four years of taxes before they get the benefits? That's like making mortgage payments for four years before you can move into your new home. Will they like that the legislation c… Continue Reading
03.18.10
Murkowski Reacts to House Health Care Strategy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement today on the unveiling of the revised Democratic health care bill, the latest CBO estimate of the measure and the U.S. House of Representatives' strategy regarding passage of the legislation. The legislation also includes another major government takeover - this one aimed at the federal student loan program. "The Senate-passed health care bill was bad enough, with its half trillion dollars in Medicare cuts and… Continue Reading
03.18.10
Murkowski Remarks to Arctic Parliamentarians Group
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today addressed the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region during the group's meeting in Washington. The Conference of Arctic Parliamentarians is the larger body of legislators and NGOs from around the Arctic and the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region is the head of that body. Every two years the Arctic Parliamentarians hold a conference on relevant issues important to all the Arctic nations. Be… Continue Reading
03.17.10
Murkowski Comments on Administration’s Proposed Overhaul of No Child Left Behind
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today raised questions about the administration's proposed reform of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), saying proposals to help the lowest-performing schools improve won't work in states with lots of rural and remote communities such as Alaska. Murkowski made her comments at a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing to consider the administration's recently released NCLB reform blueprint. Education Secretary… Continue Reading
03.17.10
Murkowski Responds to Auto Industry Letter
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement in response to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers' letter regarding Environmental Protection Agency climate regulations: "Two weeks ago, it was reported that automakers were pressured to weigh in against the bipartisan, bicameral disapproval resolutions that have been introduced to halt EPA climate regulations. Today, we see a letter that stems from that pressure," Murkowski said. Before the cur… Continue Reading
03.17.10
Murkowski Blasts Army Corps of Engineers for Refusal to Re-Evaluate NPR-A Permit
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today criticized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for refusing to reconsider its denial of ConocoPhillips' permit to place fill for a bridges and road to the CD-5 drill pad in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell had earlier this month requested the Corps re-evaluate its decision on the permit. The Anchorage commander of the Corps denied the Governor's request. "I'm disappointed that the Corps continues to… Continue Reading
03.16.10
Murkowski Congratulates Lance Mackey and His Team on Winning the Iditarod
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today congratulated Lance Mackey and his team on winning their fourth Iditarod Sled Dog Trail Race: "I congratulate Lance and his team on their fourth consecutive win of Alaska's last great race. From cancer, to blowing snow, to frigid temperatures, Lance continues to demonstrate the tenacity and drive needed to win under the toughest of conditions. His team of four-legged athletes has performed exceptionally, carrying Lance to an historic … Continue Reading
03.16.10
Murkowski Congratulates Pat Gamble on Being Named President of the University of Alaska System
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement congratulating Pat Gamble on being named President of the University of Alaska System: "From his service in the Air Force, rising to the rank of general, to serving as the chief executive officer of the Alaska Railroad, Pat has a proven track record of leadership from which our university system will greatly benefit," said Murkowski. "I congratulate Pat on his new position and look forward to working wit… Continue Reading
03.16.10
Sen. Murkowski Applauds Permit Extension for Red Dog Mine
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision to grant the owners of the Red Dog Mine in Northwest Alaska a new mining permit. "Today's decision will extend the life of the Red Dog Mine, which provides badly needed jobs and tax revenue for the Northwest Arctic Borough," Murkowski said. I'm happy to see the Corps supporting responsible development in Alaska." The Red Dog Mine, owned by Teck Alaska Inc., a division of Teck Comin… Continue Reading
03.16.10
Murkowski Critical of Efforts to Drop Yucca Mountain from List of Options on Nuclear Energy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following speech on the Senate floor regarding the U.S. Department of Energy's motion to withdraw the Yucca Mountain license application: "Mr. President, recently the Department of Energy submitted a motion to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to withdraw its license application to construct a spent nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain. The latest rationale? Because we need it too much. … Continue Reading
03.12.10
Delegation Meets With NOAA and NMFS Administrators
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Don Young, Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Senator Mark Begich met this morning with Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Eric Schwaab, the Assistant Administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service. This meeting was called to discuss a variety of issues under NOAA's purview that will affect Alaska, including the proposed Critical Habitat for the Cook Inlet beluga whale, the upcoming biological opin… Continue Reading
03.11.10
Murkowski: Three Alaska Female Aviators Recognized for their World War II Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced that three women from Alaska who flew planes during World War II have been honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the United States Congress. About 200 Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, including Ellen Campbell of Juneau, were at the United States Capitol on Wednesday for the medal presentation ceremony. The other two Alaskan WASPs, Virginia Wood and Nancy Baker, both of Fairbanks,… Continue Reading
03.09.10
Murkowski Insists on Regulatory Certainty in Electricity Markets
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today said that Congress must work to provide regulatory certainty to the electricity markets. "It doesn't matter if we're talking about climate change policy, energy legislation or banking reform - stakeholders need to understand what the rules are so they can plan accordingly," Murkowski said. At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the regulation of financial transmission rights and other electricity market mechani… Continue Reading
03.08.10
Murkowski Statement on Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference, issued the following statement in observance of Women's History Month and International Women's Day: "The achievements of women throughout our nation's history remind us that America is a great land of democracy, hope and opportunity. This nation's female trailblazers have transformed our communities, our country and the world for the better. "In my home state of Alaska, we recently cheered o… Continue Reading
03.05.10
Murkowski Sends Flag from U.S. Capitol to BP Ice Art Championships for Display on Ice Flag Pole
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Artists at the 2010 BP Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks will sculpt a 15- foot tall flag pole from ice and display from it a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol sent by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Sen. Murkowski visited the Ice Park while in Fairbanks last month and noticed no flag was flying among the detailed and elaborate carvings. "The BP Ice Art championships have drawn hundreds of competitors to Fairbanks from around the world to show off their talents and skill… Continue Reading
03.04.10
Murkowski Announces Sealaska lands bill Meeting in Ketchikan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced a Ketchikan town meeting on the Sealaska lands bill. The meeting is part of a series held on Prince of Wales Island and in Southeast Alaska the week of March 8. "These meetings will allow those most affected by the Sealaska bill to have their concerns fully heard," Murkowski said. "I'm hopeful this effort will help us improve the legislation." Staff from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee are holding the fol… Continue Reading
03.04.10
Sen. Murkowski Comments on Rockefeller Bill to Delay EPA Climate Regulation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding legislation introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V., to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating stationary sources of greenhouse gases for two years - twice as long as the delay sought by Sen. Murkowski last September: "Senator Rockefeller's legislation is further evidence of the growing, bipartisan, and bicameral resistance to EPA's back-door climate regulatio… Continue Reading
03.04.10
Murkowski Welcomes UAA Climate Science Center
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the announcement of a Climate Science Center at the University of Alaska Anchorage. "Alaska is ground zero for climate change and natural choice for a Climate Science Center," Murkowski said. "I am excited for the new center to build on the work already being done by scientists and researchers at the University of Alaska." Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the University of Alaska Anchorage as the first … Continue Reading
03.03.10
Murkowski Comments on the President’s Latest Health Care Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following comments after President Obama unveiled his latest version of a Democratic health care reform plan: "I was pleased that the President has acknowledged some of the health care reform suggestions raised by Republicans at last week's summit. But the inclusion of these ideas into the President's latest version of health care reform doesn't make this a bipartisan proposal or process that I can support. The proposal under… Continue Reading
