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 Remarks on Nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today spoke from the Senate floor on her opposition to Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court. The following are excerpts from Sen. Murkowski's speech and her entire remarks, as prepared for delivery, are attached. On Elena Kagan's failure to answer questions on the Second Amendment in her confirmation hearings: "The conclusion I draw from all of this is that Ms. Kagan is at best uninterested in the Second Amendment at this point in… Continue Reading
08.03.10
Sen. Murkowski Comments on Delay for Oil Spill Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commented on the short life of Majority Leader Reid's thrown-together energy bill. The Majority Leader kept up the highly partisan nature of the bill's development and announced its demise after meeting with members of the Democratic caucus. "Sen. Reid is predictably blaming Republicans for standing in the way of a bill that he threw together in secret and without input from almost any other member of the Senate. Process alone guaran… Continue Reading
08.02.10
Murkowski-Boxer Legislation to Extend Moratorium on Discharge Permits for Commercial Vessels Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation to extend the current moratorium on a permit requirement for commercial and charter fishing vessels and other commercial vessels under 79 feet long, sponsored by U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Barbara Boxer, D-California, has been signed into law. The bill, signed by President Obama late Friday, provides these commercial vessels a three-year moratorium extension from permits for discharges under the Clean Water Act. Two years ago, in the 110th Congress,… Continue Reading
07.29.10
Murkowski Comments on Additional F-22 Raptors Headed for Elmendorf
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed news of the Air Force's announced intention to transfer six additional F-22 Raptors and 102 personnel to Elmendorf Air Force Base as part of a larger national realignment of F-22 assets. "After a rigorous and objective selection process, the Air Force has determined that it is in our nation's security interest to bring an additional six F-22 Raptors to Elmendorf. This decision confirms that Alaska continues to be one of the … Continue Reading
07.29.10
Murkowski Statement on C-17 Crash at Elmendorf
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after learning of the crash of an Air Force C-17 cargo plane at Elmendorf Air Force Base Wednesday evening: "I am deeply saddened by the news of this terrible accident," Murkowski said. "Incidents like this remind us that whether in training or in battle there is inherent danger in the warrior's profession. We must never forget that their's is a life of selfless sacrifice in defense of our freedom. I u… Continue Reading
07.27.10
Murkowski: Congress Clears Yukon Salmon Disaster Relief Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House has passed a 2010 supplemental appropriations bill that includes $5 million requested by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to help mitigate the Yukon River Chinook salmon fishery failure. The bill now goes to the White House for President Obama's signature. The $58.8 billion supplemental bill, which cleared the Senate in May, provides funding to pay for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief fund and s… Continue Reading
07.27.10
Murkowski Statement on DISCLOSE Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after voting against proceeding to debate on the DISCLOSE Act. Introduced following the Supreme Court's holding in the Citizens United case, the DISCLOSE Act would impose stringent rules on campaign advertising paid for by corporations, unions and other interest groups. The bill would also prohibit contributions to campaigns from overseas corporations that have received government assistance. Today's Se… Continue Reading
07.26.10
Murkowski Calls for Full Safety Review of Alaska Oil Pipeline
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today called on the president of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. to undertake a safety review of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline to ensure that it can continue to supply America with North Slope oil for decades to come. "The integrity of the trans-Alaska pipeline is vital to both the economy of the state and our nation's energy security," Murkowski said. "It's imperative that we have the highest level of confidence in Alyeska's maintenance of t… Continue Reading
07.22.10
Murkowski Comments on EPA Regulation of Leaded Aviation Fuel
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that any new regulations on leaded aviation fuel under the Clean Air Act are implemented in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aviation stakeholders and that no changes be implemented until an alternative aviation fuel can be developed and tested. The EPA has formally begun a regulatory process under the Clean Air Act which may result in standards … Continue Reading
07.22.10
Murkowski, Landrieu, 22 other Senators Call for Revenue Sharing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, today sent a letter to their colleagues in the U.S. Senate urging them to support revenue sharing for energy production on the outer continental shelf (OCS), ensuring coastal states, including Alaska and the Gulf states, receive a fair share of the revenue from oil and gas production off of their coastlines. "We are united in our position that any production in federal waters must include a program in which … Continue Reading
07.22.10
Murkowski Comments on EPA Regulation of Leaded Aviation Fuel
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that any new regulations on leaded aviation fuel under the Clean Air Act are implemented in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aviation stakeholders and that no changes be implemented until an alternative aviation fuel can be developed and tested. The EPA has formally begun a regulatory process under the Clean Air Act which may result in standards … Continue Reading
07.22.10
Senators Urge Interior Secretary Salazar to Resume and Expedite Shallow Water Drilling Permits
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators, led by Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.), urged the Department of the Interior to resume and expedite consideration of shallow water drilling applications and to provide adequate guidance to those seeking new permits. Hutchison and Landrieu were joined by Sens. Wicker (R-Miss.), Cochran (R-Miss.), Vitter (R-La.), Cornyn (R-Texas), Sessions (R-Ala.), Murkowski (R-Alaska), Begich (D-Alaska), and Shelby (R-Ala.)… Continue Reading
07.22.10
Delegation Calls on Homeland Security Secretary to Request Replacement of the Lost HH-60 Helicopter
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska's congressional delegation today wrote to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano urging her to request funding to replace the recently lost HH-60 helicopter from Air Station Sitka. The request comes in the wake of the recent HH-60 crash in which three Coast Guard personnel were killed. The crew and helicopter were based in Sitka. The crash occurred in waters near James Island near La Push, Washington. The Alaska congressional delegation extend… Continue Reading
07.21.10
Murkowski: Tribal Law and Order Act Clears Congress, Awaits President’s Signature
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced that the Tribal Law and Order Act is now on its way to the White House for President Obama's signature following House passage of the legislation today. The bill, which passed the Senate last month, would improve law enforcement and the justice system on Indian reservations in the Lower 48. Murkowski, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, secured several provisions in the bill that would address the lack of la… Continue Reading
07.20.10
Murkowski on Unemployment Insurance Extension Vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after voting against a procedural motion to end debate on legislation to extend unemployment benefits and move to a final vote. The motion passed 60 - 40, and the Senate could vote on final passage later today. "Republicans agree that we should extend unemployment insurance benefits, but we must find a way to pay for them, rather than adding the $33 billion in costs to our already staggering federal de… Continue Reading
07.19.10
Sens. Murkowski and Bayh Call For Support of Rare Earth Projects in DOE Loan Guarantee Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Evan Bayh, D-Indiana, today sent a letter to Secretary Chu urging him to expeditiously consider loan guarantee applications to rebuild America's rare earth supply chain and manufacturing sector. The bipartisan letter, signed by 20 senators, applauded the Department of Energy for their commitment to developing a long-term strategy to ensure a stable and adequate supply of rare earths. It also asked the Department to consider utilizing t… Continue Reading
07.15.10
Murkowski Votes for Federal Spending Cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today supported a plan by fellow Republican members of the Senate Appropriations Committee that would have taken a first step towards significantly reducing federal spending in the fiscal year that begins October 1, 2010. The Republican proposal sought to slow the growth of federal spending by slashing $20 billion from President Obama's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2011, essentially freezing discretionary spending at last year's levels. … Continue Reading
07.15.10
Murkowski Opposes Financial Regulatory Reform Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after voting against the financial regulatory reform bill, which passed the Senate 60 - 39: "Everyone agrees that reform of Wall Street is necessary, but this legislation doesn't do that. It is disturbing to me that this bill has garnered the support of the very banks that helped bring on the financial disaster and is opposed by the community banks, credit unions and small businesses that had nothing t… Continue Reading
07.15.10
Sen. Murkowski Comments on the Passing of Maurice “Mo” Bailey
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement upon learning of the passing of Maurice "Mo" Bailey, founder of Veterans Aviation Outreach, president of Vietnam Veterans of America Mat-Su Chapter 903 and 2007 recipient of the Alaska Governor's Veterans Advocacy Award: "I am profoundly saddened by the loss of my dear friend, Maurice "Mo" Bailey, who will long be remembered as one of Alaska's most significant veterans' leaders. Mo reminded us through h… Continue Reading
07.14.10
Senate Passes Murkowski-Boxer Legislation to Extend Moratorium on Discharge Permits for Commercial Vessels
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation that would extend the current moratorium on a permit requirement for commercial and charter fishing vessels and other commercial vessels under 79 feet long, sponsored by U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Barbara Boxer, D-California, passed the Senate tonight by unanimous consent. The bill would provide these commercial vessels a three-year moratorium extension from permits for discharges under the Clean Water Act. Two years ago, in the 110th Congress, bipa… Continue Reading
