07.07.10

Murkowski Comments on Donald Berwick Recess Appointment

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commented on the White House recess appointment of Donald Berwick to be Director of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): "Appointing Donald Berwick before the Senate even holds a hearing on his confirmation represents breath-taking arrogance on the part of President Obama. This year, CMS will disburse $803 billion in benefits - making the agency larger than the economies of Denmark, South Africa and Israel combined. … Continue Reading

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07.04.10

Sen. Murkowski’s Independence Day Message

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In observance of Independence Day, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement: "July 4th is a day when all Alaskans join together in celebrating what makes America great. From the panhandle to the Arctic, we mark Independence Day with community gatherings, parades and picnics. As we come together today, let us remember that the freedoms we enjoy as Americans are not free. The men and women of our armed forces put their lives on the line daily to ensure… Continue Reading

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07.02.10

Murkowski to Oppose Kagan Nomination

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that she intends to oppose the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the United States Supreme Court: "Over the past week I think those who followed the hearings came to appreciate Ms. Kagan's talents as a law teacher. She has a great command of Supreme Court precedents and strived to explain them in plain language. Yet, as Ms. Kagan acknowledges, the cases that come before the Supreme Court are difficult in nature… Continue Reading

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07.01.10

Proposed Changes to Sealaska Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following a dozen town meetings and the review of hundreds of comments and suggestions, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski today presented her recommendations for changes in a bill to permit the Sealaska Native Regional Corp. to finalize its ANCSA land selections in Southeast Alaska. Murkowski is proposing a major rewrite of the bill, removing all lands on northern Prince of Wales Island from possible timber selection to meet the concerns of Port Protection and Point Baker residents.… Continue Reading

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07.01.10

Alaska and Hawaii Senators Disappointed that No Field Hearings on Postal Service Five-Day Delivery Proposal Will Be Held in Their States

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Mark Begich, Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka today expressed their disappointment that the Postal Regulatory Commission is unable to schedule field hearings in Alaska and Hawaii on a Postal Service proposal to reduce mail delivery to five days a week. The Commission has held hearings in seven cities in the Lower 48 on the proposal. In a letter last month to Ruth Y. Goldway, Chairman of the Commission, the senators said that mail delivery is differen… Continue Reading

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06.30.10

Sen. Murkowski Welcomes Board's Decision on Yucca Mountain

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, applauded yesterday's decision of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board denying the Department of Energy's motion to withdraw its application for a high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. "This decision affirms what many of us have long suspected - that the Department of Energy does not have the authority to withdraw the license application," Murkowski said. "The department did their p… Continue Reading

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06.30.10

VA Offers Service Medallions for Grave Markers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that it will soon make available, at no cost, bronze medallions which can be affixed to privately purchased headstones or grave markers of Veterans who died on or after November 1, 1990, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said today. According to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, families of veterans who are not buried in a national or state Veterans cemetery will be able to obtain the medallion which will recognize the deceas… Continue Reading

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06.30.10

Murkowski Comments on Confirmation of Gen. Petraeus

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following comment after the Senate voted unanimously to confirm Gen. David Petraeus to command U.S. forces in Afghanistan: "I am pleased that President Obama selected Gen. David Petraeus to advance our vital mission in Afghanistan. There is no doubt that the road to success in Afghanistan has been, and continues to be, difficult. But Gen. Petraeus proved his ability to roll back an insurgency during the 2007 force build-up in… Continue Reading

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06.29.10

Sen. Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Help Spill Victims in the Gulf

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has introduced legislation to address a number of pressing issues raised by the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, including a provision to expedite payments to those most affected by the spill. The Oil Spill Compensation Act of 2010 would authorize the president to set the strict liability cap for offshore oil and gas projects on a case-by-case basis at the time of lease using a set of criteria, including a company's safety record a… Continue Reading

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06.28.10

Murkowski Applauds Supreme Court Ruling on Gun Owner Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the United States Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, struck down Chicago's handgun ban as an unconstitutional encroachment on right to keep and bear arms. The Court held that firearm possession is a fundamental constitutional right. Therefore, courts across the land are empowered to strike down state and local weapon laws that infringe on this basic right. Murkowski had signed a friend-of-the-court b… Continue Reading

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06.28.10

Murkowski Remembers Sen. Robert Byrd

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following comment on the passing of U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia: "It is a sad day in the Senate for we have lost an institutional legend, West Virginia's Robert C. Byrd, our Nation's longest serving Senator. A giant of the Senate, he was a staunch protector of its constitutional role and prerogatives and always kept a copy of the United States Constitution in his breast pocket, closest to his heart. A son of the de… Continue Reading

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06.25.10

Murkowski Calls For Greater Icebreaker Capacity After Coast Guard Announces Loss of U.S. Icebreaker Capability

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Coast Guard today told Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, that the U.S. Coast Guard Icebreaker POLAR SEA, the nation's only functioning heavy icebreaker, will be unavailable for service until at least January 2011 due to engine problems. As a result, the Coast Guard has had to cancel a scheduled fall 2010 Arctic patrol and likely will have to cancel other missions through January 2011. "On a national level, this eliminates the nation's only heavy icebreaking capability and … Continue Reading

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06.24.10

Murkowski Announces Senate Passage of Tribal Law and Order Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that the Senate has passed the Tribal Law and Order Act. The legislation, which passed the Senate Wednesday night by unanimous consent, 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, included several provisions in the bill that would address the lack of law enforcement in Alaska's rural communities. One of he… Continue Reading

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06.24.10

Murkowski on Iran Sanctions Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, made the following comment today after the Senate voted 99 - 0 in favor of a bill - the 'Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act' - that would impose tougher economic sanctions against people or businesses that do business with Iran. "On June 9th the United Nations Security Council, in a divided vote, adopted a series of compromise sanctions intended to persuade Iran to end the efforts to develop nuclear weapons tec… Continue Reading

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06.23.10

Murkowski Slams New Health Car Law, Urges Repeal

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today again called on Congress to repeal the new health care law and replace it with reforms that will drive down premiums and allow Americans to exercise more control over their health benefits. "This law is not what the American people wanted and it's not what our president promised," Murkowski said in a speech on the floor of the United States Senate. "I believe that the legislation has to be repealed and it's got to be replaced with sen… Continue Reading

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06.23.10

Murkowski Comments on Petraeus Appointment

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after President Obama announced that he had chosen General David Petraeus to replace Stanley McChrystal as the top U.S. general in Afghanistan: "I support the President's authority to make this decision, and now we must re-focus our efforts on winning the war in Afghanistan. General Petraeus has a proven track record of leadership in the war on terror and is widely respected. Gen. Petraeus has a diffic… Continue Reading

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06.22.10

Sen. Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Promote Domestic Production of Rare Earth Elements

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced legislation to promote the domestic production of rare earth elements crucial to the high-tech and clean energy industries. The Rare Earth Supply Technology and Resources Transformation (RESART) Act would help the United States regain its position as a leader in the mining and processing of rare earths elements. "America's growing reliance on foreign minerals endangers our efforts to advance cleaner energy," Murkowski said… Continue Reading

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06.22.10

Sen. Murkowski’s Opening Statement at Electric Vehicles Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following opening remarks at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on federal support for the development of electric vehicles: "Good morning, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for holding this hearing. As you noted, we're here to consider legislation that would promote electric vehicles through a number of new plans and programs, and by significantly increasing federal support for everything from charging stati… Continue Reading

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06.20.10

Sen. Murkowski Discusses the Gulf Coast Oil Spill and Energy Policy on CNN's "State of the Union"

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural resources, appeared on CNN's, "State of the Union," with Candy Crowley this morning. The following are excerpts from the interview: On the DNC's BP ad and Rep. Barton's remarks: "The statement that Representative Barton made was wrong. Absolutely wrong. He has since apologized for it. But for the White House, for the Administration to be kind of running with this as th… Continue Reading

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06.18.10

Sens. Murkowski and Burr Urge Administration to Commit All Available Resources to Gulf Spill Cleanup

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, today sent a letter asking the Obama administration what steps it was taking to ensure that all offers by foreign oil-spill response vessels to help clean up the spill in the Gulf of Mexico were accepted. Murkowski and Burr said they are concerned with reports that foreign vessels, including oil skimmers and specialized dredging ships, are being turned away from the Gulf because they lack a waiver to… Continue Reading