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 Espouses Nuclear Energy’s Potential Benefits for Alaska
Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) discussed the potential of nuclear energy to provide low-cost, reliable power to communities across Alaska with subject-matter experts before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR). During the hearing, the senator spoke on the record with Theodore Garrish, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and Dr. John Wagner, Director of Idaho National Laboratory (INL), about the potential depl… Continue Reading
03.18.26
Alaska Delegation Celebrates Largest-Ever NPR-A Lease Sale
Washington, DC— U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today celebrated the results of the most successful oil and gas lease sale ever held in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). The delegation mandated the sale, the first held in the NPR-A since 2019, through last year’s budget reconciliation bill. According to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the sale was “exceptionally competitive” drawing 430 bids on nearly 200 tracts acr… Continue Reading
03.17.26
Murkowski and Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Help Students Better Connect with Higher Education Funding
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced legislation to help young people pursuing higher education afford college. The State Based Education Loan Awareness Act would make it easier for higher education institutions to inform students of financial aid opportunities offered by non-profit, state agency lenders. “Paying for college is already complicated and expensive for students and their families,”… Continue Reading
03.13.26
Murkowski Supports Bipartisan Housing Package
Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, a bipartisan legislative package designed to increase housing supply, reduce costs, and strengthen federal housing programs nationwide. The legislation incorporates provisions from bipartisan housing proposals previously considered by Congress and represents one of the most significant federal housing packages in decades. The bill now goes to the House for consideration. “Housing affordabil… Continue Reading
03.12.26
Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Help Alaska’s Public School Staffing Shortage
Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation to help ensure Alaska’s students continue to have access to qualified teachers. Senator Murkowski’s bill would exempt public schools from the new $100,000 fee for each H-1B visa imposed last year by President Trump. Many of Alaska’s school districts have relied on this program to help address persistent teacher shortages across the state. “As soon as this proclamation was released last year, I sounded the alarm w… Continue Reading
03.10.26
Murkowski, Sullivan Announce $629 Million Funding to Boost Alaska’s Internet Connectivity
Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) welcomed the approval of Alaska’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), including more than $629 million in initial deployment awards to expand broadband access across the state. These investments will help narrow the digital divide in unserved and underserved communities and expand the economic opportunities that relia… Continue Reading
03.10.26
Murkowski, Baldwin Bill to Protect Coastal Communities Passes Out of Senate
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced their Digital Coast Act reauthorization passed out of the Senate. This bipartisan bill will help coastal communities better prepare for storms, cope with varying water levels, and plan for future economic development. The bill reauthorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Digital Coast Program, which Murkowski and Baldwin previously spearheaded efforts to reestablish the program i… Continue Reading
03.04.26
Senator Murkowski Opposes War Powers Resolution
Washington, DC— Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement regarding her vote on Senate Joint Resolution 104: “We in Congress can debate the merits of the War Powers Act, but the hard reality is that the President has committed U.S. troops to active engagement in combat with an enemy that has targeted and killed Americans for decades. We have lost six soldiers in this fight with the potential for more casualties. What our troops need now is for our Congress, and … Continue Reading
03.04.26
Murkowski, Merkley Send Letter Urging Department of Ed to Help Address Rural Nursing Shortage
Washington, DC—Earlier this week, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) sent a letter to Nicholas Kent, the Under Secretary of Education, calling on him to categorize all post-baccalaureate nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, PhD) as “professional degrees.” This comes in response to a proposed regulation that would prevent students seeking advanced degrees in nursing from accessing the full amount of federal student aid that many of these students need to complete their degrees. “N… Continue Reading
02.26.26
Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce Legislation to Bolster Alaska’s Tsunami Preparedness
Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK), along with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), introduced legislation that would strengthen infrastructure and warning systems for tsunamis in Alaska and across the country. The Tsunami Warning, Research, and Education Act of 2026 would reauthorize the Tsunami Warning and Education Act for five years. “When it comes to tsunamis in coastal Alaska, the difference between extreme danger and safety can be a matter of moment… Continue Reading
02.25.26
Murkowski and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Advance Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), with Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to strengthen marine carbon dioxide removal research and development in the United States. The Removing and Sequestering Carbon Unleashed in the Environment and Oceans Act (ReSCUE Oceans Act) would establish the United States as a leader in marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) research, … Continue Reading
02.24.26
ICYMI: Murkowski Helps Pass Legislation Addressing Affordability and Transparency in Health and Reauthorizing Key Programs
Washington, DC — Earlier this week, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) helped pass H.R. 7148, which includes legislation that extends critical healthcare and public health programs and implements long sought after health policy reforms. The bill includes a multitude of critical “health extenders” designed to reauthorize key public health programs and Medicare/ Medicaid payment policies, including an extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027. It also includes new re… Continue Reading
02.23.26
Murkowski: “I support voter ID — but oppose the SAVE America Act”
Washington, DC—In an opinion piece published in the Anchorage Daily News today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) expressed her support for voter ID but explained why she will not support the SAVE America Act. Senator Murkowski outlined why the bill would be difficult to implement in states like Alaska—especially in time for elections this year. The full piece can be viewed here at the Anchorage Daily News or read below. I support voter ID — but oppose the SAVE America Act By Lisa Murkows… Continue Reading
02.21.26
Alaska Delegation Commends Revocation of PLOs 5150, 5180
Anchorage, AK—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today released the following statements of support after the Department of the Interior (Interior) announced the partial revocation of Public Land Orders (PLO) 5150 and 5180. This decision will open up 2.1 million acres of land within the Dalton Utility Corridor north of the Yukon River, nearly all of which the State of Alaska has “top-filed” to fulfill its outstanding land entitlement und… Continue Reading
02.10.26
Murkowski, King Lead Bipartisan Delegation to Greenland to Show Respect and Support for Long-time Arctic Ally
Washington, DC— U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME), Co-Chairs of the U.S. Senate Arctic Caucus, led a bipartisan Congressional Delegation mission to Greenland this past weekend to reinforce relations and respect with the people of the Arctic nation. The trip comes as the American administration has threatened to annex, buy or otherwise take over the island nation. Together with Arctic Caucus and national security committee members Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and Maggie Has… Continue Reading
02.04.26
Murkowski Congratulates Aaron Peterson – Alaska’s New Federal Judge – on Senate Confirmation
Washington, DC— Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted to confirm Aaron Christian Peterson to be a U.S. District Judge for the District of Alaska. Peterson was confirmed by a bipartisan 58-39 vote. Senator Murkowski released the following statement in response: “I congratulate soon-to-be-Judge Peterson and am pleased that we have finally filled one of Alaska’s District Court vacancies. I look forward to Mr. Peterson hitting the ground running to help an overworked court, while working … Continue Reading
02.03.26
Murkowski Highlights Wide-Ranging Wins for Alaska in Appropriations Package
Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) celebrated major Alaska priorities she successfully secured in the final appropriations “minibus” bill that completes five of the final six spending bills to fully fund the government. H.R. 7148 includes the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) appropriations bill; the FY26 Defense appropriations bill; the FY26 Transportation, Housing, Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill; the FY26 Financ… Continue Reading
02.03.26
Senator Murkowski Addresses Alaska Native Health Outcomes with NIH Director
Washington, DC— Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, engaged with National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jayanta Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, on health outcome disparities facing Alaska Native communities. The exchange built on a previous conversation on what more NIH can do to improve health outcomes in Native communities and the federal trust responsibility the NIH has to Tribal nations. Senator Murkowski’s ex… Continue Reading
01.27.26
Murkowski Begins FY27 Funding Work with Alaskans on Critical Projects Around the State
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is now accepting appropriations requests from Alaskans for programmatic funding and Congressionally Direct Spending (CDS) in Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) through the next month. The appropriations request portal on her website opened on January 26, 2026, and will remain open until February 27, 2026, at 11:59 PM AKST. The February 27, 2026, deadline applies only to the CDS requests. The submission window for programmatic appropriations requests will… Continue Reading
01.22.26
Senator Murkowski And Colleagues Lead on Legislation to Bolster Hydropower
Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has introduced two new measures to help unleash hydropower and marine energy’s full potential. The Fair Licensing for Operations of Water Structures (FLOWS) Act, which was introduced with Senator Angus King (I-ME), provides common sense permitting reform for hydropower and marine energy projects by reducing administrative burdens on project developers and accelerating federal decision-making on licensing. The Water Power Research and Developmen… Continue Reading
