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 Announces $19.1 Million for Alaskans Facing High Energy Costs
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Alaska $11.2 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding to help low-income households lower their energy bills this winter, and $7.9 million in LIHEAP funds to help Tribes in Alaska. LIHEAP is a congressionally funded program that provides financial assistance for heating costs for qualifying households. The program is administered at the state level by … Continue Reading
10.23.23
Alaska Delegation Seeks 80-Day Extension of Comment Period for BLM’s Proposed NPR-A Rule
Alaska’s Congressional Delegation today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) requesting an 80-day extension to the current comment deadline for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed rule to impose sweeping restrictions across 13.1 million acres of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) and U.S. Representative Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) requested the extension based on a range of substantive and proc… Continue Reading
10.18.23
Alaska Delegation Welcomes $206 Million DOE Grant Strengthening Alaska’s Electrical Grid Resilience
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska), today welcomed a $206.5 million grant awarded to the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) to build a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) submarine cable between the Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage that will add redundancy to the Alaska Railbelt electrical grid system in the event of disruptive events. The federal funds for the grant were secured by the 2021 Infrastructure Investmen… Continue Reading
10.18.23
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Murkowski, Duckworth Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Medicare Coverage for Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors
Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) re-introduced legislation to ensure breast cancer patients and survivors who have experienced a mastectomy are able to access custom breast prosthetics under Medicare. The Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act would provide coverage for custom fabricated breast prostheses—which, unlike other prosthetic devices, are not currently covered by Medicare—to the more than 100,000 women who undergo mastectomies annually. “Battling breast … Continue Reading
10.17.23
Schatz, Murkowski: More than $2 Million in New Federal Funding to Revitalize, Promote Native Languages
Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, announced more than $2.2 million in new fiscal year 2023 grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education to implement the Native American Language Resource Center Act, legislation led by the Senators and enacted earlier this year. “Culturally-based instruction is critical to promoting and revitalizing Native languages,”… Continue Reading
10.13.23
Delegation Reacts to DOI’s Months-Late Draft Analysis for the Ambler Access Project
Anchorage, AK— U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) today released the following statements after the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) finally released its long-delayed draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the proposed Ambler Access Project (AAP). “This road is guaranteed under federal law and will facilitate access to crucial supplies of copper, cobalt, gallium, germanium, and other mineral… Continue Reading
10.07.23
Senator Murkowski issues statement after terrorist attacks on Israel
Following the horrific terrorist attacks on Israel, Senator Murkowski (Alaska-R) released the following statement: "My heart is heavy for Israel, the families of those who have lost their loved ones, and the hundreds more wounded and reportedly taken hostage in these senseless attacks. I condemn Hamas’ terrorist actions on innocent civilians and call on the international community to join the United States in offering aid to Israel and unequivocally supporting Israel’s right to defend themselve… Continue Reading
10.06.23
Senator Murkowski Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Access to Eating Disorder Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to better support seniors and people who experience disabilities who are struggling with eating disorders. The bipartisan Nutrition CARE Act would expand access to medical care for Medicare beneficiaries with eating disorders by including coverage of outpatient medical nutrition therapy through Medicare Part B, which will provide patients with a more comprehensive, specialized approach to… Continue Reading
10.04.23
Arctic Caucus Co-Chairs Introduce Bill to Strengthen Economic Relationship with Iceland
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Angus King (I-Maine), co-chairs of the Senate Arctic Caucus, have introduced a bill to expand and improve economic ties with Iceland. Currently, Icelanders are not eligible for economic visas to visit and conduct business in the United States, one of the only Arctic nations whose residents face such a barrier. The Nordic Trader and Investor Parity Act would expand access to trade and investment visas for Icelanders, resulting in expand… Continue Reading
09.30.23
Murkowski Votes to Avert Government Shutdown
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 5680, legislation that continues funding for the federal government for the next 47 days while renewing the expiring authorizations of key federal programs. This short-term continuing resolution (CR) passed the Senate by a vote of 88-9 and now goes to the President for signature with just hours left to prevent a federal shutdown. “Today, sanity prevailed. At the last minute, … Continue Reading
09.30.23
Murkowski, Sullivan slam weakest-ever offshore energy plan
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) today slammed the Biden administration for releasing a five-year plan for offshore energy development with a “maximum of three potential lease sales.” The Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Proposed Final Program, which arrives over a year late, has zero lease sales until at least 2025 and would not allow any to be held off the coast of Alaska. “I don’t pretend to understand why the Biden administration prefers energy fr… Continue Reading
09.29.23
Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce Legislation to Spur Hydropower Upgrades
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) introduced legislation that will help ensure that existing hydroelectric facilities are able to continue to provide emissions-free, flexible, and affordable electricity to Alaskan ratepayers. They were also original cosponsors of the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity and River Restoration Act of 2023. The measure is supported by a wide coalition of industry, environmental, and clean energy organizations… Continue Reading
09.28.23
Murkowski Helps Secure Congressional Fix to Protect Hunter Safety and Archery Programs
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today helped secure unanimous consent for the Senate to pass H.R. 5110, the Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act, which would make congressional intent abundantly clear and reverse a misinterpretation of law that is preventing schools from using federal education funds for hunter safety education and archery programs. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a margin of 424-1 yesterday, and next heads to the President’s desk with support fr… Continue Reading
09.27.23
Schatz, Murkowski Lead Oversight Hearing on Water Access in Native Communities
Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, led an oversight hearing titled, “Water as a Trust Resource: Examining Access in Native Communities.” The hearing follows historic investments made by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to address Native communities’ water needs and is part of a hearing series with the Energy and Natural Resources … Continue Reading
09.26.23
Senator Murkowski joins bill ensuring military pay in government shutdown
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) cosponsored legislation today that would guarantee all branches of America’s Armed Forces continue to be paid in case of a government shutdown. With Fiscal Year 2023 ending this Saturday at midnight, and no agreement between the House and Senate to fund government operations before the start of the new fiscal year, S. 2835, the Pay our Military Act of 2023, would appropriate funds to pay the salaries of all Armed Forces, including the Coast Guard. The legis… Continue Reading
09.25.23
Alaska Senators express concern to FTC about potential Albertsons-Kroger merger
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) expressed concerns to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about the Albertsons-Kroger merger. The FTC is overseeing the potential deal. In a letter addressed to FTC Chair Lina Khan, the Senators identified their concerns with the possible compact, including how it would affect consumer prices, the state’s food security, and Alaskan employees and their union contracts. In the letter, the Senators wrote, “We write to express our deep co… Continue Reading
09.19.23
Murkowski, Sullivan Applaud $53 Million in Additional Tribal Broadband Grants
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today acknowledged the announcement of an additional $ 53,959,517 million in federal broadband grants from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP). The grant recipients include Igiugig Village, Alaska Tribal Spectrum, Alaska Village Initiatives, Alutiiq Tribe of Old Harbor, Benhti Economic Development Corporation, Chugachmiut, Huna Totem Corporation, and Yukon… Continue Reading
09.19.23
Murkowski, Durbin Introduce the Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced bipartisan legislation to address the pay gap between clinical and faculty nursing positions—which is the primary economic disincentive fueling the nursing shortage crisis across the country. The Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act is a bipartisan bill that would provide a federal wage differential for the salary gap between clinical nursing and nurse faculty roles—to help fill desperately needed nurs… Continue Reading
09.14.23
Bipartisan, Bicameral Coalition of Lawmakers Calls for Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act to be Included in NDAA
Washington, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today joined a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of colleagues in calling for inclusion of the Reducing Exposure to Burn Pits Act in the final version of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (NDAA). The bipartisan provision, which was included in the Senate-passed NDAA, builds upon the Honoring our PACT Act and would help protect servicemembers from exposure to toxic substances. The bipartisan coalition calling for the… Continue Reading
09.08.23
Murkowski Steps Up Fight to Defend Funding for School Archery and Hunter Safety Education
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) this week cosponsored two measures that support students and schools with archery and hunter safety education. The bills would make congressional intent abundantly clear for the Biden administration, which is misinterpreting a provision of federal law to prevent schools from using federal education funds for hunter safety education and archery programs. “Hunting is a way of life in Alaska. It’s how many of us fill our freezers with healthy protein for the winte… Continue Reading
