08.03.26

Murkowski, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Increase Access to High Quality Health Care In Remote And Rural Areas

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Reauthorization Act, which will increase access to high-quality health care in hard-to-reach areas. The bill reauthorizes funding for an innovative medical education program that deploys interactive videoconferencing to link specialist teams with primary care providers in rural areas, helping … Continue Reading

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07.30.26

Murkowski and Colleagues Advance Legislation to Block Department of Education Interagency Agreements

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today joined Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)—all members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee—in voting to advance S. 5046, legislation they introduced to block certain Interagency Agreements issued by the Department of Education that would transfer critical offices and programs to other federal agencies that lack the staff and expertise needed to execute their missions. Senators Maggie … Continue Reading

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07.30.26

Murkowski, Merkley Continue Oversight of Restoring NSF Ocean Monitoring Systems

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) pressed the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide an update on the agency’s plans to redeploy vital Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) sensors. The bipartisan letter follows the Senators securing a commitment from NSF to pause its planned removal of the OOI sensors, a complex system of 900 ocean monitoring instruments that provides crucial data for coastal communities, fishermen, and nationwide emergen… Continue Reading

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07.29.26

Murkowski’s Geese House Legislation Advances from Committee

Washington, DC—Earlier today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee favorably reported S. 4399, Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) legislation to convey the Geese House site from the National Park Service to Doyon, Limited. The bill would transfer ownership to Doyon to ensure that the culturally significant site is managed by and for the Athabascan people of the region. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) is cosponsoring the legislation and Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) has introduced companio… Continue Reading

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07.22.26

Senator Murkowski Applauds DOJ Settlement Resolution Supporting Alaska Native Healthcare System

Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, welcomed the resolution of a longstanding legal dispute between the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) and the federal government, which will provide $400 million, plus approximately $63 million in interest, to address improperly withheld contract support cost reimbursements under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA). The settlement resolves … Continue Reading

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07.22.26

Murkowski and Colleagues Lead Efforts to Bolster Made-In-America Hydropower

Washington, D.C.-Yesterday, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) introduced the “Hydropower Licensing Affordability Act.” This bill will reform the Federal Power Act to reduce delays and costs of hydropower licensing. Specifically, the bill would limit Section 4 (e) and Section 18 mandatory conditioning of hydropower licenses under the Federal Power Act to those conditions that are related to “direct adverse effects” of the project. “Throughou… Continue Reading

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07.17.26

Murkowski, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Boost Health Care Workforce

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act, legislation to address health care workforce shortages in Virginia and across the country. The bill would help internationally educated health care professionals overcome common barriers to entering the health care workforce in the United States. “Many of our rural communiti… Continue Reading

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07.16.26

Landless Bill Advances from Senate Committee

Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today announced that her bill allowing five Alaska Native communities to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) passed out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) by voice vote. The legislation, which would remedy a decades-long inequity for Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Tenakee, now heads to the Senate floor for consideration. Senator Murkowski’s… Continue Reading

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07.16.26

Murkowski, Schatz Introduce Major Legislative Package to Support Native Children, Families, and Communities

Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai?i), Vice Chairman of the Committee, introduced the Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act (S.4976), a comprehensive legislative package aimed at advancing the well-being and future opportunities of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children. A culmination of Senator Murkowski’s longstanding commitment to improving outcomes fo… Continue Reading

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07.10.26

Delegation Welcomes Corps Permit for King Cove Road

Anchorage, AK—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich (all R-Alaska) today applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) approval of a permit to facilitate construction of a life-saving road between the isolated community of King Cove, Alaska and nearby Cold Bay. The one-lane gravel connector will provide reliable transportation access from King Cove to Cold Bay, which is home to an all-weather airport. “This is more good news for King Cove and all who ca… Continue Reading

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06.25.26

Murkowski, Hickenlooper Move to Reauthorize Cost-Effective Geological Mapping

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI), a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) program that improves understanding of geologic hazards, critical mineral, geothermal, and other subsurface resources across the country. Since its launch in 2019, Earth MRI has accelerated project timelines, reduced exploration risk, and lowered costs by making foundational geologic informati… Continue Reading

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06.24.26

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 this week, 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 passed the Senate in March, was amended in the Hous… Continue Reading

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06.18.26

Murkowski on Iran MOU

Washington, DC - Following today’s Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement: “This week’s Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran is a welcome step away from war, but it is also just a first step, and a final agreement may prove difficult to reach over the next 60 days. While it is significant that the Strait of Hormuz will be open, I share the apprehensions of many of my colleagues… Continue Reading

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06.18.26

Murkowski, Merkley Secure Commitment to Preserve U.S. Ocean Monitoring System

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) announced the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is pausing its planned removal of the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s (OOI) sensors. NSF’s decision came after Murkowski and Merkley passed a Senate bill to prohibit the NSF from dismantling the OOI system. “The National Science Foundation’s decision to leave the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s buoys in place is a massive win for coastal communities and fish… Continue Reading

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06.18.26

Murkowski and Sullivan Welcome Funding for Fisheries

Washington, DC—Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) welcomed the announcement of roughly $99 million in funding allocated for Alaska fishery disasters from the U.S. Department of Commerce. This is a step toward funding for three Alaska fisheries that experienced disasters from 2022-2024. NOAA Fisheries will now work with the State of Alaska and Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to develop a spend plan. “Our fishing industry is part of the beating heart of coastal… Continue Reading

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06.17.26

Murkowski Welcomes Advancement of ALS Research Treatments Legislation from Committee

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP), welcomed the advancement of her Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act (ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act) of 2026. The legislation, co-led by Chris Coons (D-DE) and approved unanimously by the committee, will help people living with ALS continue to access promising treatments while further advancing the scientific understa… Continue Reading

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06.16.26

Murkowski: “It is hard right now. Every Alaskan is feeling it.”

Washington, DC— Yesterday, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) spoke on the Senate floor highlighting the impacts the Iran conflict has had on energy markets and prices, particularly in rural Alaska. Watch the speech here. Transcript As Delivered Madam President, like so many across the Senate, really, across the country, I think we've all been watching the news this weekend to see whether or not we would have an announcement from the Trump administration on a possible agreement to reopen the … Continue Reading

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06.15.26

Murkowski, Merkley, Lead Bipartisan Push to Protect U.S. Ocean Monitoring Systems

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a bipartisan group of Senators to demand the National Science Foundation (NSF) halt its plans to dismantle the vital Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a complex system of 900 ocean monitoring instruments that provides crucial data for coastal communities, fishermen, and nationwide emergency preparedness. “Eliminating most of this complex ocean monitoring system threatens the safety of our coastal commu… Continue Reading

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06.15.26

Following Murkowski, Shaheen Request, Inspector General Finds Millions in Family Planning Commodities Wasted

Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, June 11, 2026, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Inspector General (OIG) Management Advisory was issued in response to a December 2025 request from U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The advisory found that approximately $8 million in U.S.-funded family planning commodities were wasted after being moved from climate-controlled storage and warned that a… Continue Reading

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06.11.26

Water Power Bill Moved from Committee

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) passed the Fair Licensing for Operations of Water Structures (FLOWS) Act led by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME). The FLOWS Act will streamline routine updates for existing hydropower facilities and establish a commonsense licensing pathway for next generation water power technologies. “For Alaska, hydropower is essential,” said Senator Murkowski. “So often, our hydro operators face… Continue Reading