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 Congratulates Senator-Elect Scott Brown on his Victory in Massachusetts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference, issued the following statement regarding Republican Scott Brown's U.S. Senate special election win in Massachusetts: "I congratulate Senator-Elect Scott Brown's impressive victory in the Massachusetts special election. The people of Massachusetts have sent a clear message that they want a representative in Congress who will pull back the government takeover of health care, enact policies to ge… Continue Reading
01.19.10
Alaska Delegation Announces Grants to Alaska Programs
Washington, D.C. - The Alaska Congressional Delegation is pleased to announce the following grants awarded to communities in the State of Alaska: Minerals Management Service: • $2,150,000 to the Alaska Monitoring and Assessment Program, to conduct an environmental monitoring and assessment program survey of the condition of the Chukchi Sea coastal region. Funding provided through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program. U.S. Department of Energy: The following grants were awarded through … Continue Reading
01.18.10
Murkowski Comments on Exxon Tanker Incident in Prince William Sound
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement today regarding the Exxon tanker that lost power Sunday in Prince William Sound and had to be towed to safety by two tugs: "The incident yesterday morning, where a fully laden oil tanker exiting Prince William Sound lost power and had to be towed to safety, is a direct reminder that these incidents still happen and we must maintain the Prince William Sound Dual Escort Vessel Marine Safety System. Even with a… Continue Reading
01.15.10
Murkowski Heads Up Letter To Majority Leader Reid Asking Him to Drop Health Care Provision That Unfairly Targets Small Construction Firms
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, authored a letter signed by 17 other senators that asks Majority Leader Harry Reid to remove a provision from a pending health care bill that unfairly singles out small construction firms. While the Senate-passed health care bill mandates that all small businesses with 50 employees or more provide health care insurance to their employees, the provision under question requires that small businesses in the construction industry with as few as… Continue Reading
01.15.10
Murkowski Welcomes Fisheries Disaster Declaration
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement regarding the announcement by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke that a disaster declaration will be issued for the Yukon River Chinook salmon fishery for 2008 and 2009: "I am pleased that the Department of Commerce has determined a commercial fishery failure for the Yukon River Chinook salmon run. The poor runs in 2008 and 2009 have had a devastating impact on the commercial and subsistence fisheries and the decla… Continue Reading
01.13.10
Murkowski Statement on the Haiti Earthquake
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following comment regarding the devastating earthquake in Haiti: "I am deeply saddened by the news of the devastating earthquake which struck Haiti yesterday and my sincere condolences are with the Haitian people during this difficult time. My heart goes out to the families of those who have died and to those who are still waiting for information on the status of their loved ones. Those with missing family or friends in Haiti… Continue Reading
01.10.10
Murkowski Travels to Afghanistan and Pakistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, met with the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as with senior U.S. military officials over the weekend as part of a congressional delegation trip to the region. According to their itinerary, the lawmakers spent today at several remote desert U.S. and allied forward operating bases in Afghanistan's Helmand Province meeting with British and American military commanders, including U.S. Brigadier General Lawrence Nicholson, Commanding… Continue Reading
01.07.10
Murkowski Comment on EPA Issuance of Air Permits for Chukchi Sea Exploration
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed approval of air-quality permits for Shell's planned exploration of the Chukchi Sea. "The EPA's decision to approve an air-quality permit for Shell's Chukchi Sea exploration have been a long time coming," Murkowski said. "Today's decision represents progress. While several additional hurdles remain, the agency's action offers some reassurance that exploration for oil and gas resou… Continue Reading
01.05.10
Murkowski Announces 2010 Service Academy Nominees
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced she has nominated 43 young Alaskans for appointment to the U.S. military service academies for the class of 2014. "We received numerous applications from talented and gifted students across Alaska. It is unfortunate that there are never enough openings to accommodate all of our nominees," said Murkowski. "These are stellar candidates who have demonstrated excellent leadership capabilities and strength of character. It is a p… Continue Reading
01.05.10
Alaska Students Selected for United States Senate Youth Program
Washington D.C. -- U.S. Sens. Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski today announced that two high school students -- Haley Nelson of Juneau and Anum Qadir of Anchorage -- have been selected as delegates to the 48th Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) to be held March 6-13, 2010, in Washington, D.C. Nelson and Qadir were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be part of the group of 104 student delegates who will attend the week in Washington. In addition, both will receive a $5,000 underg… Continue Reading
12.24.09
Murkowski Votes Against Raising Debt Ceiling
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement regarding her vote on a bill to raise the federal debt ceiling: "Our nation's credit card is maxed out, and while many Alaskans are tightening their belts and cutting back on excess, politicians in Washington are spending like there's no tomorrow. Last year's deficit was $1.4 trillion - the highest level measured against GDP since World War II. Now we are being forced to raise the debt ceiling for the second t… Continue Reading
12.24.09
Murkowski Comments on Passage of Democrats’ Health Care Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voted against the Democrats' $2.5 trillion health care legislation and issued the following statement: "President Obama promised that health care reform would slow the growth of health care costs, reduce premiums and not raise taxes on the middle class. He also said the debate would be open and above board, even broadcast on C-SPAN, though this bill was written in secret, behind the closed doors of the Majority Leader's office. Those … Continue Reading
12.23.09
Murkowski Says Construction Industry Unfairly Singled Out in Health Care Bill and That Oil and Gas Industry Could be Particularly Affected
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, says that the construction industry has been unfairly singled out - and penalized -- in the health care bill that the Senate is expected to pass on Thursday. Murkowski, who plans to oppose the health legislation, said the construction industry provision was tucked deep inside the 2,733-page bill, and apparently had not drawn any scrutiny until she raised it in a floor speech Tuesday evening. Murkowski said she became aware of the provision … Continue Reading
12.21.09
Alaska Delegation Announces Grants to Alaska Programs
Washington, D.C. - The Alaska Congressional Delegation is pleased to announce the following grants awarded to communities in the State of Alaska: National Endowment for the Humanities: $750,000 to the Pratt Museum, of Homer, for capital improvements to expand, preserve, interpret, and share humanities collections. $6,000 to the Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center, Inc., of Haines, for a condition survey of the museum's artifact collection. $5,832 to the Alutiiq Heritage Foundation, of Kodi… Continue Reading
12.19.09
Murkowski Comments on Unveiling of Final Democrat Health Care Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement today regarding the Majority Leader's unveiling of the final Democrat health care package: "The Majority Leader has finally unveiled his manager's amendment that only a handful of Democrats have seen because it was assembled behind closed doors. The Democrats' $2.5 trillion health care bill will impact one sixth of our nation's economy, yet most senators, much less the American people, have not even seen the m… Continue Reading
12.19.09
Murkowski comment on conclusion of Copenhagen conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding the nonbinding climate deal agreed to by President Obama in Copenhagen. "Much has been made of the Senate majority's failure to prioritize a climate bill ahead of the negotiations in Copenhagen, but the past two weeks have made clear that domestic legislation will not resolve the full range of fundamental, international disagreements," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. "Emissions cuts and re… Continue Reading
12.19.09
Murkowski: Senate Passes Defense Appropriations Bill That Includes $27.94 Million for Alaska Projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate today passed a $636 billion defense appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010 that includes $27.9 million for key Alaska projects, according to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Included in the bill is $19.58 million for enhancements to the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex in Interior Alaska. The bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 88 - 10, now goes to President Obama who is expected to sign the measure. "… Continue Reading
12.16.09
Sen. Murkowski Applauds Committee Approval of Three Alaska Bills
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that several Alaska lands bills cleared the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, of which she is the ranking Republican. The Salmon Lake Land Selection Resolution Act ratifies a settlement between the state of Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management and the Bering Straits Native Corp., completing land conveyances promised in the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. "Alaska Natives have spent decades fighting fo… Continue Reading
12.15.09
Alaska Delegation Announces Grants to Alaska Programs
Washington, D.C. - The Alaska Congressional Delegation is pleased to announce the following grants awarded to communities in the State of Alaska: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: $385,170 to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services for the Alaska Tuberculosis elimination and laboratory project. U.S. Department of Transportation: The U.S. Department of Transportation has selected the following projects to share in $32 million of funding for publ… Continue Reading
12.14.09
Murkowski Seeks to Halt EPA Endangerment of U.S. Economy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced her intention to file a disapproval resolution to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Murkowski's resolution comes in the wake of the agency's recent endangerment finding, which will result in damaging new regulations that endanger America's economy. "I remain committed to reducing emissions through a policy that will protect our environment and str… Continue Reading