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 Leads Video Office Tour for Alaska Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In celebration of Alaska Day 2009, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, invites Alaskans to take a video tour of her office via her official YouTube page. Sending greetings from her Washington D.C. office, Murkowski shares with viewers some of the Alaska art on loan to her office, as well as some personal items from Alaska that are of special significance. "Not all Alaskans can make the trip to Washington and visit me in person, and I cannot make it home as often as I would … Continue Reading
10.16.09
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: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): • $1,679,035.50 to the City of Emmonak. The project will restore the City of Emmonak's dock to pre-disaster condition, and includes embankment repair, and in-water work. • $1,166,174.72 to the Alaska Railroad Corporation to provide both repairs and mitigation to damages to the Alaska Railroad wh… Continue Reading
10.16.09
Murkowski, Begich Introduce Bill to Grow Commuter Vanpools
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, today introduced a bill that would allow providers of public vanpools to use fare revenues to purchase additional vanpool vehicles to accommodate growing ridership demand. Currently, federal transportation law prohibits the use of this revenue for non-federal matching funds in the purchase of new fleet vehicles for vanpools. "This bill will enable communities to expand vanpool services and meet the growing needs … Continue Reading
10.16.09
Senate Passes Murkowski Resolution that Recognizes Long Standing Drug Abuse Prevention Campaign
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate has passed a resolution, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, that commemorates the Annual Red Ribbon Campaign, the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of youth through Red Ribbon Week events. Murkowski's resolution, recognizing October 17-25, 2009, as Red Ribbon Week, passed the Senate this week by unanimous consent. Red Ribbon Week is a national, week-long event commemorating the life of Drug Enforcement Admin… Continue Reading
10.16.09
Murkowski Comments on Senate Finance Committee Health Care Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following comment regarding the health care proposal approved this week by the Senate Finance Committee: "There is no question that our nation's health care system must be reformed. Health care costs are rising and our Medicare patients are not able to access primary care providers. I am disappointed with the health care legislation approved by the Senate Finance Committee this week as it doesn't address the concerns of every… Continue Reading
10.15.09
Dorgan Introduces Indian Health Care Improvement Act
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced major legislation Thursday to improve health care for 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives across the country- the Indian Health Care Improvement Reauthorization and Extension Act of 2009. The federal government has treaty obligations to provide health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives, but Dorgan noted Indian health care programs haven't been updated in o… Continue Reading
10.14.09
Murkowski Statement on the Death of Representative Richard Foster
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement on the passing of Rep. Richard Foster: "I am deeply saddened to learn of Richard Foster's passing. Richard and I served in the Legislature together. Richard was a kind and thoughtful man who would, among other gestures, lead the birthday song for other members of the Legislature. Richard loved Alaska history and, in his spare time, he would pore through the archives, reading old newspaper accounts about life i… Continue Reading
10.14.09
Murkowski Urges Cost Certainty in Climate Change Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today underscored the importance of ensuring that climate change legislation doesn't hamper the international competitiveness of the United States or limit its economic growth. "We must ensure that climate change does not endanger our recovery, and we must seek to reduce energy prices, not drive them up," Murkowski said at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing on the cost of climate change legislation. "Americans are hoping that wh… Continue Reading
10.13.09
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 Agriculture: - $75,000 to Russian Mission to complete a sanitation master plan to examine alternatives to provide potable water and sewer to homes that do not currently have access to these services. - $217,500 to Old Harbor to complete a preliminary engineering and environmental report to design a water treatment plant, backwas… Continue Reading
10.08.09
Murkowski Successful in Boosting Rural Water and Waste Water Grant Spending in Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development agency would be required to obligate $65 million in unobligated water and waste water disposal grants in rural Alaska within 90 days of enactment of the Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010. The full Senate today approved the FY 2010 $121.1 billion Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations conference report that includes provi… Continue Reading
10.08.09
Sen. Murkowski Presses for Sealaska and Bering Straits Land Exchanges
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today pressed for passage of two bills that would help complete land conveyances promised under the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) to Sealaska Corp. and Bering Straits Native Corp. "Congress passed legislation in 1971 intended to promptly settle Native lands claims in Alaska, and allow them to benefit from their land," Murkowski said. "But Bering Straits and Sealaska have been prevented for nearly four decades from taking … Continue Reading
10.07.09
Defense Conference Bill Would Ensure Fair Retirement Benefits for Federal Workers in Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced today that congressional conferees approved a Defense Authorization bill that would ensure pay and retirement equity for federal employees in Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. territories.Federal workers in Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. territories currently receive a cost of living allowance (COLA) based on the increased costs of living in those areas," Murkowski said. "But unlike locality pay received by federal employees in high cost ar… Continue Reading
10.06.09
Senate Retains Restoration of Retirement Benefits for Alaska Territorial Guard Members
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced tonight that the Senate rejected an effort by the Obama administration to deny a restoration of military retirement benefits to some two dozen Alaska Territorial Guard members who defended Alaska, then still a territory, during World War II. The Senate passed a $636 billion Defense Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010 that included a provision, inserted by Murkowski and Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, to restore the retirement ben… Continue Reading
10.01.09
VA Assures Sen. Murkowski that Emergency GI Bill Checks Will Be Available to Alaska Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Veterans Administration has assured U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, that Alaska veterans who have applied to receive enhanced educational benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill but haven't received their checks will be able to obtain up to $3,000 in emergency financial assistance from the VA if they need it. The VA plans to issue checks on the spot to eligible veterans beginning Friday, October 2, at the Veterans Benefits Administration Regional Office, 2925 DeBarr Road… Continue Reading
10.01.09
Sen. Murkowski Appeals to President Obama on Alaska Territorial Guard Retirement Benefits
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today called on President Obama to "show some heart and do the right thing" regarding the proposed restoration of military retirement benefits to some two dozen Alaska Territorial Guard members whose World War II service in the ATG was considered active duty service until the Defense Department reversed its position on the matter earlier this year. "I say to President Obama, personally support us in our quest to obtain justice for a few eld… Continue Reading
09.30.09
Murkowski Successful in Boosting Rural Water and Waste Water Grant Spending in Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development agency would be required to obligate $65 million in unobligated water and waste water disposal grants in rural Alaska within 90 days of enactment of the Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010.A Senate and House conference committee today approved the FY 2010 $121.1 billion Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations conference repo… Continue Reading
09.30.09
Sen. Murkowski’s Comments on Boxer-Kerry Cap-and-Trade Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following comments on the introduction of the Boxer-Kerry cap-and-trade bill: "Right now health care reform is taking center stage, the Senate Finance Committee is marking up the bill and rejecting the massive costs associated with it, yet the Boxer-Kerry climate bill is like déjà vu when we look at how much it costs," Murkowski said. "Once again we are given a massive bill with massive costs." "We must determi… Continue Reading
09.30.09
Murkowski Announces One-Year Delay of New Policy Affecting Some Alaska Military Retirees
WASHINGTON, D.C. - At the urging of U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, the Defense Department has exempted Alaskans for one year from a new policy directive that requires military retirees enrolled in TRICARE's Prime Option who live more than 30 minutes or more than 100 miles from a military health facility request and obtain a waiver in order to continue receiving care on base. The exemption expires in late 2010. The decision was made by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Ellen P. Embrey (s… Continue Reading
09.25.09
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 Agriculture: • $4,100 rural energy for America program grant to Laida Alpacas of Anchor Point. Funds will be used to purchase and install a small wind turbine renewable energy system. • $4,800 to Klauder and Company Architects of Kenai. Funds will be used to purchase and install a small wind turbine renewable energy sys… Continue Reading
09.25.09
Murkowski Disappointed Over Obama Administration's Opposition to Helping Alaska Territorial Guard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement in response to President Obama's Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) regarding the Fiscal Year 2010 Senate Defense Appropriations bill. The administration objects to language in the bill, included by Murkowski and U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, that would reinstate retirement benefits to members of the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) for their service during World War II. The Senate bill would restore militar… Continue Reading
