04.22.09

Murkowski Places Tribute to Harold “Buddy” Brown into the Congressional Record

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today placed the following tribute to Harold "Buddy" Brown into the Congressional Record: HAROLD "BUDDY" BROWN Mr. President, today the people of Interior Alaska - our Native people and the entire Fairbanks community - mourn the loss of one of the most promising Native leaders of this generation. Harold "Buddy" Brown died yesterday of cancer at the age of 39. Buddy is survived by his wife, Patti, and two children, Xa… Continue Reading

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04.22.09

Murkowski Pushes Energy Efficiency, Opposes New Mandate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today reiterated her belief that enhanced energy efficiency should be central to the nation's energy policy, but said she opposes legislation that would impose an efficiency mandate on small retail energy providers. The language under consideration would require retail electric and natural gas distributors to reduce their customers' energy consumption - something they have little direct control over. "While utilities can educate co… Continue Reading

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04.20.09

Murkowski Opposes Federal Court Decision on OCS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today gave the following statement after a federal appeals court canceled a program to expand oil and gas drilling off Alaska's coast: "I am disappointed that the D.C. Circuit has issued this decision to vacate and remand the five year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing program to the extent that this may now cause a further delay in the development of the oil and gas resources that America still requires to fuel its economy,&qu… Continue Reading

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04.17.09

Murkowski, Other Senators Express Outrage at DHS Report Disparaging Veterans, Second Amendment Supporters and Others

WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, joined U.S. Sens. David Vitter (R-LA), James Inhofe (R-OK), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Sam Brownback (R-KA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) yesterday in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano expressing outrage about a DHS report citing links of 'right wing extremism' by specific groups of people including returning combat veterans, Second Amendment supporters, proponents of immigration re… Continue Reading

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04.17.09

Murkowski Opposes Using Clean Air Act to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voiced strong opposition to Environmental Protection Agency regulation of global climate change through the Clean Air Act. The EPA today announced an endangerment finding and their intention to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. "Placing a mandatory cap on carbon emissions has serious implications for every corner of our already fragile economy," Murkowski said. "The Clean Air Act was not designed to address carbo… Continue Reading

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04.06.09

Bipartisan Group of Senators Oppose Cuts in Missile Defense

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), along with Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Mark Begich (D-AK), Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today sent the following letter to President Obama calling for full funding of U.S. missile defense programs: The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Obama: We write to urge you not to allow deep cuts in U.S. missile defense programs that are critica… Continue Reading

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04.05.09

Murkowski Statement on North Korea Missile Launch

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement regarding the launch of a missile by North Korea: "I am very disappointed by North Korea's recent launch of a long-range rocket. This aggressive move, coupled with their recent actions and statements, place the progress of the Six Party Talks in jeopardy and risks destabilizing the Asia-Pacific region. In addition to the security implications of North Korea's move, it is tragic that in a country wher… Continue Reading

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04.02.09

Murkowski Bill Would Assist Construction of an Alaska In-State Gas Pipeline

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced legislation designed to help development of an in-state natural gas pipeline in Alaska. The Denali National Park and Preserve Natural Gas Pipeline Act would give the Park Service authority to, subject to NEPA review, authorize a right-of-way for construction of an in-state natural gas pipeline along the Parks Highway for the roughly 7 miles the highway passes through Denali National Park. The legislation would remove a p… Continue Reading

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04.02.09

Murkowski Proposes Southeast Initiative to Aid Regional Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced two bills designed to stimulate the economy in Southeast Alaska, a region of the state that has been hard hit by the downturn in timber-related jobs. The two bills are: The Southeast Alaska Timber Industry Retooling and Restructuring Act to help firms retool to maintain jobs in the region. The Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act to set up urban corporation… Continue Reading

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04.01.09

Murkowski Comments on Dismissal of Charges Against Stevens

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement regarding the Justice Department's decision today to drop all charges against former Senator Ted Stevens: "I was pleased with the news that the Justice Department will drop all charges against Senator Ted Stevens, but I am deeply disturbed that the government can ruin a man's career and then say 'never mind.' There is nothing that will ever compensate for the loss of his reputation or leadership to the Stat… Continue Reading

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03.31.09

HHS Secretary-Nominee Sebelius Commits to Working with Murkowski on Medicare Physician Access in Alaska

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03.30.09

President Signs Omnibus Lands Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today attended the White House ceremony of President Obama's signing of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 (H.R. 146). "This legislation preserves important public lands for future generations without unnecessarily blocking our ability to tap our natural resources," Murkowski said. "It's a good example of how we in Congress can find success through hard work and bipartisanship." The package, which Murkowski championed … Continue Reading

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03.30.09

Murkowski to Introduce Bill Creating a National Volcano Monitoring System

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Pointing to Mount Redoubt's recent eruptions, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said today that she will be introducing legislation later this week to establish a national volcano monitoring system that includes the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) in Anchorage and Fairbanks. "Recently there were some comments made about federal spending for volcano monitoring being wasteful," Murkowski said in a Senate floor speech. "I can assure you that monitoring volcanoes is critica… Continue Reading

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03.27.09

Murkowski announces stimulus funding for health center services expansion in Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced today that Alaska will receive $3.6 million in stimulus law funding to expand services at 26 community health centers across the state. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that $338 million would be available nationwide for community health center service expansion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or stimulus law. The department said that grantees submitted plans explaining how the gr… Continue Reading

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03.27.09

Delegation Announces Grants and Contracts 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 Defense - Department of the Army $10,700,983 contract awarded to Doyon-American Mechanical of Fairbanks for the construction of a Stryker Wash Facility. The work will be performed at Fort Wainright. $38,588,284 contract awarded to Watterson/Davis JV of Anchorage for the design and construction of the U.S. Air Force … Continue Reading

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03.26.09

Murkowski Asks Obama Administration for Updates on Allocation of Stimulus Money for Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, wants the Obama administration to provide her with regular updates on how stimulus funds will be awarded and allocated for Alaska and specifically what projects and programs will benefit. In a letter sent today to White House Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag, Murkowski said she agrees with President Obama that the economic stimulus law must be "targeted, timely and temporary." But Alaska's senior senator said she… Continue Reading

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03.24.09

Alaska Delegation Asks For Meeting With Obama To Discuss Arctic Management

WASHINGTON, DC - The Alaska Congressional Delegation today asked for a meeting with President Obama to discuss Alaska's management of the Arctic. In a letter (attached) to Obama, the delegation urged the President not to take any "rash actions" regarding Arctic policy, saying that such a move could harm the nation's economic recovery as well as efforts to increase the nation's energy independence. "The Alaska delegation has taken the lead in protecting the Arctic and promoting conservati… Continue Reading

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03.23.09

Murkowski Marks 20th Anniversary of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill: "Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It is a day that Alaskans will never forget. We know of the damage to the ecosystem as a result of the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. But the spill also impacted thousands of Alaskans who live in coastal areas affected by the spill. Twenty years later, subsist… Continue Reading

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03.23.09

Delegation Announces Federal Grant Symposium to be held in Anchorage April 14

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska's Congressional delegation will host a grants symposium in Anchorage on Tuesday, April 14, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Dena'ina Center. This symposium will offer Alaskans the opportunity to meet with representatives from federal agencies to discuss potential grant opportunities along with specific eligibility and application requirements. As federal grants are distributed through a competitive process from each agency - all with individual guidelines … Continue Reading

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03.23.09

Murkowski Announces More Defense Stimulus Spending for Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced Saturday that the Department of Defense plans to spend at least $197.4 million in stimulus funds on projects in Alaska. Murkowski announced Friday that Alaska will receive $71.4 million in new military construction funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the economic stimulus law. But a Murkowski staff analysis today of 3,000 facility repair and improvement projects designated for stimulu… Continue Reading