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.
Interior Alaska Will Benefit from Stimulus Military Construction
WASHINGTON, DC -- U. S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), announced that the U.S. Air Force will spend $53.9 million in military construction funds appropriated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the "economic stimulus" bill, to replace 76 family housing units on Eielson Air Force Base. Contracts are slated to be awarded in September 2009 with construction commencing in 2010. The work is expected to be completed by 2012. Fort Wainwright will see $3.45 million in stimul… Continue Reading
03.18.09
Murkowski Congratulates Lance Mackey and his Team on Winning Iditarod
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today congratulated Lance Mackey for winning the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race for the third consecutive year. Senator Murkowski attended the ceremonial start of the 2009 Iditarod in Anchorage on March 7 and visited with Lance before he began what has now become his third victorious race. "I extend my hearty congratulations to now three-time Iditarod winner Lance Mackey. Led by his team, Lance has gone through some of the most difficult t… Continue Reading
03.18.09
Murkowski Calls for Greater Support of Nuclear Industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today called on the Obama Administration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost domestic power generation by supporting nuclear energy projects. In a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to review licensing and other issues related to nuclear reactor development, Murkowski pointed out that nuclear energy is currently the primary source of carbon-free power in the U.S., providing roughly 75 percent of the nat… Continue Reading
03.17.09
Murkowski Urges OCS, Public Lands Energy Development
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today reiterated her support for increased development of energy of all types on public lands and the Outer Continental Shelf. At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing, Murkowski urged Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to help increase America's energy security by lifting restrictions on oil and gas development in the OCS, and boosting renewable energy development on public lands. "There's no reason to let our rich ener… Continue Reading
03.17.09
Murkowski Responds to Salazar's ANWR Comments
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following response to comments by Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar about the feasibility of using directional drilling to access the oil and natural gas reserves beneath the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Salazar told reporters that he's not convinced that directional drilling could be accomplished without impairing the ecological values of ANWR. Murkowski said she was disappointed to hear Sal… Continue Reading
03.16.09
Alaskan Delegation Works With USPS; Reaches Agreement On Future Of Bypass Mail Program
Washington, D.C. - Alaska's Congressional Delegation is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with the Postmaster General over bypass mail rates. Included in an 84 page report from the Postal Regulatory Commission is the acknowledgment that the Alaska Congressional Delegation has expressed concern with the pending rate increase. In response, "the Postal Service indicates that it is working with shippers and air carriers in Alaska to change and simplify the acceptance of bypass… Continue Reading
03.13.09
Murkowski Warns Against Complacency Following Exxon Valdez Spill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Despite significant improvements in the prevention and management of oil spills, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today warned against becoming complacent with the progress made since the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster. "While we have made significant progress in spill prevention and response, increased our scientific knowledge of oil spills, clean up and environmental monitoring, we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent again" Murkowski said. She issued her war… Continue Reading
03.12.09
Murkowski Cautions Against Combining Energy and Climate Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today responded to comments by Majority Leader Harry Reid that he hopes to combine a mandatory cap on carbon emissions with a Renewable Electricity Standard and expanded federal siting authority for electrical transmission infrastructure into a single bill on the Senate floor by August. "The energy committee is working full-tilt on a comprehensive energy bill that will include the issues that relate to transmission siting and renewable … Continue Reading
03.12.09
Murkowski Urges Careful Analysis in Transmission Fix
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today stressed the importance of working with states and stakeholders to expand the nation's electrical transmission infrastructure. At a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Murkowski said there may be a need to increase federal siting authority for transmission projects but Congress should first give careful consideration to the role of states in determining where best to place new power lines. "I'm concer… Continue Reading
03.12.09
Anchorage OCS Hearing to Focus on Energy Production
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the announcement that U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will gather public comment on oil and gas leasing off the coast of Alaska at a meeting in Anchorage next month. "I'm grateful Secretary Salazar is coming to hear from Alaskans firsthand about the importance of oil and gas production off our coastline," Murkowski said. Salazar will hold a public meeting on energy development on the outer continental shelf at th… Continue Reading
03.10.09
Murkowski Votes for Omnibus Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, made the following statement after voting in favor of the Fiscal Year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill: "Although I have concerns about the price tag of this bill, I heard from a number of Alaskans telling me how important some of the Alaska-specific projects were to their cities, towns, communities and villages. Defeat of this bill could have resulted in Alaska missing out on nearly $200 million in funding. My vote in the end was a vote… Continue Reading
03.10.09
Murkowski Sustains Knee Injury While Skiing in Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, tore two ligaments and cartilage in her left knee on Sunday while skiing at Alyeska Ski Resort. Murkowski, an expert skier, fell while skiing on the south face of the mountain about noon Sunday, tumbling more than 300 feet down the mountain and tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (acl), medial collateral ligament (mcl) and lateral meniscus. "I've been skiing all my life, and this was just one of those unfortunate accidents that ca… Continue Reading
03.10.09
Sens. Murkowski & Bingaman Introduce FLAME Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced legislation that takes a big step forward in tackling chronic funding shortages for fighting wildfires, and the steep declines in land management funding that result. The Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act - the FLAME Act -- establishes an account to pay for fighting large, complex wildland fires. The legislation will provide a separate budget for fighting the larg… Continue Reading
03.10.09
Murkowski & Carper Introduce LEAN Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Giving American consumers more nutritional information about the menu items at chain food restaurants is the goal of the Labeling Education and Nutrition (LEAN) Act, introduced today by U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Tom Carper (D-Del.). The LEAN Act would require restaurants and grocery stores that serve prepared foods at 20 or more locations to provide consumers calorie information for each menu item. Under the Murkowski-Carper bill, calories will be printed d… Continue Reading
03.10.09
Murkowski Calls for Better Understanding of the Relationship Between Water and Energy Production
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today highlighted the direct connection between electricity and fuel production and water use. At a hearing of the full Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Murkowski raised the importance of understanding the amount of water needed in power and fuel generation. "The link between water and energy is often overlooked, however a significant amount of water is needed to generate the electricity and fuel we depend on every day," M… Continue Reading
03.09.09
Murkowski Announces Additions to Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, has announced three new additions to her Washington, D.C., staff and one to her Anchorage office. In Washington, Murkowski has added Edward Hild as her Legislative Director, Megan Alvanna-Stimpfle as her Legislative Assistant for Indian Affairs and Robert Sumner as Deputy Press Secretary. In Anchorage, Murkowski added Bob Walsh as her Field Representative. "As I advocate for Alaska, I am glad to have the support of my dedicated and hard-wor… Continue Reading
03.07.09
Murkowski Warns Against Combining Energy and Climate Measures in Single Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today responded to comments by the Senate majority leader about the possibility of combining energy legislation with a cap and trade measure on the Senate floor this year. Lumping two very controversial pieces of legislation into a single-bill strategy will make final passage very difficult, Murkowski said. "The energy committee is drafting a comprehensive energy bill that already includes a number of areas where reaching cons… Continue Reading
03.06.09
Delegation Announces Grants and Contracts to Alaska Programs
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 Agriculture $113,288 to the Gulkana Village Council for preliminary cost analysis associated with the preparation of a preliminary engineering report and an environmental report for a proposed project of a new water supply well, water treatment facility an… Continue Reading
03.05.09
Murkowski Gets Appropriations Subcommittee Assignments
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today was assigned to five subcommittees of the Senate Appropriations Committee, several of which have major impacts on Alaska. Murkowski, who joined the appropriations panel in January, was assigned to the following subcommittees: Interior, Environment and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; and Legisla… Continue Reading
03.05.09
Murkowski Questions Secretary Chu on National Renewable Electricity Standard (RES)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today raised serious concerns about the nation's ability to meet a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) requiring utilities to generate as much as 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy by 2021. At a hearing Thursday of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Murkowski questioned Secretary of Energy Steven Chu about the impact the nation's limited transmission capacity, and the narrow definition of "renewable"… Continue Reading
