03.31.22

Administration Announces Additional H-2B Visas

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced 35,000 additional H-2B nonagricultural worker visas for the second half of fiscal year 2022, which will be available to employers for the summer 2022 season. "With the tourism and fishing season right around the corner, and the economic fallout we have seen from COVID, it is vital to ensure Alaskans have the needed workers to supplement … Continue Reading

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03.31.22

Murkowski: Latest Biden Oil ‘Plan’ is Half-Baked, Irresponsible

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after President Biden announced he would release approximately 180 million barrels of emergency oil reserves over the next six months. In addition, instead of taking meaningful steps to increase domestic oil and gas production, the President called on Congress to impose new fees on domestic oil and gas leaseholders. "Earlier this week, the President proposed to raise taxes on domestic energy producers by tens of billi… Continue Reading

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03.31.22

DPA Announcement on Mineral Security Will Benefit Alaska

At the urging of U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Jim Risch (R-ID), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), President Biden today announced that he is invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA) to spur critical mineral production. On March 11, the Senators sent a letter to President Biden calling to invoke the DPA to rebuild the capacity of key sectors and value-chains by domestically producing and processing critical minera… Continue Reading

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03.30.22

Murkowski Announces Details of Upcoming Grant Symposium

On Monday, April 11, 2022, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a lead author and negotiator of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will host a federal grant symposium at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska. The purpose of the symposium is to provide Alaskans with a better understanding of the unprecedented opportunities made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law, which provides for historic investments in core physical infrastructure-roads, bridges, rai… Continue Reading

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03.29.22

Murkowski, Sullivan Lead Resolution Honoring Congressman Don Young

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today thanked the Senate for unanimously cosponsoring and passing their resolution honoring the life and legacy of Congressman Don Young, who served Alaska in the House of Representatives for the last 49 years. Congressman Young passed away on March 18, 2022. "Congressman Don Young was larger than life, as is the legacy he leaves behind. He devoted 49 years to the service of Alaska and the nation. In that time, he shepherded critical… Continue Reading

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03.29.22

Murkowski to Launch FY 2023 Appropriations Request Page

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after President Biden unveiled a budget request for Fiscal Year 2023: "The President proposes, Congress disposes. Now that the President has detailed his priorities, those of us in Congress will begin to evaluate which programs to fund and at what levels. As part of this, and just as we did for FY 2022, we will have an opportunity to bring taxpayer dollars back to our state through a very transparent Congressionally Directed Spen… Continue Reading

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03.28.22

Klobuchar, Murkowski, Collins, Sinema Bipartisan Legislation to Honor Supreme Court Justices Ginsburg and O’Connor Passes the House

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee, with U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), announced that their bipartisan legislation to honor U.S. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor with statues in the U.S. Capitol campus or on Capitol grounds has passed the House. The bill now goes to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. Members of the House of Representatives, led by Democr… Continue Reading

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03.28.22

Vice Chairman Murkowski: It Is Time HHS Take Action to Ensure Tribal Health Data Access

Recently, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, delivered remarks at the Committee's legislative hearing to receive testimony on six bills, including, S.1397, the Tribal Health Data Improvement Act of 2021, sponsored by Vice Chairman Murkowski with Senator Tina Smith (D-MN). "During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 12 Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) in the country, which includes the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, faced signi… Continue Reading

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03.28.22

Murkowski Announces New Round of FCC Emergency Connectivity Funding Commitments to Alaska

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) shared three announcements from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) in support of broadband and connectivity in Alaska. First, the FCC awarded four school districts in Alaska funding from the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), a program that helps schools and libraries provide the telecommunication tools and services students and communities need. Second, the FCC will open a third application filing window for emerge… Continue Reading

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03.25.22

Murkowski, Cantwell Spearhead Legislation to Strengthen Blue Economy and Support Coastal Communities

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act of 2022 (Ocean ROI Act of 2022), which would direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish "Ocean Innovation Clusters" (ocean clusters) to strengthen the coastal communities and blue economy of the nation. Senator Murkowski is a strong supporter of Ocean Clusters, including the Alaska Ocean Cluster which serves as a hub for private, public, and academic stakeholders to colla… Continue Reading

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03.24.22

Murkowski, Sullivan Speak In Memory of Congressman Don Young

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, spoke on the Senate floor last night to honor the life and legacy of the Congressman for All Alaska, Don Young, who passed away last Friday, on March 18, 2022. Click here for video of Senator Murkowski's speech. Click here for video of Senator Sullivan's speech. "It has been a tough few days for our office. Our hearts are still heavy, but the sheer outpouring of love and support for our boss, Congressman Don Young, has meant … Continue Reading

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03.23.22

Murkowski Examines Solutions to Support Affordable, High-Quality Childcare

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part this week in a U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing to examine barriers to access to childcare and to discuss solutions. During the hearing, Senator Murkowski pointed out, "It's pretty clear out there that our childcare providers in this country, certainly in my state, can barely make ends meet. Providers are competing with other employers for workers. Far too many parents cannot afford high-quality childcare ev… Continue Reading

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03.22.22

Senate Passes Murkowski, Schatz Resolution Recognizing Native Women Achievements and Contributions

Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed S.Res.555 led by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chairman of the SCIA, honoring the achievements of Native women throughout American history. "Each year during March, the Senate celebrates National Women's History Month and acknowledges the important contributions made by women. Women's History Month also provides a continuing opportunity for us to recognize … Continue Reading

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03.18.22

Murkowski Statement on Congressman Young’s Passing

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski issued the following statement following the passing of Congressman Don Young: "Alaskans are devastated by this shocking and sad news and I am saddened beyond belief about the loss of my friend. We have lost a giant who we loved dearly and who held Alaska in his heart-always. Don was coming home to the place that he loved, and to the people that loved him best. We love you, Don."… Continue Reading

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03.18.22

Grant Roundup: Senator Murkowski Announces Federal Grants to Alaska

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the senior Senator for Alaska, announced the following grants to organizations, Tribal entities, and communities in Alaska: Anchorage: $4.3 million from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program Head Start Projects. Fairbanks: $130,356 to the University of Alaska Fairbanks from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a project entitled, "University of Alaska Fairbanks/Sikuliaq Shipboard Scientific Sup… Continue Reading

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03.18.22

Murkowski, Sullivan Commend Coast Guard for Updating Mental Health Policies

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) commended the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for updating its mental and behavioral health policies to achieve parity with the policies of the Department of Defense (DoD), a legislative effort Senator Murkowski spearheaded this Congress. In February, Senator Murkowski introduced with Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Patty Murray (D-WA) the Guarding Mental Health Act, legislation to support Coast Guard members wh… Continue Reading

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03.18.22

Murkowski, Sullivan Commend Coast Guard for Updating Mental Health Policies

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) commended the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for updating its mental and behavioral health policies to achieve parity with the policies of the Department of Defense (DoD), a legislative effort Senator Murkowski spearheaded this Congress. In February, Senator Murkowski introduced with Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Patty Murray (D-WA) the Guarding Mental Health Act, legislation to support Coast Guard members wh… Continue Reading

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03.17.22

HELP Committee Considers PREVENT Pandemics Act

During a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee executive session to consider the S.3799 Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New Threats, and Pandemics Act (PREVENT Pandemics Act), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) filed amendments to the bill which addresses the nation's response to pandemics and includes reforms to improve accountability and transparency at the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Murkowski's provisions prioritize improving our h… Continue Reading

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03.17.22

U.S. Coast Guard Releases Spending Plan for Infrastructure Bill Funding

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, released the following statements after the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) released a spending plan for funding received through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Over half of the total funding allocated to the USCG through the IIJA will be used for Alaskan projects. "I've been a long-time advocate for all of America's military members, including Alaska's Coasties. The work our Coast Guard men and w… Continue Reading

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03.16.22

Delegation Welcomes Court Ruling Reinstating King Cove Land Exchange Agreement

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today welcomed a ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstating the land exchange needed to facilitate a life-saving road for the residents of King Cove, Alaska. The Ninth Circuit's decision reversed and remanded a flawed District Court ruling that set aside the land exchange agreement in June 2020. "This decision out of the Ninth Circuit reflects the right read of ANILCA and the Secretary of th… Continue Reading