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 Announces Investment in Critical Minerals Mapping from Infrastructure Law
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced that the Department of the Interior will direct $74 million into mapping areas with potential for critical mineral production under the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI). The majority of this funding - $64 million - is made possible by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Senator Murkowski helped write, negotiate, and shepherd into law. This investment will be distributed among … Continue Reading
06.23.22
Myth vs Fact: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
MYTH: This measure creates a national, federal red flag law, and forces states who don't have red or yellow flag laws to adopt them. THE FACTS This does not create a national, federal red flag law. This legislation does not require or incentivize states to adopt red or yellow flag laws. States without red flag laws, such as Alaska, will receive funding and can use it to implement other programs like Veterans' Courts, Drug and DUI Courts, and Mental Health Courts. This measure forces state… Continue Reading
06.17.22
Murkowski, Sullivan Applaud USDA Purchase of Seafood for Food Assistance Programs
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, applauded the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) approval of a Section 32 purchase of up to $52 million in Pacific and Alaskan Groundfish, such as cod, haddock, pollock, and flounder, for distribution to food assistance programs in Alaska and across the country. "The COVID-19 pandemic has only further highlighted the longstanding disparities in food insecurity, reminding us that millions of Americans, including… Continue Reading
06.17.22
HELP Committee Considers Bipartisan Health and Retirement Bills
This week Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, of which U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is a senior member, considered and advanced five bipartisan health and retirement bills. This includes S. 4348, Food and Drug Administration Safety and Landmark Advancements (FDASLA) Act, a bill to reauthorize the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) prescription drug, generic drug, biosimilar, and medical device user fee programs, which fund these critical FDA activities. Anothe… Continue Reading
06.16.22
Senators Hassan, Murkowski, Luján Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Investments in Substance Misuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery
U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase investments in substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery programs. The Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act reauthorizes and strengthens the Substance Abuse Block Grant program, including by requiring that funding goes to evidence-based services, including medication-assisted treatment. "As Granite Staters of all ages continue to st… Continue Reading
06.16.22
Murkowski Supports Toxic Exposure Package, Honors Promise to Veterans
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today voted in favor of the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, which passed the Senate in an 84-14 vote. This comprehensive and bipartisan legislation ensures that all military personnel who were exposed to toxic hazards, such as from toxins produced by burn pits to the chemical herbicide Agent Orange, and are now suffering from chronic health issues as a result, can access the… Continue Reading
06.15.22
ICYMI: Murkowski Hosts Secretary Jim Mattis at Fairbanks Military Appreciation Banquet
This past weekend, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) hosted retired Marine Corps four-star General and former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis as her guest of honor at the Fairbanks Military Appreciation Banquet. Organized by the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce and sponsored in part by a number of outstanding Alaska businesses, this annual event honors military members and their families across Interior Alaska. "It was a true privilege to have Secretary Mattis join us and speak directl… Continue Reading
06.14.22
Murkowski Announces Alaskan Communities Selected for DOE Partnership to Transform Energy Systems & Increase Resilience
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced that four Alaskan communities were selected to partner with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to help address high energy costs and vulnerable energy infrastructure. The Alaskan towns of Igiugig, McGrath, Nikolski, and St. George were among 12 communities nationwide selected by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy as part of the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) to meet resilient energy goals. DOE selected c… Continue Reading
06.10.22
Murkowski Announces First Round of Funding from the Infrastructure Law’s Bridge Investment Program
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration opened the application process for the competitive Bridge Investment Program (BIP) established through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which she helped write, negotiate, and shepherd into law. A total of $2.36 billion in BIP 2022 funds are available to help plan, replace, and improve small and large bridges. "As Alaskans and our visitors tr… Continue Reading
06.10.22
Murkowski Announces 2022 Summer Interns
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced the names of eleven interns and two intern coordinators who will work in her Washington, DC office this summer. These young Alaskans will get an up-close view of the federal legislative process while assisting Senator Murkowski and her team with Alaska-focused work. "Interns bring a renewed energy to my office, and I'm always so excited to host them. I enjoy getting to spend time with young Alaskans, and my team and I always appreciate their hard work… Continue Reading
06.09.22
Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce the Arctic Warrior Act
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) today introduced the Don Young Arctic Warrior Act, legislation to alleviate some of the hardships faced by service members in Alaska. Sullivan also today offered the legislation as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2023, which will be considered next week in the Senate Armed Services Committee. In addition to proficiency pay and allowances for basic necessities, the bill increases the Department o… Continue Reading
06.08.22
Senators Introduce Bruce’s Law to Help Combat Deadly Fentanyl Epidemic
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), joined by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), today introduced Bruce's Law. Bruce's Law - named after a young Alaskan, Robert "Bruce" Snodgrass, who passed away from a fentanyl overdose in 2021 - will bolster federal prevention and education efforts surrounding the dangers of drugs laced with fentanyl, an incredibly powerful and deadly synthetic opioid. It also authorizes new Community-Based Coalition Enhancemen… Continue Reading
06.06.22
Sullivan, Murkowski Celebrate Activation of the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) today celebrated the activation of the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska. The Senators attended reflagging ceremonies at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage. Both ceremonies marked the U.S. Army Alaska's re-designation as the 11th Airborne Division. The 11th Airborne Division originally operated between 1943 and 1965, first activated during World War II in the Pacific Theater for the li… Continue Reading
06.06.22
Murkowski Announces Significant Infrastructure Law Funding for Tribal Communities
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced almost $1 billion in new funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which she helped write, negotiate, and shepherd into law. Approximately $700 million will come from the Indian Health Service (IHS) to address sanitation, $154 million from State Revolving Funds for Tribal water needs, and $120 million will go to Tribal transportation. These allocations are a result of Senator Murkowski's leadership on behalf o… Continue Reading
05.31.22
Reed & Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Effort to Renew Life-Saving Suicide Prevention Programs to Help Young People
With the pandemic exacerbating youth mental health challenges and rates of suicide among youth and young adults on the rise, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization Act to enhance youth suicide prevention programs and improve mental health services for young people. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and leading mental health experts believe the coronavirus pandemic and its related economic and social consequences… Continue Reading
05.31.22
King, Murkowski Join to Introduce Bipartisan Bill Supporting Children’s Mental Health
As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today announced that they have introduced legislation to address the impact of childhood trauma on long-term health. The Improving Data Collection for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Act would authorize $7 million annually over five years to support Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) research and data collection efforts to study the potential ties between childho… Continue Reading
05.30.22
Murkowski Honors Fallen Soldiers with Memorial Day Message
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following message in observance of Memorial Day: "On Memorial Day, I join with Alaskans as we reflect with somber hearts on the American servicemembers who have given their lives to protect the country we love and the freedoms we cherish. "It was General George Patton who stated that 'It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived.' Those words are as true today as ever, as war and tyranny across the … Continue Reading
05.27.22
Arctic Caucus Co-Chairs Murkowski, King Join Congressional Resolution Supporting Finland’s and Sweden’s Accession in NATO
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Angus King (I-Maine), co-chairs of the Senate Arctic Caucus, issued the following statement after co-sponsoring Senate Resolution 646 (S.Res.646) expressing support for Finland's and Sweden's accession into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and expediting the ratification of accession protocols. "As the world rallies behind Ukraine's efforts to defend democracy and against Russia's unprovoked and barbaric invasion, I'm proud to put my supp… Continue Reading
05.27.22
Murkowski Announces over $6.2 Million in Army Corp Funding for Alaska Projects
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski R-AK commends the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on their recently released work plan for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) which allocates over $6.2 million for projects in Alaska. Total FY22 allocations in Alaska include: ATKA NAVIGATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS - $507,000 AKUTAN HARBOR NAVIGATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS - $350,000 CRAIG HARBOR - $406,000 ELIM SUBSISTENCE HARBOR - $2,000,000 LOWELL CREEK (TUNNEL) FLOOD DIVERSION - $3,000,000 "The Army Corps of Engineers has provided pi… Continue Reading
05.26.22
Murkowski, Sullivan: Pebble is the Wrong Mine in the Wrong Place
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today released the following statements after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a revised "Proposed Determination" to prohibit and restrict the use of certain waters and watersheds for the discharge of dredged and fill material from the Pebble Deposit area near Bristol Bay, Alaska. The Proposed Determination, if finalized, would effectively halt the Pebble project and other potential mining in the affected area. Senat… Continue Reading
