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.
SENATOR MURKOWSKI APPLAUDS SUPREME COURT DECISION TO OVERTURN D.C. GUN BAN
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the District of Columbia's handgun ban. The decision was 5-4 and marked the first time the Supreme Court has ruled on Second Amendment rights since 1939. "I am pleased that the Supreme Court has upheld every individual's constitutional right to bear arms," said Senator Murkowski. "In Alaska we enjoy the right to own guns, and I believe that right should be available to all Ameri… Continue Reading
06.26.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO HELP COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN WITH EXCESSIVE FUEL COSTS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced legislation that would provide commercial fishermen a temporary income tax credit to help them offset the high cost of fuel. "My office has received a petition signed by more than 1,700 Alaskans asking Congress to help provide commercial fishermen with emergency relief from high fuel prices," Murkowski said. "The Fisheries Fuel Tax Relief Act of 2008, which I introduced today along with Sen. Ted Stevens as an original co-spo… Continue Reading
06.25.08
SENATORS MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS AND REP. YOUNG CRITICIZE SUPREME COURT EXXON VALDEZ DECISION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, made the following statement today following release of the Supreme Court's Exxon Valdez decision: "We are extremely disappointed that the Supreme Court has chosen to reduce the punitive damages amount from $2.5 billion to $507.5 million. Three times previously, lower courts have ruled on the amount of damages and the Supreme Court, in our opinion, should have allowed the $2.5 billion judgment to stand… Continue Reading
06.18.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI JOINS PRESIDENT BUSH IN CALLING FOR OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION IN ANWR
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today joined President Bush in calling for Congress to open part of the Arctic coastal plain to oil and gas production to help drive down record gasoline and diesel prices. In a speech prepared for delivery on the Senate floor, Murkowski noted that the average price for gasoline nationwide has passed $4.08 a gallon and that Americans are now paying $1.6 billion a day for energy. "American consumers don't need me to tell them about th… Continue Reading
06.17.08
SENATORS MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS FIGHT FOR EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL TAX LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens today made the following statement following their vote against a procedural motion to move to a Democratic bill that would extend or revise dozens of tax incentives. "Time is of the essence. The United States Supreme Court likely will be releasing an opinion in a matter of days on whether Exxon Mobil must pay out $2.5 billion in punitive damages to fishermen and other Alaskans impacted by the crude oil spill in Prince William Soun… Continue Reading
06.03.08
MURKOWSKI NOTES ENVIRONMENTAL PETITIONS SEEKING SUPPORT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski's Anchorage office staff today received petitions from a group of Alaskans urging her to vote for the Boxer substitute of a global climate change bill that is currently being debated on the Senate floor. Murkowski's staff accepted the petitions and said the Senator will continue her efforts to fully understand how the complex bill will affect Alaskans. Senator Murkowski said she has yet to decide how she will vote on the measure, but said she stil… Continue Reading
06.03.08
MURKOWSKI URGES COOK INLET GAS PRODUCERS TO PROVIDE REASONABLY PRICED GAS FOR SOUTHCENTRAL UTILITIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski today urged Cook Inlet natural gas producers to now redouble their efforts to find more natural gas in Alaska and to reach agreements at reasonable contract prices for sales of new natural gas supplies to Southcentral utilities, now that the U.S. Department of Energy has granted their request for a two-year extension of their natural gas export permit needed to keep the Kenai LNG gas export facility in operation. Murkowski said she understands th… Continue Reading
05.22.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI SUPPORTS GI BILL ENHANCEMENTS AND FUNDING FOR SOUTHEAST ALASKA SCHOOLS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski voted today to support an Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill that substantially improves GI Bill benefits for military veterans who have served since September 11, 2001 and appropriates $400 million to extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act, which provides about $9 million of federal funding to Southeast Alaska schools and communities in the Tongass National Forest through the end of Fiscal Year 2008. The Senate … Continue Reading
05.16.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI WELCOMES BLM NPRA DESCISION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the issuance of the final rule by the Bureau of Land Management covering oil and gas leasing in the northeast planning area of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The ruling should open the area south of the lake to early oil and gas leasing. "I support the plan because it is balanced and fair. It will fully protect subsistence activities, while also permitting early leasing of areas south of the lake, areas likely to hold hu… Continue Reading
05.16.08
SENATORS MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS URGE ANWR’S OPENING AT ENERGY FORUM
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens today renewed their calls for opening the Arctic coastal plan to oil and gas development as one means to increase domestic fuel production to help drive down energy prices. Murkowski, who chaired a Republican Senate Conference Energy Forum on high fuel prices and their effects on American consumers, and Stevens, who testified at the forum, both argued that opening part of ANWR's coastal plain is a vital part of any balanced energy pl… Continue Reading
05.15.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI OPPOSES FARM BILL, SAYS MEASURE PROVIDES TOO MUCH AID FOR CORN-BASED ETHANOL
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against final passage of a five-year $307 billion farm bill reauthorization saying the measure spent too much in tax and financial assistance for corn-based ethanol, not enough on cellulosic biofuel research, and spent too much money on priorities that differed markedly with her own. "There are a lot of good things in the bill, including some that I proposed or supported. But on balance I agreed with the Administration that the bill is som… Continue Reading
05.14.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI HONORS FALLEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski was joined by her colleagues in the Senate in passing a resolution she sponsored honoring and thanking Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) for their assistance in rebuilding the lives of family members of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty across the United States. "COPS is a blessing to the family members of fallen law enforcement officers who must rebuild their lives after the loss of a loved one," said Senator Murkowski. "I want t… Continue Reading
05.14.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI OPPOSES LISTING POLAR BEAR AS THREATENED SPECIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today issued the following statement on Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne's listing of the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act: "I can't express how extremely disappointed I am that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has chosen to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. I believe it is grossly premature, even with qualifications, to recommend this action based on highly variable clima… Continue Reading
05.13.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI CALLS FOR REALISTIC ENERGY PLAN
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Although the Republican energy package was not approved by the Senate, Senator Lisa Murkowski today pledged to continue to fight for a sound energy policy, one that includes opening ANWR. The Republican package to expand domestic energy production and drive down energy prices included opening ANWR, speeding oil shale development, permitting offshore oil and gas lease revenue sharing and encouraging careful use of synthetic fuels made from coal. "At this time of record oil … Continue Reading
05.07.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI SUPPORTS PUBLIC LANDS MILITARY PASS ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined with her Senate colleagues on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in passing out of committee a bill that would make the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass available at a discount to military personnel and veterans. "Our veterans and active duty members deserve nothing less than our full support," said Senator Murkowski. "Giving them a reduced rate to enjoy our National Parks is a small way to show our ap… Continue Reading
05.06.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI THANKS ALASKAN TEACHERS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today celebrated National Teacher Day by expressing her gratitude to Alaska's educators. She offered the following statement and thanks to all teachers who are working to make a difference in a child's life: Teachers, teacher aides, principals, superintendents and all those involved in teaching and educating our children deserve the utmost gratitude. As a parent I am grateful for those who have had such a positive impact in the lives of my two sons. … Continue Reading
05.01.08
SENATORS MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS JOIN SENATE REPUBLICANS IN BILL TO INCREASE DOMESTIC FUEL PRODUCTION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens today joined the Senate Republican Leadership in introducing broad-ranging legislation that aims to drive down record high oil and gas prices by increasing domestic energy supplies. The American Energy Production Act of 2008 addresses America's soaring gasoline prices by focusing on solutions that will increase domestic oil and gas production now and in the future. The bill contains a provision to open Alaskan's Arctic Coastal Plain … Continue Reading
05.01.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI CELEBRATES PASSAGE OF ALASKA WATER RESOURCES ACT AND DENALI LAND EXCHANGE
WASHINGTON, DC - After a three-year effort the U.S. House of Representatives late Tuesday gave final approval for a study of Alaska's water resources, first proposed by Sen. Lisa Murkowski in 2005, and approved a Denali Park land bill, originally introduced by Representative Don Young, that will enable the Alaska Railroad to build a much-needed train turnaround track in the park. The Senate had approved the measures April 11th. The bill containing them now heads to the President for signatur… Continue Reading
04.30.08
SENATORS MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS APPLAUD SECRETARY KEMPTHORNE’S RULING ON GUNS IN PARKS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today applauded Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne's ruling allowing firearms on lands administered by the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The ruling came in response to a letter to Secretary Kempthorne signed by 50 Senators - including Senators Murkowski and Stevens. "I am pleased that Secretary Kempthorne has taken a step toward streamlining gun laws in accordance with state laws," said Senator Murkowski. "If in… Continue Reading
04.29.08
Alaska Delegation Applauds President’s Call to Open ANWR
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska's Congressional Delegation -- Senator Ted Stevens, Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Young -- today praised President George W. Bush for calling on Congress to open ANWR. President Bush told reporters that the answer to high gas prices is more domestic production, an argument the Congressional Delegation has advanced for years. "One of the main reasons for high gas prices is that global oil production is not keeping up with growing demand," said President … Continue Reading
