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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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03.04.09

Murkowski Announces Release of Emergency Funding for Emmonak

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced today that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has released $20,000 that the Emmonak Tribal Council requested to help residents who are struggling with high home heating fuel and food costs this winter. Emmonak had requested $20,000 in emergency assistance and the BIA signed off on the funding today. "I had asked BIA at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing in January to find assistance to help Emmonak residents get thro… Continue Reading

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03.04.09

Murkowski Amendment Would Restore Tongass Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on Monday introduced an amendment to the omnibus spending bill to reinstate funding for the Tongass Timber Fund in the Department of Agriculture's annual budget. In 1980, Congress passed legislation that set aside 5.4 million acres of new wilderness in the Tongass National Forest under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). In exchange for the wilderness designation, Congress directed the Secretary of Agricultu… Continue Reading

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03.04.09

Murkowski Introduces Salmon Lake Land Exchange Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced legislation that would provide for a land exchange between the Bering Straits Native Corporation and the State of Alaska. The Salmon Lake Land Selection Resolution Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, would resolve a land conveyance dispute between the Corporation and the State of Alaska dating since 1971 and the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. "Alaska Natives have spent decades fighti… Continue Reading

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03.03.09

Murkowski Statement on the Death of Mat-Su Borough Mayor Curt Menard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement upon learning of the death of Mat-Su Borough Mayor and former state legislator Curt Menard: "I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Curt Menard. Dr. Menard's story is typical of many who came to Alaska as part of their military service, saw the possibilities of making a real difference in our Great Land, and committed their lives to Alaska. A can-do person who never saw an obstacle he could not ov… Continue Reading

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03.03.09

Delegation Expresses Concern Over Postal Rate Increases; Sends Joint Letter To Postmaster

Washington, D.C. - Alaska's Congressional Delegation sent the attached letter to Postmaster General Potter yesterday to express their concern with the pending rate increases and their effect on the Alaska bypass mail system. "Rural Alaskans are being hit very hard by the economic downturn we have faced this past year," said Rep. Young. "Receiving basic goods is not the same in the villages of Alaska as it is in most areas of the Lower 48. People that live in these areas are having a hard… Continue Reading

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03.02.09

Murkowski statement on Elton appointment to Interior position

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement on the appointment of Alaska State Sen. Kim Elton to Director of Alaska Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. "From my very first conversation with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, I have emphasized the importance of maintaining the position of Director of Alaska Affairs at the Department of the Interior," Murkowski said. "I congratulate Kim on his appointment and I look forward to worki… Continue Reading

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03.02.09

Sens. Murkowski, Hutchison, Bond Urge White House to Expedite Offshore Oil and Gas Development

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Kit Bond (R-MO) today led a Republican effort, urging the White House to tap new domestic energy sources and expeditiously complete the Administration's five-year plan for offshore oil and gas development. Sens. Hutchison, Murkowski, and Bond were joined on the letter by 32 of their Republican colleagues in the U.S. Senate. "Responsible development of the OCS is key to improving our e… Continue Reading

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03.02.09

Murkowski, Begich offer polar bear listing provision to FY '09 omnibus appropriations bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, today introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2009 omnibus spending bill that would maintain the public process for revisions to regulations under the Endangered Species Act. The omnibus appropriations bill that passed the House of Representatives last week and is before the Senate this week includes language that would allow the administration to withdraw two current rules under the Endangered Species Act… Continue Reading

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03.02.09

Murkowski co-sponsors legislation to ensure fair retirement benefits for federal workers in Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. Territories

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, the Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act was introduced in Congress to ensure pay and retirement equity for federal employees in Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories. The legislation was sponsored in the Senate by Senators Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Mark Begich (D-Alaska), and in the House by Representatives Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), Don Young (R-Alaska) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Dele… Continue Reading

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02.27.09

Murkowski introduces ANWR directional drilling legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced legislation that would allow the use of advanced directional drilling to tap the vast energy potential of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain without disturbing the unique characteristics of the area. The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, would allow access to the coastal plain's oil and natural gas resources through the use of underground directional drilling from state-owned lands to the … Continue Reading

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02.26.09

Murkowski says administration's budget will drive energy producers overseas

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today raised concerns about the impacts of President Obama's 10-year budget blueprint on domestic conventional energy production. "President Obama and I agree that we need to do everything we can to encourage development of renewable and alternative sources of energy," Murkowski said. "Even under the most optimistic projections, however, America will continue to depend on conventional sources of energy for decades." The administ… Continue Reading