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 AND STEVENS COSPONSOR LEGISLATION TO EXTEND SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens have signed on as cosponsors to legislation by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) that would extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act by one year. The program provides a dedicated funding stream for local municipalities and school districts dependent on forest timber receipts that have been unable to rely on consistent and sustainable payments due the continued controversy over timber sales in National Forests. … Continue Reading
03.06.07
MURKOWSKI AND HARKIN INTRODUCE CHILD NUTRITION PROMOTION AND SCHOOL LUNCH PROTECTION ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), and a bipartisan group of Senate co-sponsors, in introducing the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2007. With childhood obesity rates continuing to climb at an alarming rate, this legislation is designed to update the definition of “foods of minimal nutritional value” and to ensure that all foods that are sold in schools - whether in the cafeteria or in a vending machine - will meet t… Continue Reading
03.01.07
MURKOWSKI EXPRESSES CONCERN WITH EIA ANNUAL ENERGY OUTLOOK
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today expressed concern with aspects of the annual outlook provided by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Most troubling are predictions from EIA that the United States will become over 20 percent dependent on foreign sources of natural gas by 2030. “We have seen the impacts in this country of our overdependence on foreign sources of oil,” said Senator Murkowski. “We must not make the same mistake with natural gas. With 35 trillion cubic … Continue Reading
02.22.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI ADDRESSES ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today addressed the Alaska State Legislature. Following, please find a copy of her remarks as prepared for delivery. **************************************************************************************************** Speaker Harris, President Green, members of the Alaska Legislature, thank you for the invitation to be with you today. It is wonderful to be back with many of you with which I had the privilege to serve. I commend you for your … Continue Reading
02.16.07
MURKOWSKI URGES SENATE TO ADDRESS PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE CRISIS FACING THE NATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today spoke on the floor of the Senate and urged her colleagues to address the physician shortage crisis facing the Nation. “In just 20 years, 20 percent of the U.S. population will be 65 or older, a percentage larger than any other time in our nation’s history,” said Murkowski. “And, just as this aging population places the highest demand on our health care system, the Council on Graduate Medical Education states that there will be a national shorta… Continue Reading
02.15.07
MURKOWSKI JOINS BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO COMBAT BREAST CANCER
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski has joined a bipartisan effort to combat breast cancer by signing on as an original sponsor of The Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007. The Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act would establish a national strategy to study the links between the environment and breast cancer. This legislation would authorize the National Institutes of Health to develop a peer reviewed research program of grants for the establishment of collaborati… Continue Reading
02.15.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI’S SCHEDULE FOR PRESIDENT’S DAY RECESS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced her public schedule for the upcoming President’s Day Recess. During her travel, the Senator will hold a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee field hearing, participate in community events, local roundtables, school tours and meetings with local leaders in the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, Eagle River, Juneau, and Ketchikan. Senator Murkowski will hold press availabilities on: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The fo… Continue Reading
02.12.07
MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS INTRODUCE TAX LEGISLATION TO ASSIST EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL PLAINTIFFS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens today introduced tax legislation to give the plaintiffs in the Exxon Valdez oil spill settlement the ability to increase retirement contributions and to provide tax relief through income averaging. The bill would provide tax relief to all of the individual plaintiffs in the oil spill settlement, 80% of whom are commercial fisherman. It was drafted to cover any possible settlement while the case is in litigation and any amounts rece… Continue Reading
02.08.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI RE-INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO STOP U.S. PERMITS FOR OFFSHORE FISH FARMS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Citing the importance of maintaining healthy, wild fish stocks, Senator Lisa Murkowski today re-introduced legislation to prohibit the development of any new offshore aquaculture operations in federal waters. The Natural Stock Conservation Act of 2007 prohibits the development of aquaculture facilities in federal waters until Congress has had an opportunity to review all of the serious implications, and make decisions on how such development should proceed. The bill also req… Continue Reading
01.17.07
MURKOWSKI INTRODUCES LEGISLATION AIMED AT REDUCING MANMADE IMPACTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced energy efficiency legislation to promote the development of additional forms of renewable energy and to pave the way for improved fuel consumption by vehicles. The bill, the Renewable Energy, Fuel Reduction, and Economic Stabilization and enHancement Act of 2007 - the REFRESH Act - will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel usage by approximately … Continue Reading
01.12.07
Murkowski Reintroduces Rural Physicians Relief Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced S.290 - the “Rural Physicians’ Relief Act of 2007.” Originally introduced in the 109th Congress, this legislation will both assist physicians who currently provide primary care in rural America and provide an incentive to encourage physicians to practice in these remote and underserved areas. “My hope is to encourage physicians to practice medicine in rural Alaska and throughout rural America,” said Senator Murkowski “Creating inc… Continue Reading
01.10.07
MURKOWSKI REACTS TO PRESIDENT BUSH’S ADDRESS TO THE NATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today offered the following comments following President Bush’s speech on Iraq: “We have already begun to see important changes being made among those making decisions regarding the objectives of our men and women serving in the region. The President’s proposal to increase the number of troops in Iraq is one that should be carefully examined. Any increase to our troop levels must contain a clearly defined mission in the theater to create a stable … Continue Reading
01.10.07
MURKOWSKI REINTRODUCES CAPE FOX LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski has reintroduced legislation to resolve certain conveyances and provide for alternative land selections under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act related to Cape Fox Corporation and Sealaska Corporation. The bill, S.203, enables the Cape Fox Corporation, representing the Native people of Saxman, to finalize its land entitlement under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Under ANCSA, Cape Fox Corporation is required to take conveyance… Continue Reading
01.10.07
SENATORS MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS REINTRODUCE MEASURE TO PROTECT GROUNDWATER, AID FLOOD FORECASTS, AND PROVIDE ECONOMIC GROWTH
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens recently reintroduced legislation requiring the federal government to fund a comprehensive study of water resources in Alaska, including an effort to map aquifers in populated Southcentral Alaska that increasingly supplies well water for tens of thousands of Alaskans. Murkowski, in her past role as chairman of the Senate Water and Power Subcommittee of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, originally introduced the Alaska Water … Continue Reading
01.09.07
MURKOWSKI COMMENTS ON THE LIFTING OF THE PRESIDENTIAL MORATORIUM ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following the decision today by President George Bush to lift the Presidential moratorium that has stopped all energy leasing from even being considered in the waters of the North Aleutian Shelf near Bristol Bay in recent years, Senator Lisa Murkowski urged Alaskans to continue to express their views on the merits and dangers of Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing in Alaska waters. The lifting of the moratorium, on top of the lifting of a companion congressional mor… Continue Reading
01.09.07
MURKOWSKI REINTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO CONSTRUCT WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN ALASKA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today reintroduced legislation to reauthorize and increase the stream of funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to the State of Alaska for the purposes of constructing water and sewer systems in rural communities in Alaska. The legislation, similar to a bill that passed the Senate in the 109th Congress, will increase and extend funding through FY10 to help ensure all Alaskans have access to modern sanitation services. “There remain far too… Continue Reading
01.09.07
MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO TRANSFER LAND TO THE CITY OF COFFMAN COVE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens yesterday introduced legislation to convey 12 acres of surplus Forest Service land to the city of Coffman Cove, Alaska. The parcel is near the new Inter-Island Ferry Terminal and the city hopes to use the land to help spur economic development. Similar legislation passed the Senate last year, but Congress adjourned before the House could act. “Economic development is critical in rural communities throughout Alaska,” said Senator Mur… Continue Reading
01.03.07
MURKOWSKI ANNOUNCES ACADEMY NOMINATIONS FOR 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced 2007 nominations to the U.S. service academies. Murkowski nominated 10 Alaskans for openings to each of the service academies - the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York; the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. For each academy at least one nominee will receive an appointment. Final selections, base… Continue Reading
