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 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
04.29.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI ENCOURAGES OPENING OF ANWR
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today spoke on the Senate floor on the high cost of energy and the need to open part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas development. "The price of gasoline all over the nation is high, but in Alaska it is unbearable," said Senator Murkowski. "Americans are tired of hearing about why the cost of energy is so high, what they want to know is what we in Congress are doing to drive down prices. What we need to do is produce more … Continue Reading
04.24.08
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SEND TECHINICAL EXPERT TO ASSESS POWER LINE REPAIR ISSUE IN JUNEAU
WASHINGTON, D.C. - At the request of the Alaska Congressional Delegation the U.S. Department of Energy is sending a senior energy expert to Juneau early next week to assess what can be done to speed the resumption of lower-cost hydroelectric power to Juneau. Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens and Congressman Don Young late today were informed by the Department of Energy that it will comply with a request by the Juneau City Borough and Mayor Bruce Botelho, passed on by the Delegat… Continue Reading
04.24.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI WELCOMES PASSAGE OF BILL TO OUTLAW DISCRIMINATORY USE OF GENETIC TESTING DATA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed passage of a Senate measure that would prevent genetic information from being improperly used against patients. The Senate passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), which prohibits health insurance companies from denying or canceling health coverage on the basis of genetic information. It also prohibits employers from using genetic information to discriminate against an individual through hiring, firing or other employme… Continue Reading
04.24.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI INTRODUCES INFANT IMMUNIZATION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today, during National Infant Immunization Week, introduced the Infant Immunization Improvement Act of 2008. The Infant Immunization Improvement Act, cosponsored by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), aims to increase infant immunization rates, provide funds for coordination of immunizations at Women, Infant and Children (WIC) clinics and authorizes and funds age appropriate immunization outreach and awareness campaigns. The legislation would also establish a s… Continue Reading
04.23.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI PASSES RESOLUTION HONORING NATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH AIDES
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski last night won final passage of a resolution designating April 20 - 26, 2008 as National Community Health Aide, Community Health Practitioner and Dental Health Aide Week. This resolution, co-sponsored by Senator Ted Stevens, honors Community Health Aides' dedication to serving Alaskans. "The Community Health Aide Program is an essential part of health care delivery in Alaska," said Senator Murkowski. "It is fitting that we honor those who have contin… Continue Reading
04.15.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI URGES PASSAGE OF WILDLIFE REFUGE LAND TRADE TO PERMIT KING COVE-COLD BAY ROAD
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today reiterated her support for the residents of King Cove, Alaska to win approval of a land trade that will add 61,000 acres of key wildlife habitat to the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. This trade would permit a short road to be built across the edge of the refuge linking King Cove to the all-weather airport at Cold Bay. "Many residents of King Cove have been stranded in emergency situations, unable to access the airport just across the bay due… Continue Reading
04.15.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI COSPONSORS BILL TO INCREASE VETERANS’ EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski is co-sponsoring legislation that will increase educational benefits in an effort to ensure that military veterans are able to cover rapidly rising college costs. "It is important that we increase the size of the G.I. Bill benefits so that they keep pace with rapidly rising college costs," said Senator Murkowski. "We owe it to our veterans to ensure that once they leave the military higher education is within their reach. This is one way for us to sh… Continue Reading
04.10.08
SENATE EXTENDS RENEWABLE ENERGY TAX CREDITS
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed Senate passage of a provision she co-sponsored that will extend a host of tax credits for clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency provisions. "In order to expand alternative energy development it is vital that we provide consistent tax assistance to help renewable energy become cost-competitive," said Senator Murkowski. "This legislation will be of special assistance in Alaska, where we have a variety of renewable energy projects,… Continue Reading
04.08.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI APPLAUDS CONOCO-BP GAS LINE ANNOUNCEMENT
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the news that Conoco Phillips and BP have joined together to form a new separate company to build the Alaska natural gas pipeline. Senator Murkowski said that the companies' commitment to invest $600 million in the next two years on field work, surveying, engineering, environmental field work and finalizing financing for a gas line prior to applying for final key permits from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the National Energy… Continue Reading
04.08.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI WELCOMES PENSION SETTLEMENT TO ALASKA GUARD MEMBER
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the settlement in the pension case of Alaska Guardsman Robert Traut. Traut was granted full back pay and restored benefits after being denied reemployment by the Department of Health and Human Services in June 2000 after returning from a tour of active duty in the Alaska Air National Guard. Traut, who worked in Anchorage before going on active duty with the Guard, was reemployed by the federal government as a supply technician at Coast … Continue Reading
04.01.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI URGES OPENING OF ANWR
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski yesterday urged her colleagues to support Arctic Alaskan oil development in an effort to help drive down the price of fuel for Americans. The Congressional Research Service recently released new estimates for the total federal revenues from ANWR's opening to $191.1 billion, or potentially $296.9 billion should the U.S. Geological Survey's high estimate of 16 billion barrels of oil be discovered. "There is a lot of hand wringing in Washington ab… Continue Reading
04.01.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI APPLAUDS EFFORTS OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD IN ALASKA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski late Monday commended the brave actions of the men and women of the United States Coast Guard who participated in efforts to rescue the 47-member crew of the fishing vessel Alaska Ranger in the Bering Sea on March 23, 2008. As a result of their heroic efforts, 42 members of the Ranger's crew survived. Murkowski honored the men and women of the Coast Guard in the Senate on the first day that the body returned after its Easter Recess. She noted … Continue Reading
03.26.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski is now accepting applications for summer internships. All Alaskan high school students in their senior year may apply for an opportunity to spend four weeks in Senator Murkowski's Washington D.C. office. The Senator will select a total of twenty students from all areas of Alaska to participate in one of two, month-long sessions. The first session for the summer of 2008 will run from June 9 - July 4 and the second session will be from July 7 - August 1… Continue Reading
03.25.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI ANNOUNCES DONATION OF COMPUTERS TO ALASKA SCHOOLS
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced the shipment of surplus Senate computers to five rural Alaska schools. Schools in Slana, Yakutat, Tanana, Hydaburg and Klukwan will receive five computers each from the United States Senate's Computers for Schools Program. "It is vital to our students' education that we provide them with adequate technology to prepare for the future," said Senator Murkowski. "I am proud to be able to donate this equipment, which will greatly improve th… Continue Reading
03.20.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI HONORS NATIONAL NATIVE HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski last week won final passage designating today as National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The resolution encourages Federal, State and tribal governments to coordinate efforts in HIV/AIDS testing and in the promotion of prevention activities to further efforts in the reduction of HIV/AIDS infection rates among American Indian and Alaska Natives. "The spread of HIV/AIDS within American Indian and Alaska Native communities is alarming," said Senator Murk… Continue Reading
03.18.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI ADDRESSES STATE LEGISLATURE
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski today addressed the Alaska State Legislature. Below are Senator Murkowski's remarks as prepared for delivery: Speaker Harris, President Green, members of the Legislature, thank you for allowing me to address the Legislature today. I want to talk about making history together, but first let's thank those Alaskans who are making us safe. This morning I was honored to address the Joint Armed Services Committee. We talked about health care service… Continue Reading
03.14.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI OPPOSES PROPOSED MORATORIUM ON EARMARKS
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski last night voted against legislation that would ban all earmarks in the Senate for one year. The legislation failed to pass the Senate by a vote of 29-71. "One of my duties as Senator is to ensure that Alaska's needs are met," said Senator Murkowski. "I was born and raised in Alaska. I listen to my constituent's concerns and needs, and I understand Alaska's unique needs. I know better than bureaucrats who've never even been to Alaska how money should … Continue Reading
