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 ADDS RENEWABLE ENERGY CONSTRUCTION GRANTS TO SENATE ENERGY LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to increase funding for renewable energy power projects, Senator Lisa Murkowski today won Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approval for an amendment to comprehensive energy legislation that will provide federal grants to help utilities build renewable energy projects. The amendment, which Murkowski drafted with Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, creates a Renewable Energy Construction Grant program that will provide up to 50-50 federal matching grants for t… Continue Reading
04.26.07
MURKOWSKI INTRODUCES SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY IMPROVEMENTS ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced the “School Accountability Improvements Act.” This legislation is designed to amend No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in order to address Alaska’s needs including the ability to use a growth model that tracks individual student progress; provides flexibility on highly qualified teacher requirements; provides flexibility in calculating average yearly progress for special education and Limited English Proficient students; and improves the m… Continue Reading
04.19.07
MURKOWSKI RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE NATIONAL AND GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY PASSES SENATE WITH UNANIMOUS APPROVAL
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski’s resolution to designate April 20, 2007 as National and Global Youth Service Day, S. Res. 158, last night passed the Senate by unanimous consent. For the past five years, Senator Murkowski has offered this resolution in the Senate as a way to raise public awareness of the valuable contributions young people make to their communities throughout the year. Since being introduced by the Senator in 2003, the resolution has passed each year with unanimous ap… Continue Reading
04.18.07
MURKOWSKI COMMENTS ON MEDICARE PART D VOTE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today offered the following comments following her vote on S.3, The Medicare Drug Bill. “Far too many seniors throughout Alaska know of the difficulties of finding a provider who will accept Medicare. Alaskans are waiting weeks for appointments and emergency rooms have lines out the door. Many go without care entirely. The government has already proven ineffective at negotiating Medicare reimbursement rates that benefit Alaska seniors and provide … Continue Reading
04.18.07
MURKOWSKI TAKES 3-2-1 PLEDGE TO HELP REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today met with Megan Waggoner from Palmer who is in Washington. D.C. to receive the President’s Environmental Youth Award on behalf of Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA). At their meeting, Megan told Senator Murkowski about the AYEA’s current 3-2-1 Efficiency! Pledge Campaign. Those who sign the pledge commit to the following three simple steps: 1.) Replace three high-use incandescent bulbs in your home with energy-saving Compact Flores… Continue Reading
04.17.07
MURKOWSKI COSPONSORS ENERGY EFFICIENCY LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues to introduce major energy efficiency legislation that should save the nation 50 billion kilowatt hours of electricity a year, conserve enough natural gas to heat a quarter million homes a year, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Efficiency Promotion Act of 2007 provides federal aid to pioneer advanced lighting technologies, expedites new efficiency standards for household… Continue Reading
04.17.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO INCREASE FOOD DONATIONS TO ALASKA NATIVES
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced legislation to help increase the amount of food donations going to Alaska Natives and American Indians. The legislation would amend the Federal tax code to make corporate charitable donations of food to Native tribes tax deductible. Section 170(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code allows corporations to take an enhanced tax deduction for donations of food inventory; however, the food must be distributed to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizati… Continue Reading
04.16.07
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR ANNOUNCES COASTAL IMPACT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUNDS FOR ALASKA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today applauded an announcement by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne that Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) Funds have been calculated. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 established the CIAP which authorizes funds to be distributed to Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas producing states to mitigate impacts of oil and gas activities. Under the CIAP, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to distribute to producing States and coastal political… Continue Reading
04.16.07
MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO STREAMLINE APPROVAL OF AN ALASKA GASLINE PROJECT
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens today introduced legislation to allow the Office of the Federal Pipeline Coordinator to quickly and efficiently begin its work. The bill allows for more flexibility in hiring personnel, allows the Federal Coordinator to establish reasonable filing and service fees, and clarifies the intent of the Natural Gas Pipeline Act regarding litigation. In 2004, Congress provided tax credits and loan guarantees to improve chances for constructi… Continue Reading
04.12.07
MURKOWSKI ADDRESSES TROOP EXTENSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today made the following remarks concerning Secretary Gates’ announcement that all Army personnel serving in Iraq will have their tours extended to 15 months. Once again, our Nation’s senior defense leaders have called upon the families of our active duty soldiers to muster all of their strength and courage and accept an extension of the period their loved ones will serve in overseas deployment. My heart goes out to the parents, spouses, children, a… Continue Reading
03.28.07
SENATE PASSES AMENDMENT COSPONSORED BY MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS TO EXTEND SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate today has added an amendment to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill that would extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act for five years. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens are original cosponsors of the amendment which was offered by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). Secure Rural Schools provides a dedicated funding stream for local municipalities and school districts dependent on forest timber receipts that have been unable to re… Continue Reading
03.21.07
MURKOWSKI PROMOTES INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today convened a meeting with officials from the U.S. Department of Education, four Einstein fellows and representatives from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. The participants discussed methods for bringing International Polar Year (IPY) activities to more classrooms nationwide. “IPY marks an exciting and unique opportunity for the United States to participate in an ambitious, multinational scientific effort,” said Senator Murkowski. “It is rare… Continue Reading
03.20.07
MURKOWSKI HONORED WITH 2007 DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY HEALTH DEFENDER AWARD
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today received the 2007 Distinguished Community Health Defender Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers. The organization cited recent legislation that Murkowski introduced to provide additional investments in community health centers nationwide. “I am proud to join the National Association of Community Health Centers in addressing our current shortage of access to primary care in rural parts of the country,” said Senator Murk… Continue Reading
03.15.07
MURKOWSKI AND OBAMA INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO BAN THE EXPORT OF MERCURY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to protect Alaska’s wild fish stocks, Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) to introduce legislation to ban the export of elemental mercury, a neurotoxin that can harm fetuses and young children if it continues to accumulate in the environment. The Mercury Market Minimization Act would prohibit the export of Mercury from the United States starting in 2010 in order to reduce its frequently uncontrolled use in developing nations. The Euro… Continue Reading
03.15.07
MURKOWSKI, STEVENS, SCHUMER AND SANDERS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE CRISIS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Noting that our Nation faces a severe shortage of primary care physicians, Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in introducing the Physician Shortage Elimination Act. The legislation provides additional funding and flexibility for existing residency programs, grants and services that have been successful in the past but have been underutilized. A dozen states have already reported significant physic… Continue Reading
03.15.07
MURKOWSKI COMMENTS ON PASSAGE OF RESOLUTIONS SUPPORTING THE TROOPS IN IRAQ
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today released the following statement after the Senate passed two resolutions expressing support for the troops in Iraq and rejected a resolution to support setting a timetable for withdrawal. “We all want our troops to come home as quickly and as safely as possible. I can not, however, support a timetable for withdrawing our forces in Iraq. This would embolden our enemy, give them a blueprint of our military effort and would increasingly jeopardiz… Continue Reading
03.08.07
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
