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.
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, 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 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 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
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
