02.16.22

ICYMI: Murkowski Addresses Ukraine-Russia Border Crisis

As the Senate works on a sanctions package to deter Russia from invading Ukraine, including imposing severe punishments in the event an invasion is carried out, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) yesterday spoke on the Senate floor about additional steps the Senate should take to address the situation. In her address, she spoke to aspects of the crisis that have received less attention so far, including how an invasion could destabilize the Arctic, how impacts of poor energy policy in the U.S. s… Continue Reading

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02.11.22

Murkowski, King, Colleagues Work to Advance Arctic Diplomacy

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME), co-chairs of the Senate Arctic Caucus, this week led a letter with 10 of their Senate colleagues to Secretary of State Antony Blinken to address critical Arctic issues. In their letter, the Senators raised the need for a comprehensive Arctic strategy and to lead with diplomacy and questioned the State Department's organizational approach to the region. In addition to Senators Murkowski and King, the letter was signed by Senators Lindsey… Continue Reading

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02.11.22

Sullivan, Murkowski Introduce Bill to Ban Russian Seafood Imports

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (both R-Alaska) this week introduced the U.S-Russian Federation Seafood Reciprocity Act, legislation that would impose a ban on the import of all Russian seafood products into the United States in response to Russia's own prohibition on the import of U.S. and other western seafood products since 2014. Russia enacted its embargo in response to a suite of sanctions the United States and its allies imposed following Russia's 2014 invasion of the Crimean… Continue Reading

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02.11.22

Senators Introduce Bill to Improve USCG Behavioral Health Policies

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Guarding Mental Health Act, legislation which would require the Commandant of the Coast Guard to establish an interim behavioral health policy for members of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) that achieves parity with the policies of the Department of Defense (DoD). Currently, the USCG has outdated policies with respect to personnel who come forward to seek treatment for mental and b… Continue Reading

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02.10.22

Schatz, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, released the following statements on introduction of their bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA) in the Senate. "Nearly a decade ago, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 restored Tribal jurisdiction over domestic violence crimes, recognizing Tribes' right to exercise their authorit… Continue Reading

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02.10.22

Murkowski Presses Biden Nominee Over Confounding Land Management & Resource Policies & Broken Statehood Promises

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) helped lead a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing this week where she pressed Laura Daniel-Davis, nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management, over the Biden administration's harmful policies to Alaska implemented by the Department of the Interior. "We want DOI to be our partner, not our landlord, but that relationship has taken turn after turn in the wrong direction in the year-plus this administration … Continue Reading

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02.10.22

Murkowski and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), alongside U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Dick Durbin (D-IL), introduced the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act of 2022. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the VAWA federal grant programs through 2027 and modernizes the almost three-decade old law. This legislation will help prevent violence, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable for their violent actions. It includes key provisions to enhan… Continue Reading

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02.09.22

Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today introduced the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act. The bill, which would reauthorize VAWA through 2027, preserves advancements made in previous reauthorizations and includes a number of additional improvements to the current law. "This bill is the result of a true bipartisan effort, written in partnership with those working to prevent violence and support … Continue Reading

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02.07.22

ICYMI: Murkowski, Manchin Discuss Bipartisanship on CNN’s State of the Union

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) appeared on CNN's State of the Union with anchor Jake Tapper for a substantive joint interview on bipartisanship and how it achieves better results for the American people. Murkowski spoke to her friendship with Manchin; major bipartisanship achievements such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which is now law; current efforts on election reform; and her focus on always putting Alaskans first. To watch the in… Continue Reading

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02.04.22

Grant Roundup: Senator Murkowski Announces Federal Grants to Alaska

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the senior Senator for Alaska, announced the following grants to organizations, Tribal entities, and communities in Alaska: Alaska-Statewide: $32.3 million to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells from the Department of the Interior funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Alaska-Statewide: Anchorage: $373,278 to Rural Alaska Community Action Plan to recruit 50 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who will leverage the language and cultur… Continue Reading

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02.03.22

Senator Murkowski Raises Middle Mile and Tribal Infrastructure in Alaska to Secretary of Commerce

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently took part in a U.S. Senate Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on expanding America's broadband access through programs contained within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which Senator Murkowski helped author and shepherd into law. During the hearing, Senator Murkowski questioned U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo, on Alaska-specific priorities, including middle mile and Tribal broa… Continue Reading

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02.03.22

Vice Chair Murkowski Leads Discussion on Repatriation of Native American Remains and Sacred Objects During Committee Oversight Hearing

During an oversight hearing this week, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), provided an opening statement on the important oversight role that Congress exercises regarding the implementation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and its importance to Alaska Native, American Indian and Native Hawaiian efforts to repatriate sacred human remains and funerary objects back to their communities. Pictured: Sen… Continue Reading

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02.03.22

Vice Chair Murkowski Leads Discussion on Repatriation of Native American Remains and Sacred Objects During Committee Oversight Hearing

During an oversight hearing this week, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), provided an opening statement on the important oversight role that Congress exercises regarding the implementation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and its importance to Alaska Native, American Indian and Native Hawaiian efforts to repatriate sacred human remains and funerary objects back to their communities. Pictured: Sen… Continue Reading

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02.03.22

Murkowski Announces U.S. Military Service Academy Nominees

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced the names of the 30 young Alaskans she is nominating to the U.S. Military Service Academies. "Every year, young Alaskans from across the state work to be the best they can, both physically and intellectually, in hopes of pursuing an education at a U.S. Military Service Academy. Each of these nominees are exemplary candidates who demonstrate incredible discipline and potential. As I reflect on the significance of the military in our state, it gi… Continue Reading

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02.02.22

Murkowski Leads HELP Hearing on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) helped lead a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing focused on America's growing crisis of mental health and substance use disorders as well as the actions necessary to address them in a multi-faceted approach. The hearing featured mental health youth advocate, Claire Rhyneer of Eagle River, Alaska as a witness. Click here for video of Senator Murkowski. Click here for photos. Senator Murkowski opened her remarks by speakin… Continue Reading

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02.01.22

Alaska Delegation Welcomes $32 Million Available to Alaska for Legacy Well Cleanup

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, released the following statements after the U.S. Department of the Interior announced $1.15 billion is available states to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells. The funding is available through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which was signed into law on November 15, 2021, with $32.2 million available to Alaska: "The failure to address legacy wells has long been an issue in too many comm… Continue Reading

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01.31.22

Senators Introduce Resolution Designating January as ‘National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month’

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced a resolution designating January as "National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month." "It's unconscionable that in 2022 there are an estimated 40 million victims of human trafficking and slavery," said Senator Feinstein. "We owe it to each and every one of these victims to rid the world of these abhorrent crimes. I'm glad to join my colleagues to intr… Continue Reading

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01.31.22

Graham, Blumenthal Introduce EARN IT Act to Encourage Tech Industry to Take Online Child Sexual Exploitation Seriously

U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to encourage the tech industry to take online child sexual exploitation seriously. The Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies Act (EARN IT Act) removes blanket immunity for violations of laws related to online child sexual abuse material (CSAM). "There are tens of millions of photos and videos circulating throughout the internet, showing … Continue Reading

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01.28.22

Murkowski Welcomes Additional H-2B Visas, Critical for Seasonal Jobs in Alaska

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statements after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced 20,000 additional H-2B nonagricultural worker visas for the first half of fiscal year 2022, which will be available to employers on Friday, January 28, 2022. This marks the first release of supplemental visas in the first half of a fiscal year. "The H-2B visa program has long played an important role for seasonal fishing and tourism bus… Continue Reading

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01.28.22

Murkowski Welcomes Steve Wackowski Back to Team as State Director

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced Steve Wackowski will serve as her new State Director in Anchorage, Alaska. "I'm excited to welcome Steve back to my team. His work experience-not only in Alaska but also around Congress at large-expertise in the resource development industry, and his passion for our state make him a great fit for this position. Steve is a guy that just gets how Alaska works," said Senator Murkowski. "Throughout the many years I've known Steve, he has proven to … Continue Reading