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 Announces Big Wins for Alaska in Infrastructure Bill
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a key negotiator of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, announced significant funding to support Alaskan infrastructure projects. Sunday night, Senator Murkowski and her colleagues unveiled the text of their bill, which is now before the full Senate for consideration. The bipartisan bill provides $550 billion in new federal funding without raising taxes-including for roads, bridges, rail, transit, ports, airports, energy, water systems, and broadband. … Continue Reading
08.02.21
Murkowski Commends SAMHSA Grants to Alaska Native Communities
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) commends the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for providing 29 Tribal Behavioral Health Grants for $7 million to Tribal communities, including six grants to Alaska. The funding will help prevent suicide and substance misuse among young people in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Around 20 percent of the funds will go directly to Alaskan communities with the goal of reducing the impact of trauma while promot… Continue Reading
08.01.21
Senators’ Statement on the Finalized Bipartisan Infrastructure Agreement Legislative Text
U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Susan Collins (R-ME), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Jon Tester (D-MT) issued the following statement: "Over the last four days we have worked day and night to finalize historic legislation that will invest in our nation's hard infrastructure and create good-paying jobs for working Americans in communities across the country without raising… Continue Reading
07.30.21
Sullivan, Feinstein, Murkowski & King Introduce American Grown Act
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Angus King (I-Maine) yesterday introduced the American Grown Act, legislation requiring the Executive Office of the President, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State to only procure cut flowers and cut greens grown in the United States. Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) first introduced the legislation in the House in May of 2019, and introduced companion legislation last week. "If … Continue Reading
07.29.21
Alaska Congressional Delegation Introduces Legislation to Bring Economic Development and Growth to Alaska Native Communities
The Alaska Congressional Delegation introduced landmark legislation to increase accessibility for tax-exempt financing on economic development efforts for Alaska Native and American Indian projects. Such financing, known as Tribal Economic Development, or TED Bonds, is an important tool for Tribal governments to finance economic development opportunities and diversify resources that benefit their communities. The purpose of this legislation is to even the playing field by updating the rules for … Continue Reading
07.28.21
Senators’ Statement on Infrastructure
U.S. Senators Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Mark Warner (D-… Continue Reading
07.23.21
Murkowski Adds Two New Military Fellows to D.C. Office
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently welcomed two new military fellows to her team in Washington D.C.: U.S. Coast Guard Fellow, Abbie Lyons, and HillVets Fellow, Lou Feaman. “I’m excited to welcome these two new fellows to my team. The military plays an incredible role in our state and I have no doubt that Abbie and Lou will go above and beyond in their efforts to support each of our military branches,” said Senator Murkowski. “Their experience and service help them truly understand… Continue Reading
07.23.21
Alaska Congressional Delegation Announces Alaskan Garrett Boyle to Lead Denali Commission
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today announced that Garrett Boyle has been appointed by the Secretary of Commerce as the Denali Commission Federal Co-Chair. Boyle will replace John Torgerson who has been serving in the role of Interim Federal Co-Chair. Garrett Boyle received his bachelor's degree from Seattle University and is a graduate of Tulane University School of Law. He was raised in small towns throughout Alaska, including Ouzinkie, U… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Murkowski Legislation to Support Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advances in Senate
Today the Senate HELP Committee advanced the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA), legislation U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) cosponsored with her colleague, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), which makes improvements for domestic violence shelters and sexual assault programs in Alaska and throughout the nation. The bill enhances and expands support, protection, and prevention for Americans affected by family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. The bill p… Continue Reading
07.20.21
Bill to Address Victim Services Heading to President’s Desk
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) spoke on the U.S. Senator floor, urging her colleagues to pass the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act (VOCA Fix Act), legislation she helped introduce to strengthen the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) by re-directing new funds into the Crime Victims Fund. Following her speech, the Senate passed the VOCA Fix Act in a 100-0 vote and will now head to the President's desk to be signed into law. This federal funding is essential to addressing Alaska's lack … Continue Reading
07.20.21
Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce Legislation to Combat Teen Dating Violence
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, introduced Bree's Law, S. 2364. The legislation-named after Breanna (Bree) Moore, a 20-year-old Alaskan who was murdered by her boyfriend in 2014-drives education initiatives to enable youth, parents, and advocates to recognize, prevent, and mitigate teen dating violence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 11 female and 1 in 14 male high school students have reported experiencing physical d… Continue Reading
07.16.21
Alaska Delegation Responds to USDA “Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy”
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, issued the following statements after the Biden administration announced it will seek to revoke the Tongass National Forest's full exemption from the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (Roadless Rule), granted under the previous administration, and also further diminish the supply available for a viable timber industry. This announcement is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Southeast Alask… Continue Reading
07.14.21
Murkowski Joins Secretary of Energy to Announce Funding to Support Energy Technology Deployment
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE), Jennifer Granholm, to announce funding from the DOE Office of Indian Energy (OIE) to support thirteen American Indian and Alaska Native communities to deploy energy technology. This includes $5,269,376 which will be distributed among seven tribes in Alaska. The funding will help maximize deployment and implementation of energy technology, including projects to lower the cost of energy, make buildings more… Continue Reading
07.09.21
Murkowski Welcomes First Cruise Ship to Alaska Since 2019
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined state leaders and community members in Ketchikan today to welcome the first large cruise ship to Alaska since the 2019 season. Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas arrived to the Ketchikan port this morning to serve as the state's test cruise-with volunteer passengers-to demonstrate to the CDC the implementation of COVID-19 mitigation protocols. Following today's simulated voyage, 78 sailings are currently scheduled to take place in Alaska for the rema… Continue Reading
07.02.21
Delegation Welcomes Over $20 Million in Funding to Improve Rural Alaska Airport Infrastructure
Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, announced that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded over $20 million to the Robert Curtis Memorial Airport in Noorvik, and the Togiak Airport in Togiak Village. This funding was made available under the FAA's Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which allocates funding for airports to make capital improvements, enhance public safety, and restore aging or debilitated infrastructure. … Continue Reading
07.01.21
Murkowski Receives Congressional Award from Small Business Council of America
In recognition of her efforts to support small businesses, in Alaska and across the nation, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was presented the 38th Annual Congressional Award from the Small Business Council of America (SBCA). For over forty years, the SBCA has advocated for more than 100,000 privately-held and family-owned organizations on a number of issues, including employee benefits, taxes, and health care. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. And that backbone suffered a m… Continue Reading
06.28.21
Cantwell, Murkowski Introduce Bill to Incentivize Hydropower Upgrades, Restore River Flow
Last week, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced Senate Bill 2306, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectric and River Restoration Act of 2021, that would create new federal tax incentives to encourage safety, environmental, and grid resiliency upgrades for hydropower dams. This will help ensure that existing hydroelectric facilities are able to continue to provide emissions-free, affordable electricity to millions of Pacific Northwest ratepayers. The bill wo… Continue Reading
06.26.21
VICE CHAIRMAN MURKOWSKI CONTINUES DIALOGUE ON KEY NATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE POLICIES
This week, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), discussed important infrastructure development in Native communities with key tribal leaders and stakeholders during a SCIA roundtable on "Concrete Solutions: Building a Successful Foundation for Native Communities' Infrastructure Development." Murkowski began her remarks by discussing a virtual roundtable she previously hosted with members of the Association of Alaska Housing Authorities. … Continue Reading
06.25.21
Supreme Court Rules Alaska Native Corporations Eligible for CARES Act Tribal Relief
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today welcomed a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Yellen v. Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation that upholds the decades-long inclusion of Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) as "Indian tribes" under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDA)-also known as ISDEAA, confirming ANC eligibility for the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) tribal set-aside within Title V of the Coronav… Continue Reading
06.25.21
Murkowski, Klobuchar, McCollum, Young Address Enduring Public Health Issue
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Don Young (R-AK) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Advancing FASD Research, Services, and Prevention Act of 2021 (FASD Respect Act). The bill addresses prenatal substance exposure through early intervention-by providing support through programs and funding for prevention efforts and for individuals and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). FASDs inclu… Continue Reading