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 Secures Alaska Funding Priorities in Appropriations Bills
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after the Appropriations Committee posted the remaining nine Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bills, including the Interior-Environment appropriations bill of which Senator Murkowski serves as the Ranking Member: "The Appropriations bills posted earlier this week are a mixture of the good, the bad, and the ugly. On the good side, I am pleased that we were successful in including so many priorities from Alaskans for local projects … Continue Reading
10.20.21
Senate Passes One Year Extension for Tribal Governments to Utilize COVID Relief
Last night, the United States Senate passed the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act (S. 3011), which includes a one-year extension of the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) deadline to allow Tribal governments additional time to use CARES CRF allocations. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), is a cosponsor to S. 3011 and was able to secure inclusion of the tr… Continue Reading
10.18.21
Murkowski, Reed, Braun Introduce Bills to Address Student Loans
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Mike Braun (R-IN) have introduced two bills to address the rising cost of post-secondary education: the State-Based Education Loan Awareness Act and the Student Loan Repayment Freedom Act. The State-Based Education Loan Awareness Act would eliminate deterrents and penalties that prevent universities from informing students about student loans offered by non-profit, state agency lenders whose mission is to make college affordable and acc… Continue Reading
10.14.21
Senators Markey, Murkowski and Representative Kuster Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Expand Access to Opioid Treatment in Correctional Facilities
U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced the reintroduction of the Community Re-Entry through Addiction Treatment to Enhance (CREATE) Opportunities Act, bipartisan legislation to create a new federal grant program to support opioid-use disorder (OUD) treatment at state and local correctional facilities. Representative Ann Kuster (NH-2) will introduce identical legislation in the House of Representatives. The CREATE Opportunities Act establishes the Medication… Continue Reading
10.14.21
Senators Introduce Bill to Improve Access to Justice in the West, Create New Twelfth Circuit
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) have introduced the Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act of 2021, a bill that would codify the Judicial Conference's most recent recommendations as well as other important measures to enhance the effectiveness of the federal judiciary. The legislation would authorize 77 permanent district court judgeships, convert nine temporary district court judgeships into per… Continue Reading
10.09.21
Murkowski Responds to Reports Suggesting Crude Oil Ban
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today responded to reports that the U.S. Department of Energy is considering a ban on U.S. crude exports. "There was a reason I led the effort to lift the decades old, failed policy of a ban on the export of oil. Domestic crude oil production allows the U.S. to participate in global markets, creating jobs and opportunities for Americans, and helping our friends and allies. It was after the ban was lifted that the U.S. shifted to a position of true energy stren… Continue Reading
10.07.21
Senator Murkowski Supports Taiwan Amid China’s Unprecedented Incursion
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after Taiwan was threatened by China during the largest ever incursion by China's air force into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) with 56 aircraft: "This latest action by China, threatening the island of Taiwan, makes clear that China intends an adversarial, provocative relationship with Taiwan, those that support it, and those that value personal freedoms. It should not be this way. While the Chinese Communist Par… Continue Reading
10.07.21
Murkowski, King Introduce Bill to Strengthen Diplomacy in the Arctic
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME)-co-chairs of the Senate Arctic Caucus-today introduced the Arctic Diplomacy Act of 2021, legislation which will elevate Arctic issues in U.S. foreign policy by establishing an Assistant Secretary of State for Arctic Affairs who will lead and conduct U.S. foreign policy in the Arctic region and on Arctic issues. The Senate confirmed position will be responsible for influencing decisions and behavior of Arctic nations, Arctic issues, and ac… Continue Reading
10.04.21
Rosen, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill Expanding Palliative Care Training for National Health Service Corps Providers
U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), both members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, announced the introduction of their Provider Training in Palliative Care Act. This bipartisan legislation would allow members of the National Health Service Corps to defer their service for up to a year to do additional training in palliative care. The Provider Training in Palliative Care Act is endorsed by key stakeholders, including AARP, American Cancer S… Continue Reading
10.02.21
Murkowski’s Plea for Americans to Show Kindness and Appreciation to Healthcare Workers
As Alaska leads the nation in positive COVID-19 cases, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) spoke on the Senate floor to discuss Alaska's record breaking COVID cases. In her remarks, she encouraged Americans to show kindness, respect, and appreciation to our nation's healthcare workers on the frontlines of this pandemic. Click here for video. Senator Murkowski's full remarks: "Mr. President, I have come to the floor this afternoon unexpectedly. I had anticipated that I was going to be takin… Continue Reading
09.30.21
Cortez Masto, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Shortage of Health Care Providers in Native American Communities
U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced bipartisan legislation to help the Indian Health Services (IHS) recruit and hire more health care professionals by providing medical, nursing, and other students with fully tax-exempt scholarships and loan repayment programs. IHS has a 25 percent vacancy rate for health care providers and currently needs more than 1,300 positions filled, which this legislation could help address. In order to attract new, tale… Continue Reading
09.29.21
Murkowski’s Legislation Extending Native Children’s Commission Signed Into Law
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) today applauded S. 325, a bill to amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes, being signed into law by the President. Senator Murkowski introduced the bill in February 2021 with Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dan Sullivan… Continue Reading
09.28.21
White House Announces Appointment of New U.S. Arctic Research Commissioners
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement after the Biden Administration appointed new U.S. Arctic Research Commission (USARC) Commissioners and a new chair. USARAC is an independent federal agency that advises the President and Congress on domestic and international Arctic research. USARC Commissioners will include Dr. Mike Sfraga, Director of the Polar Institute at the Wilson Center (who will serve as the Chair of the Commission); Deborah Vo, who previously served as Sen… Continue Reading
09.24.21
Senators’ Statement Urging House of Representatives to Pass Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) issued the following statement, urging the House of Representatives to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill: "Passage of the historic bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Monday would be a great victory for the American people. It will modernize and upgrade our roads, bridges, ports, and broadband; increase the resiliency of our electric grid and c… Continue Reading
09.23.21
Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Permanently Exempt Alaska-Bound Cruises from the PVSA, Boosting Economies and Jobs
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced new legislation, the Cruising for Alaska's Workforce Act, to provide a permanent exemption from the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) for cruises transporting passengers to Alaska from the rest of the U.S. In an effort to support U.S. shipbuilders and Alaska's tourism industry, this waiver will end once there is a U.S.-built ship that carries more than 1,000 passengers. Senator Murkowski previously introduced the Alaska Tourism Restoration A… Continue Reading
09.22.21
DoD Selects Senior Advisor for Arctic Security Affairs
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today congratulated Major General (Ret.) Randy "Church" Kee on his selection by the Department of Defense (DoD) to serve as the Senior Advisor for Arctic Security Affairs. In this role, Kee will oversee the establishment of the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, the sixth DoD Regional Center and the only one specifically focused on the Arctic. Named in honor of the late U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, the Stevens Center will support and strengthen advances DoD … Continue Reading
09.21.21
Senators Reintroduce Bill to Ensure Fair Medicare Payments, Make Cost-Of-Living Adjustment For Alaska, Hawai‘i Nursing Homes
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today reintroduced legislation that will provide for fair Medicare payments for nursing facilities in Hawai'i and Alaska. The bipartisan Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act will authorize a cost-of-living adjustment at skilled nursing facilities in those states to take into account the higher costs of delivering care. "Nursing homes are on the front lines of this… Continue Reading
09.16.21
Murkowski and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Taxpayer Rights and Privacy
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and colleagues introduced the Tax Gap Reform and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Enforcement Act, a bill to protect taxpayers and provide guardrails at the IRS while ensuring that the IRS has the tools and personnel it needs. The legislation is led by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-Texas). "I support enforcement of our tax laws to ensure that taxes owed are p… Continue Reading
09.16.21
Murkowski Applauds Public Safety Funding Awarded to Alaska
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the announcement that the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is awarding $861,716 to the Alaska Department of Public Safety through the Fiscal Year 2021 Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program. The focus of the grant program is to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to help turn the tide on rising numbers of violent crimes against women, as well as to … Continue Reading
09.15.21
Murkowski Announces Bill to Protect Alaska Tourism Industry
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced new legislation to provide a permanent exemption from the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) for cruises between the Lower 48 and Alaska. During her keynote speech at the Southeast Conference Annual Meeting in Haines, Senator Murkowski unveiled the details of her proposal, which will be introduced next week. "While the PVSA is well-intentioned to protect American jobs and businesses, it had the unintended consequence of putting Alaskan businesses a… Continue Reading
