Press Releases
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Currently showing results related to Alaska Natives & Rural Alaska
Murkowski on Rural Health and Telehealth Executive Order
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement after President Trump signed an Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access: "Improving access to quality, affordable health care has always been a priority of mine. For a rural state like Alaska, telehealth has been a crucial technology utilized in helping fill that gap and deliver care. I thank the Trump administration for taking these steps aimed at expanding telehealth and finding new ways of covering the co… Continue Reading
07.31.20
ICYMI: Murkowski Joins Heinrich, Daines Legislation To Extend Deadline For Tribes To Spend CARES Act Funding
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Steve Daines (R-MT) in introducing legislation that extends the coverage of Coronavirus Relief Fund payments allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to tribal governments from December 30, 2020, to December 30, 2022. The CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, allocated $8 billion for tribal governments under the Coronavirus Relief Fund. However, Indian Country did not… Continue Reading
07.31.20
Indian Affairs Committee Advances Bills Focused on Health, Safety, Energy, and Cultural Repatriation
This week the Senate Indian Affairs Committee advanced four bills led by U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) - legislation to further uphold the Federal government's trust responsibilities to our nation's First Peoples, improve health care services, improve protections of Native American tangible culture heritage, and help tribal communities work with the Office of Indian Energy (OIE). The Committee advanced Murkowski's S. 2610, the Tribal Energy Reauthorization Act, legislation to reauthorize certai… Continue Reading
07.28.20
Murkowski Applauds Administration’s Actions to Address MMIW Crisis
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded the establishment of seven Cold Case Task Force offices across the nation, dedicated to solving cold cases involving missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. This week marked the opening of an office in Bloomington, Minnesota with an office scheduled to open in Anchorage, Alaska next month, on August 27. Other nationwide offices include: Rapid City, SD; Billings, MT, Albuquerque, NM, and Phoenix, AZ. Click here for more information.… Continue Reading
07.02.20
Murkowski Joins Committee Hearing on Addressing COVID-19 Impact to Native Communities
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing focused on evaluating the response and mitigation to the COVID-19 pandemic in Native communities across the nation. This hearing is particularly relevant to Alaska, as many Native communities currently reflect on previous health emergencies that have disproportionately impacted rural Alaska, such as Tuberculosis and the 1918 flu epidemic. The hearing featured testimony from IHS Director, RADM M… Continue Reading
06.26.20
Alaska Delegation Welcomes Court Win for Alaska Native Corporations
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today welcomed the court decision deeming Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) eligible for tribal assistance appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Today U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Alaska Native Corporations can receive a share of the $8 billion in funding set aside for Tribal governments that Congress approved in March. "When we passed the CARES Act … Continue Reading
06.25.20
Alaska Native Vietnam War-Era Veterans Are One Step Closer To Being Able to Apply for Land Allotments
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today welcomed the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) announcement of proposed rules that will allow more than 1,000 Alaska Native Vietnam War-era veterans to apply for land allotments of up to 160 acres of land. This is a key step to fulfilling an important provision of the Dingell Act, landmark public lands legislation that Congress passed early last year. BLM also announced the specific lands available for selection. "… Continue Reading
06.25.20
Murkowski Calls to Advance Alaska Specific Legislation During Senate Indian Affairs Hearing
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs legislative hearing which included two Alaska specific bills of which Senator Murkowski is the sponsor: S. 3099, the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Land Transfer Act of 2019 and S. 3100, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act of 2019. The hearing also addressed a bill of which Senator Murkowski is a lead cosponsor, S. 2165, the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act o… Continue Reading
05.08.20
Murkowski, Udall Legislation Honoring Native Women Passes Senate
The U.S. Senate passed a resolution led by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tom Udall (D-NM), celebrating the successes of Indigenous women across the nation. Their resolution recognizes contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States, highlighting their service in the military, efforts to break down gender barriers, and work to advance civil rights. The resolution also recognizes the importance of supporting equality, improving safety, and … Continue Reading
05.07.20
Senators Introduce Legislation to Extend Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today introduced legislation to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for an additional 5 years, ensuring these essential hospitals do not face further budget instability during such challenging times. Companion legislation to the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act of 2020 was introduced today by Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) and Representative Don Young (R-AK) in the … Continue Reading
05.06.20
Alaska Delegation: Treasury to Disburse $4.8 Billion to Tribes
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today released the following statements after the U.S. Department of Treasury announced it will disburse 60 percent of the $8 billion set-aside for tribal assistance appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to the formula released by Treasury, $4.8 billion will be distributed among tribes based on population size, as determined by the Department of Housin… Continue Reading
05.05.20
Murkowski Honors National Day of Awareness on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Building on her years-long effort to shine a light on the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) in introducing a resolution to designate May 5 as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The resolution acknowledges the lack of data on the number of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and calls upon Americans to commemorate the lives of those missing a… Continue Reading
04.16.20
Alaska Delegation Responds to Slanderous Attacks on Assistant Secretary, Alaska Native Corporations
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today responded to misguided efforts seeking to prevent Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) from being eligible for tribal assistance appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The delegation also defended Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, Tara Sweeney, from baseless personal attacks over her status as an Alaska Native shareholder, which is part of… Continue Reading
04.01.20
Murkowski: Alaska Communities to Receive $8.8 Million through Secure Rural Schools Program
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that $8.8 million will be distributed to Alaska communities located near or in national forests. The money, which Murkowski secured in the fiscal year 2020 budget process, will fund schools and local budget priorities. "As we navigate the uncharted territory wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, these payments will provide a measure of certainty for communities as they budget for schools, emergency response, and other essential services," Murko… Continue Reading
03.26.20
Alaska Delegation Applauds HHS Grants to Prevent and Combat COVID-19
Today, the Alaska Congressional Delegation applauded funding awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to health care providers across Alaska. This funding became available through legislation passed earlier this month, providing $8.3 billion in emergency funding to combat the spread of COVID-19. "The COVID-19 epidemic represents uncharted territory for our country. Our doctors, nurses, and other caregivers are on the front lines, and they should be provided the support … Continue Reading
03.12.20
Murkowski Addresses Crisis of Missing, Trafficked & Murdered Indigenous Women
Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) spoke on the Senate floor in recognition of Ashley Johnson-Barr Day, a day of recognition passed by the Alaska State Senate yesterday, to bring awareness to violent crimes committed against children. Senator Murkowski honored Ashley's life, a 10 year old girl who was murdered in her hometown of Kotzebue, Alaska. She also commended her colleagues for prioritizing the need to urgently address the crisis of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous women… Continue Reading
03.11.20
Murkowski’s Legislation Addressing Crisis of Missing, Murdered, and Trafficked Indigenous People Passes Senate
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today applauded the unanimous Senate passage of two of her bills to address the crisis of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous women. The bills, Savanna's Act and Not Invisible Act, are both led by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and aim to combat the epidemic by improving the federal government's response through increased coordination, development of best practices, and creation of an advisory committee on violent… Continue Reading
02.14.20
Murkowski, Cortez Masto Co-Host MMIW Briefing on Capitol Hill
Building on her long-standing efforts to address rural Alaska's public safety emergency, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) helped lead a Capitol Hill briefing with U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) on ways to increase the safety of Native women and address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people. The briefing also covered other topics, including issues for PL 280 states, the implementation of 2013 special jurisdiction, and various pieces of legislation that Senator Murkows… Continue Reading
02.14.20
U.S. Senators Tina Smith & Lisa Murkowski Press Secretary DeVos for Answers About Undercounting American Indian and Alaska Native Students
U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) pressed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to stop undercounting the number of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students in America's schools. Inaccurately identifying students leads to an incomplete picture of whether or not a school is adequately meeting students' educational needs. Sens. Smith and Murkowski-both members of the Senate Indian Affairs and Education Committees-said that the Department of Education's guidance a… Continue Reading
02.14.20
Murkowski, Smith Introduce Bill to Protect Children from Human Trafficking
According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), every two minutes a child is being victimized for sexual exploitation. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act of 2020, which would prevent the human trafficking and exploitation of children by providing grants critical for training students, parents, teachers, and school personnel to understand, recognize, prevent, and respond to signs of human tr… Continue Reading
