03.01.19

Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce PFAS Action Act of 2019

U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) introduced legislation that would mandate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA… Continue Reading

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03.01.19

Cassidy, Murkowski, Gardner Reintroduce Legislation to Expedite FERC Review of Energy Infrastructure Applications

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced the Timely Review of Infrastructure Act (S. 607), legislation aimed at reducing the long wait times for federal approval of energy infrastructure projects, including LNG projects. A shortage of highly specialized engineers, scientists, and mathematicians tasked with reviewing construction applications at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has created a backlog of projects waiting to re… Continue Reading

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03.01.19

Udall, Collins, Shaheen, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Terminate President’s National Emergency Declaration

Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), along with U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), introduced a bipartisan joint resolution to terminate the president's national emergency declaration and uphold the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution. The resolution is a companion resolution to H.J.Res 46, which passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 245-182 earlier this week. On February 15, the president declared a national e… Continue Reading

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02.28.19

IEA: Policy, Innovation, and Flexibility Key to U.S. Energy Leadership

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing where International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol testified about his agency's perspective on global energy markets. IEA, which was founded in 1974, now includes 30 member countries and is a leader on global energy policy and analysis. "Over the past decade, the United States has transformed into a dominant player in global energy markets. We ended the arbitrary prohibition on domestic crude oil exports a few y… Continue Reading

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02.28.19

Brown, Collins, Baldwin and Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Police Officers, Teachers

Today, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced bipartisan legislation that would ensure public sector workers and their families can receive full Social Security benefits after two previous statutes reduced them. The Senators' bill, the Social Security Fairness Act, would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the Social Security Act. Both of the statutes significantly r… Continue Reading

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02.28.19

Sens. Coons, Murkowski, Harris introduce bill during Black History Month to recognize ‘Hidden Figures’ for contributions to U.S. leadership during the Space Race

U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), along with 60 of their colleagues, introduced a bipartisan bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to Katherine Johnson and Dr. Christine Darden and to posthumously award Congressional Gold Medals to Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. The bill would also award a 5th Congressional Gold Medal to honor all women who contributed to NASA during the Space Race. The bill, which unanimously passed the Senate last… Continue Reading

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02.28.19

Murkowski Votes to Confirm EPA Administrator

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after voting to confirm Andrew Wheeler to be Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator: "Andrew Wheeler has proven himself during his tenure as Acting EPA Administrator as a leader who hears and takes seriously the concerns of Alaskans, and I believe he will continue to carry out the EPA's mission to ensure that we have clean air, clean water, as well as addressing significant challenges like climate change. Alaskans … Continue Reading

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02.27.19

Baldwin, Murkowski, Ernst, Brown Introduce Bipartisan Reform to Ensure Coverage for Children Born with Congenital Anomalies or Birth Defects

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to ensure health insurance coverage for needed treatment and procedures for individuals born with congenital anomalies or birth defects. The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act would close a coverage gap to ensure that health plans cover medically necessary services related to a patient's anomaly or birth defect, including any serious dental and oral-related pro… Continue Reading

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02.27.19

ENR Reviews Priorities for U.S. Territories

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday chaired a hearing to examine the priorities of the U.S. territories and how Congress can help to achieve them. The hearing featured four territorial governors: Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló; Guam Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero; U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan; and Northern Mariana Islands Gov. Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres. "I have had the privilege of visiting four of the territories as chairman of this committee," Murkowski said. "C… Continue Reading

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02.27.19

“Magnificent” Public Lands Package Heads to the President’s Desk

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, today welcomed the House of Representatives' bipartisan approval of S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act. After the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 92 to 8 on February 12, the House passed it this afternoon by a vote of 363 to 62. The bill will now head to the president's desk. "I commend Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Bishop for their partnership and leadership to move this im… Continue Reading

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02.26.19

What They're Saying in Support of the Natural Resources Management Act

S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act, is a bipartisan package of more than 120 public lands, natural resources, sportsmen, conservation, and water management bills that was introduced in January 2019 by Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and former committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). Murkowski, ENR Ranking Member Manchin, and Cantwell led the Senate's strong approval (92-8) of S. 47 on February 12. Today, the House is expected to vote on final p… Continue Reading

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02.26.19

Duckworth, Murkowski, Chu & Walorski Re-Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Expand Coverage for Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors

U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA-27) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN-2) today re-introduced legislation to ensure breast cancer patients and survivors who have experienced a mastectomy are able to access custom breast prosthetics under Medicare. The Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act would provide coverage for custom fabricated breast prostheses, the only human body part not currently covered by Medicare, to the more than 144,… Continue Reading

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02.22.19

Murkowski Comments on Draft EIS for Pebble Mine

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) released the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the Pebble mine project in southwest Alaska. "The Army Corps has now released a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Pebble mine. While it will take time to review this 1,400-page document and its supporting materials, I have begun to do so and encourage all Alaskans to do the same, because it is cri… Continue Reading

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02.21.19

Tester, Sullivan, Udall, Murkowski Team Up to Improve VA Outreach to Native American Veterans

U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are teaming up to improve the VA's outreach, health care and benefits for Native Americans. The Senators introduced the bipartisan VA Tribal Advisory Committee Act to establish a VA Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs. The Committee will facilitate communication and understanding between the VA and Tribal governments to better address the unique barriers Native American vet… Continue Reading

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02.21.19

Murkowski, Cantwell, Gardner, Wyden, Feinstein Reintroduce Bill to Help Prepare and Protect Communities from Landslides

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., recently reintroduced bipartisan legislation to improve the science and coordination needed to help local communities prepare for and respond to landslides and other natural hazards. S. 529, the National Landslide Preparedness Act, will help protect communities and property, save lives, and improve emergency preparedness and planning by targeting key gaps in cu… Continue Reading

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02.15.19

Murkowski: Cybersecurity a Priority in the 116th Congress

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday chaired a hearing to examine the status and outlook of efforts to protect our nation's energy infrastructure from cyber threats and attacks. The hearing featured Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Neil Chatterjee, Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) Karen Evans, and representatives from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the West V… Continue Reading

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02.14.19

Funding Package to Improve Border Security, Strengthen Infrastructure and Invest in Communities Heads to President

Congress today passed a funding bill package that sets federal funding levels for Fiscal Year 2019, sending it to the president to be signed into law. The funding package combines the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Appropriations bills for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; Commerce, Justice, Science; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior-Environment; State and Foreign Operations; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. As Chairman of… Continue Reading

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02.14.19

Murkowski Interior Bill Secures Big Wins for Alaska

Both the Senate and House today passed a seven-bill appropriations package containing funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The package included U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski's (R-AK) Interior-Environment bill, which passed both chambers and is a negotiated agreement that addresses a range of challenges, needs, and opportunities in Alaska. Senator Murkowski, chairman of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, secured provisions to strengthen Alaska's economy, improve wa… Continue Reading

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02.14.19

Murkowski Votes to Confirm William Barr as Attorney General

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after voting to confirm William Barr as U.S. Attorney General: "What the Justice Department needs more than anything else right now is a strong, experienced, thoughtful hand at the helm. Former Attorney General Barr is well suited to the task and to fill the spot he once held. He understands and respects the uniquely independent role that the Justice Department and its career attorneys occupy in our constitutional system," said… Continue Reading

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02.14.19

Managing Pain During the Opioid Crisis

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) this week joined her colleagues on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee in an oversight hearing to better understand causes of pain, how we improve managing patient care, and the status of developing new medicines and methods to manage and treat pain. The Committee heard from the following witnesses: Cindy Steinberg- U.S. Pain Foundation; Halena Gazelka, M.D.- Mayo Clinic Opioid Stewardship Program and Mayo Clinic Impatient Pain Service;… Continue Reading