Press Releases
Media Requests: Members of the media can contact the press office by emailing karina_borger@murkowski.senate.gov or by calling 202-224-6665 and asking for the press office.
Alaska Delegation Praises Passage of Tribal Employment and Training Legislation
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young released the following statements praising the unanimous Senate passage of H.R. 228, legislation to strengthen and reform a comprehensive Native employment and training program commonly known as the "477 Program." The legislation, championed by a united Alaska delegation, marks Young's second to reach the President's desk during the 115th Congress. "The 477 Program has proven to be an innovative and effective tool in providin… Continue Reading
11.29.17
Senator Murkowski Statement on Senate Tax Reform Legislation
After thoroughly reviewing the good work of the Finance Committee, I intend to support the reconciliation legislation that is now before the Senate. Because the bill includes provisions originating in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Alaskans can expect to see me co-managing it with my colleagues, Budget Chairman Mike Enzi and Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch. The bill before us has a number of features that are very attractive to Alaskans. It lowers tax rates, doubles the child tax cre… Continue Reading
11.20.17
Donnelly and Murkowski Push for National Health Service Corps Expansion to Combat Opioid Abuse
U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today called on Senate leaders to do more to combat substance use disorders and the workforce shortage facing treatment providers in rural and underserved communities. Donnelly and Murkowski sent a letter asking for more resources to be dedicated to the addiction treatment workforce shortage and for the reauthorization and expansion of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) student loan repayment and forgiveness program to include add… Continue Reading
11.20.17
Murkowski Releases FY2018 Interior, Environment Appropriations Bill
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released her Fiscal Year 2018 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act recommendation, which supports key programs to protect the health of our economy. Known as the chairman's mark, the draft recommends responsible funding levels and serves as the basis of the subcommittee's appropriations bill negotiations for the new fiscal year. "This bill will empower Americans to build our economy and create healthy communities for our familie… Continue Reading
11.16.17
Alaska Delegation Requests State Department to Focus on Transboundary Issues
The Alaska Congressional Delegation joined together with the State of Alaska to urge Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to address the downstream risks that mining in British Columbia may pose to Alaskan communities and habitats surrounding transboundary rivers. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Congressman Don Young, Governor Bill Walker and Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott wrote a letter (attached) to Secretary Tillerson, seeking his Department's engagement in their efforts to ensure that … Continue Reading
11.16.17
Legislation to Unlock 1002 Area’s Vast Energy Resources Advances in Senate
Today, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced reconciliation language pursuant to its instruction in H. Con. Res. 71, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018, to raise $1 billion in federal revenues. Following a bipartisan 13-10 vote in favor of the reconciliation language that would end the years-long moratorium on oil and gas development in a small portion of the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), Alaska's congressional delegati… Continue Reading
11.15.17
Energy Committee Advances Chairman’s Mark to Meet FY2018 Budget Instruction
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today advanced reconciliation legislation pursuant to the committee's instruction to raise $1 billion in federal revenues in H. Con. Res. 71, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018. "Our bipartisan vote today is another positive step forward for Alaska and our nation, and I thank my colleagues for their strong support," Murkowski said. "Opening a small part of the non-wilderness 1002 Area for responsib… Continue Reading
11.15.17
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Breastfeeding Protections at Work
Today, Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), joined by Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Al Franken (D-MN), announced the introduction of the Supporting Working Moms Act of 2017. This bipartisan legislation would help ensure that more working mothers can continue to breastfeed their babies after they return to work. This bill builds on… Continue Reading
11.15.17
Murkowski: We Must Rebuild a Smarter, More Resilient Electric Grid in Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday chaired an oversight hearing to examine the ongoing recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Committee members also discussed the short-term, mid-term, and long-term efforts to rebuild stronger, more resilient and reliable electric grids on the islands. "The totality of recovery work that still needs to be done in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is overwhelming," Murkowski said. "Restor… Continue Reading
11.10.17
Murkowski Honors Our Veterans
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) shared the following message with Alaskans on Veterans Day: "This Veterans Day, and every day, I am thankful for the men and women who have served in our military branches and have sacrificed so much for our nation's freedom and protection. Veterans are our fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. They are our co-workers, neighbors, community leaders, and our friends. We cannot thank them enough for being role models of courage, sacrifice, and service. We should… Continue Reading
11.09.17
Alaska Delegation Welcomes Joint Development Agreement to Advance Alaska LNG Project
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the State of Alaska, the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), CIC Capital Corporation (CIC Capital), and the Bank of China (BOC) announced the signing of a joint development agreement to advance the Alaska LNG project. "We congratulate Gov. Walker and all who are working on the Alaska LNG project on this milestone.… Continue Reading
11.08.17
Alaska Delegation Takes Next Step to Open Alaska’s 1002 Area
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, and Alaska Gov. Bill Walker today issued the following statements after the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources released budget reconciliation legislation to open a small part of the non-wilderness portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), known as the "1002 Area" or Coastal Plain, to responsible oil and gas development. "This legislation is a tremendous opportunity for both Alaska and our coun… Continue Reading
11.08.17
Murkowski Releases Chairman’s Mark to Meet FY2018 Budget Instruction
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released reconciliation legislation pursuant to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's instruction to raise $1 billion in federal revenues in H. Con. Res. 71, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018. "Our instruction is a tremendous opportunity both for our committee and our country," Murkowski said. "The legislation I released tonight will put Alaska and the entire nation on a path toward greater prosperity by creating… Continue Reading
11.07.17
Sen. Murkowski Leads CODEL to Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this past weekend led a congressional delegation to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to assess damages in the hurricane ravaged islands and ongoing recovery efforts. The delegation also held discussions with local leaders on how to restore power expeditiously and rebuild a stronger, more sustainable electric grid. Joining Murkowski on the CODEL were Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Al Franken, D-Minn., Tom Carper, D-Del., and Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Reps… Continue Reading
11.07.17
AK Delegation Applauds Major Missile Defense Increase in Trump Administration’s Budget Request
The Alaska Congressional delegation today applauded the Trump administration's FY18 budget amendment for the Department of Defense, which requests $4 billion for missile defeat and defense upgrades to counter increasing threat from North Korea. This action includes $2.1 billion for missile defense, including $200 million in military construction for a new missile field at Fort Greely, AK, and 20 missile interceptors required to operationalize the field. "For the past year, I have been sounding … Continue Reading
11.02.17
Alaska Delegation: Now is the Right Time to Open Alaska’s 1002 Area
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing focused on the potential for oil and gas development in the non-wilderness portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), known as the "1002 Area" or Coastal Plain, to meet the $1 billion budget reconciliation instruction the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee received last week in H. Con. Res. 71. During the hearing, Sen. Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, both R-Alaska, provided opening statements for committee membe… Continue Reading
10.31.17
Murkowski: Smart Building Technologies Promote Energy Efficiency and Resiliency in American Homes and Businesses
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to discuss new efficiency opportunities provided by advanced building management and control systems. The committee heard from representatives of the Department of Energy (DOE), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Cold Climate Housing Research Center, Southern Company, and Emerson Commercial and Residential Solutions. Smart technologies have had a big impact on reducing energy use and costs across the nation. According to DOE's Buil… Continue Reading
10.27.17
Murkowski Supports Improving Safety for Alaska Natives and American Indians
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined her colleagues on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs this week to attend an oversight hearing to advance three bills to improve public safety for Alaska Natives and American Indians. Senator Murkowski showed her support for the bills, the Tribal Law and Order Reauthorization and Amendments Act, the SURVIVE Act, and Savanna's Act, by signing on as a co-sponsor. During her opening statement, Senator Murkowski spoke on the devastating statistics surro… Continue Reading
10.26.17
Murkowski: Emerging Technologies Key to Protecting U.S. Energy Infrastructure from Cyber Intrusions
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to discuss the innovation of emerging cyber technologies that can be used to protect our nation's electric grids and other critical energy infrastructure from future cyberattacks. The committee heard from representatives of the Pacific Northwest, Oak Ridge and Idaho National Laboratories, Qubitekk, and New Context Services. While we are looking at solutions to rebuild stronger electric grids in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands t… Continue Reading
10.26.17
Murkowski Statement on Opioid Public Health Emergency
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after President Trump made an announcement, directing the declaration of a nationwide public health emergency to address the opioid crisis: "I applaud President Trump for declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency, today. Opioid addiction has become one of the most devastating public health issues confronting our nation. It is impacting everyone, destroying families, spurring crime, hurting our economy, and leading t… Continue Reading
