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.
Supreme Court Blocks Effort to end DACA Program
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that the administration cannot end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) federal program: "Today's Supreme Court decision is truly a sigh of relief for Dreamers, but shouldn't be mistaken as an end to the issue. The decision simply clarifies the process an administration must adhere to if they seek to change what is fundamentally an administrative policy. Those who were brought t… Continue Reading
06.17.20
Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Keeping Women and Girls Safe from the Start Authorization Act of 2020
U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) were joined today by four of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Keeping Women and Girls Safe from the Start Authorization Act of 2020. Against the backdrop of the largest refugee crisis in recorded history, the new bipartisan legislation seeks to bolster current United States' and international efforts to address gender-based violence during humani… Continue Reading
06.17.20
Murkowski Votes for Great American Outdoors Act
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voted in favor of the Great American Outdoors Act, which the Senate passed by a margin of 73 to 25. This conservation measure addresses deferred maintenance backlogs on federal land, including for national parks and national forests, and provides increased support for local recreational opportunities. "The Great American Outdoors Act will help address long-standing maintenance backlogs in Alaska, whether at Denali or Wrangell-St. Elias or in the Ton… Continue Reading
06.16.20
Murkowski Statement on Safe Policing Executive Order
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today made the following statement after President Trump signed an Executive Order on Safe Policing for Safe Communities: "I appreciate the administration moving quickly to implement safe policing practices. This Executive Order contains some practical steps to raise the standards of our police, emphasizes necessary training, information sharing, and creates greater accountability. In addition, the Order recognizes the need for support with mental health, home… Continue Reading
06.16.20
Murkowski: Energy Industry Has Faced Significant Impacts, Is Critical to Economic Recovery
U.S. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. energy industry. Murkowski also emphasized that the industry can play a key role in the nation's economic recovery. "The decline in demand can be found just about everywhere. Less flying means less jet fuel. Less driving means less gasoline and diesel. Less commercial activity means less electricity. Less consumption means less production. Less investment today means les… Continue Reading
06.15.20
Murkowski Commends Supreme Court Holding Which Protects LGBTQ Workers
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, also protects gay or transgender people from discrimination: "People should not live in fear of being discriminated against or losing their job because of their LGBTQ status. I am pleased to see today's Supreme Court holding that existing federal civil rights law protects individuals from discr… Continue Reading
06.15.20
Bipartisan Group Of Senators Call For Permanent Expansion Of Telehealth Following COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) recently joined a bipartisan letter led by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) calling for the expansion of access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic to be made permanent. Provisions from the Schatz-authored CONNECT for Health Act that have allowed Medicare beneficiaries in all areas of the country, and in their homes, to utilize telehealth services, as well as more types of health care providers to provide teleheal… Continue Reading
06.12.20
Murkowski Discusses Concern for and Seeks Solutions to Support Students During and After Pandemic
As Congress continues their work to help America overcome the challenges of COVID-19, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a virtual Senate HELP Committee hearing this week focused on going back to school safely. The hearing delved into not only the question of how schools will reopen, but also measures to ensure they are able to do so safely and with greater equity so that all students receive the academic as well as technological, health, and social-emotional support they need to su… Continue Reading
06.11.20
Senators Introduce Bill to Combat Impacts of Climate Change
Surrounding Capitol Hill Ocean Week, Senate Oceans Caucus co-chairs U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced legislation focused on protecting and utilizing blue carbon. The Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act highlights the habitats that continue to remove carbon out of our atmosphere, helping to combat the impacts of climate change. Blue carbon refers to carbon dioxide that is naturally captured and stored by the world's ocean and coastal ecosystems-one of … Continue Reading
06.11.20
Murkowski Commends Administration’s Arctic Focus
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statements in support of the administration's recent Arctic-specific actions. This week, the Trump administration issued a Presidential Memorandum entitled Safeguarding U.S. National Interests in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions: "My priority is not just to raise awareness of America's role as an Arctic nation, but also for us to move from awareness to action. I'm encouraged by this memorandum and statement of support from President Tru… Continue Reading
06.11.20
ICYMI: Murkowski on the Great American Outdoors Act
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, earlier this week spoke on the Senate floor about the Great American Outdoors Act, which would help address deferred maintenance backlogs on federal land-including at National Parks and National Forests in Alaska-while providing greater funding for local recreational opportunities. In her floor remarks, Murkowski also highlighted the role of oil and gas revenue in funding conservation efforts and made the case for offshore revenue sharing to be incorporated… Continue Reading
06.11.20
Murkowski, Manchin Welcome Crucial Step for U.S. Leadership in Nuclear Energy
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., today commended the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation's (DFC) decision to allow nuclear energy projects to apply for financing-as Murkowski and Manchin requested in an October 2019 letter to DFC. "Nuclear energy technology can help meet the world's clean energy needs," Murkowski said. "Our energy future is global, and steps like this DFC decision are crucial to meeting climate and energy leadership goals. Developing… Continue Reading
06.10.20
Senators Introduce Legislation to Help Families, Youth, and Children Faced with Homelessness Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senators Murkowski (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introduced S.3923, the Emergency Family Stabilization Act. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this legislation creates a new emergency funding stream overseen by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide flexible funding for community-based organizations to meet the unique needs of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. Spe… Continue Reading
06.09.20
Senate Confirms General Brown as Air Force Service Chief
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after the Senate unanimously confirmed General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. as the next U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff: "I am proud to support the confirmation of General Charles Brown, Jr. as the next Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. He not only made history today as becoming the first African American Air Force Chief of Staff, but I trust that he will lead the men and women in our nation's Air Force with great distinction. His und… Continue Reading
06.09.20
Murkowski: Testing, PPE Critical During 2020 Wildfire Season
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska today chaired a hearing to examine wildfire management in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Alaska had one of the largest, most expensive, and heavily-staffed fires last year-the Swan Lake Fire on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge-that burned off and on for almost four months," Murkowski said. "Over 3,000 people were assigned to that fire, including hundreds of firefighters from the Lower 48. The fallout from a small fraction of infections on a fire lik… Continue Reading
06.07.20
Murkowski Welcomes Fish and Wildlife Service Polar Bear Final ITRs
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently published the final marine mammal Incidental Take Regulations (ITR), commonly known as the Polar Bear ITRs, for the Beaufort Sea (Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf) and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. The final regulations come after Senator Murkowski repeatedly pressed Department of the Interior officials on the importance of issuing updated regulations as the last ITRs expired this month. On May 18 during a nomination hearing in the Senate … Continue Reading
06.05.20
Murkowski Highlights Equal Rights on the Senate Floor
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Today, on the U.S. Senate floor, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) highlighted Alaskans who have paved the way for women's suffrage and civil rights as well as the importance of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) being signed into law. Prior to her speech on women's suffrage and the ERA, Senator Murkowski took a moment to address what our nation has witnessed since the killing of Ge… Continue Reading
06.05.20
Murkowski Addresses Need for Student Relief During Senate HELP Committee Hearing
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a Senate HELP Committee hearing titled COVID-19: Going Back to College Safely. The hearing focused on how institutions of higher education are preparing for students, faculty, and staff to return to campus this fall. Those efforts include implementing testing and contact tracing, restructuring classroom and dormitory spaces, providing appropriate personal protection equipment, and protecting those with increased medical risk. The hearing included… Continue Reading
06.05.20
Murkowski Speaks on Justice and Equality
During a speech on the Senator floor, U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) spoke to what our nation has witnessed since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota-sparking thousands of protests nationwide of calls for justice and equality. CLICK HERE for video of Murkowski's remarks. Speech Excerpts "When you think about those things that matter-equality, justice, the fundamental truth that all human beings are created equal and endowed by God with certain rights, and when those right… Continue Reading
06.04.20
Delegation Will Continue to Fight for Life-Saving Road for King Cove
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today released the following statements after a federal judge ruled against a U.S. Department of the Interior land exchange agreement needed to facilitate a short, gravel, life-saving road that will connect King Cove, Alaska, to the all-weather airport in nearby Cold Bay. "This decision is yet another bitter disappointment for the good people of King Cove," Murkowski said. "I continue to believe the Department of the Int… Continue Reading
