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 Welcomes Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, welcomed the Department of Energy's (DOE) launch of an Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) within its Office of Nuclear Energy. The ARDP will partner with private industry to help demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors in the United States. "Over the past several years, I have worked with my Senate colleagues to develop a pathway for these important clean energy systems and have pushed my Nuclear Energy Leadership Act to reposition us as the undispu… Continue Reading
05.15.20
ICYMI: Murkowski Delivers Speech to Alaska Graduates
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic drastically changing graduation ceremonies across the state, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski delivered a commencement speech in honor of Alaska's Class of 2020, which was livestreamed on her Facebook and Twitter accounts. Click here to watch the video. Speech Excerpts: "Who could have imagined that your graduation ceremony would be virtual or maybe that you wouldn't have one at all. That most of your last semester in school would not be spent with your classm… Continue Reading
05.15.20
Senators Lead Bipartisan Request for Additional Measures to Ease Borrowing Costs for State and Local Governments Fighting COVID-19
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) co-signed a letter, led by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), asking Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Jerome Powell, to consider additional measures to ease the borrowing costs for state and local governments fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter was also signed by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). "State and local governments are on the frontlines in the fight against C… Continue Reading
05.15.20
Senate Passes Legislation to Protect Civil Liberties and National Security
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after voting in favor of the USA Freedom Reauthorization Act, which passed the Senate in a 80-16 vote: "Even though the FISA Reauthorization did not go as far as I would like in terms of protecting Americans' civil liberties, it is an improvement over current law. The Inspector General report released in December detailed serious flaws and abuses taking place in the FISA application process that should concern every citizen of th… Continue Reading
05.14.20
Never Again Education Act En Route to the President’s Desk
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, welcomed the Senate's passage of H.R. 943, the Never Again Education Act, which will help raise awareness of the Holocaust by providing educational resources for teachers and students. "The Holocaust is a scourge in world history, when racism and intolerance led to the murder of over 11 million people because of their Jewish heritage, ethnicity, religious or political views, and other differences," Murkowski said. "More than 70 years later, we have seen a re… Continue Reading
05.13.20
Murkowski and Colleagues Push for More Support for Child Care Providers
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), alongside Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and 19 of their Republican and Democratic colleagues, are calling on the Senate to provide additional support to child care workers and providers across the country. In a letter to Senate leaders, the senators write: "…it is critical we provide additional support for the child care sector to ensure providers can maintain operations and continue to meet the needs of … Continue Reading
05.12.20
Murkowski Questions Experts on COVID-19 Response Efforts During Senate HELP Committee Hearing
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today took part in a Senate HELP Committee hearing entitled COVID-19: Safely Getting Back to Work and Back to School. The hearing focused on how U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies are working to help states and communities prepare to reopen in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, including efforts to increase testing, accelerate research, develop treatments and vaccines, and provide public health and safety guidance. The hearing included testimon… Continue Reading
05.12.20
Murkowski, Risch Introduce Energy Infrastructure Protection Act
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and James Risch, R-Idaho, today introduced a new bill, the Energy Infrastructure Protection Act, to boost protections for critical electric infrastructure. The bill updates provisions in the Federal Power Act and restricts federal disclosures of certain sensitive energy information. "Protecting our nation's electric infrastructure is a matter of national security," Murkowski said. "Our bill equips the federal government with additional tools to safeguard the… Continue Reading
05.11.20
Murkowski Joins Bipartisan Group Of Senators To Call For $2 Billion In New Federal Funding To Help Health Care Providers Expand Telehealth Services During Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined a bipartisan group of senators, led by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI)to urge the leadership of both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to include $2 billion in the next coronavirus relief package to help health care providers expand telehealth services by improving their access to broadband. "The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically increased the need to expand telehealth," the senators wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc… Continue Reading
05.11.20
Murkowski Urges Federal Agencies to Coordinate to Ensure PPE for Firefighters
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, recently sent a letter requesting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Department of the Interior (DOI) combine efforts to allocate personal protective equipment (PPE) and rapid COVID-19 tests for federal wildland fire crews. Below are excerpts from Murkowski's letter: "Wildfires, like viruses, respect no boundaries. As we seek to contain COVID-19… 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
05.08.20
Murkowski Calls for Rapid COVID-19 Testing in Alaska
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a Senate HELP Committee hearing entitled "Shark Tank: New Tests for COVID-19." The hearing focused on the current status of testing for the COVID-19 virus and how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) are working to support the rapid development of new tests for COVID-19, through the NIH Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Initiative and other programs. Click here for … Continue Reading
05.07.20
Millions in Fishery Relief Heading to Alaska
The Alaska Congressional Delegation announced $50 million in fishery assistance will be heading to Alaska. The funds are part of a $300 million fishery assistance fund that was included in the CARES Act, as a result of the efforts of Alaska's delegation, to make direct assistance available to subsistence, commercial, and charter fishery participants, processors, fishery-related businesses and fishery-dependent communities that have been negatively affected by the economic and other impacts of CO… 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
05.07.20
Senators Aim to Give States, Cities Greater Flexibility with COVID-19 Relief Funds
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) yesterday introduced the Coronavirus Relief Fund Flexibility Act, legislation that would allow the federal relief funds provided to local governments in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to be used to replace revenue shortfalls resulting from the pandemic. The legislation would apply retroactive… Continue Reading
05.07.20
Feinstein, Murkowski Resolution Designating Women’s History Month Passes Senate
Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) yesterday passed a resolution designating March as "National Women's History Month." Consideration of the resolution was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. "Women have made extraordinary contributions to our country and I'm proud to pass a resolution that celebrates them," Senator Feinstein said. "As we celebrate 100 years of women's suffrage this year, it's remarkable how far we've come. When I first arrived i… 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
05.06.20
Senators Braun, Hoeven, Loeffler, and Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Protect Small Businesses from Tax Liability for PPP Loans
Last week, the IRS issued guidance (Notice 2020-32) that any expenses covered by forgivable portions of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan will not be considered a business deduction, effectively levying an unforeseen tax on small businesses, completely contrary to the original intent of the CARES Act. On Monday, U.S. Senator Braun along with Senator John Hoeven, Senator Kelly Loeffler, and Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced the Safeguarding Small Business Act to remove all tax liability a… 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
05.05.20
Alaska Delegation Reiterates Strong Support for Willow Project
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, this week wrote a letter urging the Department of the Interior to finalize the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for ConocoPhillips' Willow Master Development Plan in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). Below are excerpts from the delegation's letter: "There is no doubt the COVID-19 crisis has introduced challenges to business operations, but we understand BLM has been extraordinarily responsive to … Continue Reading
