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 Statement on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) tonight made the following statement after hearing of the passing of Justice of United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: "Tonight America lost a true leader and pioneer. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the second female Supreme Court Justice to sit on the bench. She has been a champion and crusader for equal justice and civil liberties and has made an enduring mark on history. Her life's story is a reminder of how far women have come in the fig… Continue Reading
09.18.20
Murkowski Joins Colleagues in Examining Ways to Simplify the FAFSA
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a Senate HELP Committee hearing focused on fixing the burdensome and complicated Federal Student Aid Application (FAFSA), which students utilize to apply for federal student financial aid to help pay for college. The hearing explored legislative solutions to simplify and shorten the FAFSA, including making it easier for low-income families to qualify for federal Pell Grants. "We must do a better job of not only communicating to high school student… Continue Reading
09.18.20
Murkowski and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Military Families
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) as an original cosponsor of the Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act, legislation that would give military spouses with valid professional licenses in one state, reciprocity in the state where their spouse is currently serving on military orders. "Military families consistently rate Utah as a top destination to serve, and a big reason why is the work our state has done to make sure professional military spouses licensed in o… Continue Reading
09.17.20
Murkowski Welcomes Re-Establishment of Arctic Energy Office in Fairbanks
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the Department of Energy (the Department) formally announced it has re-established its Arctic Energy Office in Fairbanks, Alaska. "The United States is an Arctic nation because of Alaska, and the re-establishment of the Arctic Energy Office in Fairbanks will ensure greater collaboration between our state's innovators and the Department of Energy's cutting-edge researchers," Murkowski said. "I have prioritized this … Continue Reading
09.16.20
Murkowski Speaks About Western Wildfires, Bill to Assist Alaska Native Elders
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today attended and briefly spoke at a subcommittee hearing held by the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining (PLFM). Murkowski spoke about the western wildfire crisis and S. 2533, a bill she introduced to help ensure Alaska Native elders are not disqualified from receiving food assistance and other federal benefits. "I want to share my thoughts, prayers, and sincere hopes for rain and recovery for so many who are facin… Continue Reading
09.16.20
Murkowski Chairs FERC Nominations Hearing
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to consider the nominations of Mark Christie and Allison Clements to be Members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). "Decisions that FERC Commissioners make matter-not only to the energy sector but to the nation," Murkowski said. "Approving the siting of natural gas pipelines, investigating energy markets, and licensing hydroelectric projects are just a few of the Commission's duties. FERC's economic reach has been estim… Continue Reading
09.16.20
Manchin, Murkowski Request Information On Covid-19 Impact On Homeless Families And Youth
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) requested information from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted families and children. The Senators also asked if the ACF had the resources needed to help those in need during the pandemic and if the Emergency Family Stabilization Act (EFSA), introduced by Senators Manchin and Murkowski, would provide the necessary resources. The Senators said in part, "As our nation continues to g… Continue Reading
09.15.20
Young, Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill to Ensure Fair and Accurate Census Count
Congressman Don Young and U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (all R-Alaska) introduced bicameral, bipartisan legislation, the 2020 Census Deadline Extensions Act, alongside Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) to provide for additional time to complete the 2020 Census. The bill extends the Census operations of nonresponse follow-up and self-response to October 31, 2020 as well as extends the Census statutory reporting deadlines for apportionment and re… Continue Reading
09.14.20
Alaska Delegation Welcomes $21 Million BUILD Grant for Anchorage International Airport
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today thanked Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao for awarding a $21 million Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant to the Alaska Energy Authority to construct a 190,000 square foot climate-controlled cold storage facility at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (TSAIA). The Alaska congressional delegation wrote a letter to Secretary Chao in May advocating for TSAIA to re… Continue Reading
09.11.20
U.S. Senators Smith, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Tribes Combat COVID-19, Other Public Health Crises
Today U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced bipartisan legislation to help Tribes access public health data and address health disparities that hit American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities especially hard. The Tribal Health Data Improvement Act would strengthen data sharing between Tribes, Tribal Epidemiology Centers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) so Tribes can more effectively address public health challenges. Tribes … Continue Reading
09.11.20
Senator Murkowski Speaks in Remembrance of September 11
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today released the following statement in remembrance of September 11, 2001: Click here for video of Senator Murkowski. "On September 11, 2001, America fell victim to unprovoked terrorist attacks which took the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans and injured another 6,000. Today, we pay tribute to the lives that were lost and honor their families and loved ones. But as we reflect on what was lost on September 11, we must also remember what we found-the unity th… Continue Reading
09.10.20
Murkowski Votes to Advance Targeted Covid-19 Relief Bill
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today voted to advance a targeted COVID-19 Relief bill package, focused on addressing some of America's most urgent healthcare, education, and economic issues. The procedural vote failed by a vote of 52-47, shy of the 60 votes needed. "It's so important that we work to provide necessary relief to Americans in order to address the continued impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses, employees, families, and individuals. While this targeted relief packag… Continue Reading
09.10.20
Murkowski Joins Senate Hearing On COVID-19 Vaccinations
In light of ongoing efforts to develop a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing entitled, "Vaccines: Saving Lives, Ensuring Confidence, and Protecting Public Health". At the hearing, witnesses discussed the importance of continuing to receive recommended vaccines during the coronavirus pandemic, including for influenza, as well as the need for ongoing vaccine research and developmen… Continue Reading
09.09.20
Sullivan, Murkowski & Young Welcome Major Tariff Relief for Alaska Fishermen
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today thanked President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for authorizing approximately $530 million for fishermen and the U.S. seafood industry impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments, including fishermen in Alaska. "Working alongside Alaska fishermen across our state, I have been relentlessly pushing the administration to ensure that our fishermen are provided relief fr… Continue Reading
09.09.20
Murkowski Announces Appointment of Special Counsel
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that Patrick J. McCormick III has returned to the staff of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where he will serve as Special Counsel. McCormick will provide counsel and advocacy on matters within the committee's jurisdiction especially as they bear on the security, adequacy, reliability, and affordability of the nation's energy supply and delivery infrastructure. "I'm very excited to have Pat back at the committee," Murkowski said. "H… Continue Reading
09.03.20
Murkowski Joins Van Hollen, Inhofe in Bipartisan Push to Expand Aviation Workforce Training
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined a bipartisan group of over twenty colleagues, led by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), in sending a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging the agencies to fully implement two aviation workforce grant programs authorized in the 2018 FAA Reauthorization bill that invest in and expand the development of the next generation of aircraft pilots and maintenance tec… Continue Reading
09.01.20
Alaska Delegation Urges Alaskans to Participate in the Census
As the deadline to participate in the 2020 Census rapidly approaches, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all (R-AK), are calling on Alaskans to do their part and participate. New data released by the Census Bureau shows Alaska's self-response rate remains ranked among the lowest in the nation, with only Puerto Rico at a lower self-response rate than Alaska. The deadline to participate in the 2020 Census questionnaire is September 30, 2020. "While we've all pu… Continue Reading
08.28.20
Alaska Delegation Applauds Opening of Cold Case Office in Anchorage
The Alaska Congressional Delegation, alongside other federal, state, tribal, and local leaders, helped kick off the opening of the Operation Lady Justice Task Force Cold Case Office in Anchorage. The office will be dedicated to solving cold cases involving missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Anchorage office is one of seven of its kind being established across the nation to handle such cold cases and will be staffed by law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, special ag… Continue Reading
08.28.20
Schatz, Murkowski, Spanberger, Wagner To Defense Secretary: Fight Online Child Sexual Exploitation, Protect Vulnerable Children, Punish Offenders
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Lisa Murkowsi (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Anne Wagner (R-Mo.) this week called for Defense Secretary Mark Esper to provide updates on how the Defense Department (DoD) is preventing and combating child sexual exploitation. Their call comes eight months after Senators Schatz and Murkowski's legislation to fight online child exploitation on the DoD's network was signed into law as Section 550D of the National Defense… Continue Reading
08.27.20
ICYMI: Murkowski Attends Opening of Cold Case Office In Anchorage
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined other federal, state, tribal, and local leaders, for the official opening off the Operation Lady Justice Task Force Cold Case Office in Anchorage. The new office, which will be dedicated to solving cold cases involving missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives, was secured through collaborative efforts between federal, state, local, and tribal leaders, including years of work by Senator Murkowski to address the nationwide crisis of missing… Continue Reading