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.
ICYMI: Murkowski Bill Honoring Unrecognized Heroes of the Greatest Generation Passes Senate
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded Senate passage of her bill, the Merchant Marines of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, to honor the Merchant Mariners who protected our nation during World War II. The bill would award a Congressional Gold Medal to the WWII mariners in recognition of their dedicated and vital service. The House successfully passed the companion bill in September, sponsored by Representative John Garamendi (D-CA). The Senate version of the bill now heads to the… Continue Reading
12.23.19
Congressional Delegation Applauds Grant to Assist Young Victims of Sex Trafficking Awarded to Covenant House Alaska
Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded $950,000 in grant funding to Covenant House Alaska to assist minor victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. "Human trafficking is undoubtedly one of the most horrific crimes and is unfortunately happening in all corners of the state. It's the second fastest growing crime on Alaska soil-happening in plain sight," said Senator Murkowski… Continue Reading
12.23.19
Sullivan, Murkowski & King Introduce Arctic Naval Focus Act of 2019
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Angus King (I-Maine) have introduced S. 3080, the Arctic Naval Focus Act of 2019, legislation directing the federal government to recognize the importance of the Arctic region to our country's national and economic security interests, and to put forward a strategy for the U.S. fleet's ability to operate in the Arctic and respond to challenges. "As new sea lanes emerge and maritime traffic rapidly increases in the Arctic, the c… Continue Reading
12.20.19
Murkowski’s Interior-Environment Funding Bill Heads to President’s Desk
U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) applauded Senate passage of an Appropriations Package for Fiscal Year 2020-expected to be signed into law tonight- which included the Interior-Environment Appropriations bill with funding to strengthen the economy, improve water and wastewater systems, and create safer and healthier communities. As chairman of the Interior Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) crafted a bill with funding to provide for basic necessities like water and wastewater infrastru… Continue Reading
12.20.19
Murkowski Welcomes New Additions to ENR Staff
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced recent additions to her staff on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: Grace Jang as communications director, Chris Griffin as a staff assistant, and Alexander Jackstadt as a staff assistant. In addition, Tonya Parish has been promoted to press secretary. "I'm very pleased Grace, Chris, and Alex have joined us here in Washington, D.C., to strengthen our already outstanding team," Murkowski said. "Alaska is key to our country's ene… Continue Reading
12.20.19
Funding Package Addresses Epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
A funding bill with new investments secured by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to address the crisis of missing, trafficked, and murdered Indigenous women is on its way to the President to be signed into law. The Senate yesterday passed two funding bill packages that set federal funding levels for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, which include appropriations bills on Interior-Environment as well as Commerce, Justice, Science. Senator Murkowski is Chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee and… Continue Reading
12.19.19
Murkowski Champions Alaska Priorities in Year-End Budget Bills
Today the U.S. Senate passed year-end budget packages to fund the federal government for the upcoming fiscal year, sending them to the President to be signed into law. As a member of the Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) had a significant role in crafting the final product, which includes a number of funding programs and initiatives important to Alaska. In addition, the bill packages include provisions that will he… Continue Reading
12.19.19
Senate Passes Schatz, Murkowski Bipartisan Resolution to Recognize Vital Role of 2020 Census
Yesterday, the Senate voted unanimously to pass a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to ensure that the 2020 Census is fair and accurate. The resolution encourages individuals, families, and households across the United States to take part in the Census so that all communities can be counted. "The Census is essential to our democracy, ensuring that every person is counted and receives the representation and services they dese… Continue Reading
12.19.19
Murkowski Seeks Solutions to Mitigate Wildfire Impacts on Electric Grid
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine the impacts of wildfires on the reliability of the nation's electric grid. In recent years, wildfires have increasingly caused widespread power outages, most acutely in Western states like California. During her opening remarks, Murkowski recounted last year's Camp Fire, one of the deadliest and most destructive fires in California's history. "The Camp Fire was a sobering wakeup… Continue Reading
12.18.19
Coons, Murkowski introduce bill to help surviving spouses of veterans who died from ALS
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Justice for ALS Veterans Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure surviving spouses and families of veterans who die from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) receive the full benefits they are owed. Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (D-Calif.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). "Our current policy denies benefits to spouses and families of veterans … Continue Reading
12.18.19
GAO: Forest Service Has Not Complied with LWCF Act
In a new report requested and released today by Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Forest Service has not complied with a provision in the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act that limits the amount of land the agency can acquire using LWCF money. GAO found that between fiscal years 2013 and 2017, the federal government acquired more than 850,000 acres of land in the United States. By law, no more than 15 percent of the acreage the… Continue Reading
12.18.19
Senators Work to Address Student Loans
As the cost of a college degree continues to increase, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced the State-Based Education Loan Awareness Act. The legislation would eliminate disincentives and penalties that prevent universities from informing students about low-cost student loans offered by non-profit, state agency lenders whose mission is to make college affordable and accessible. Click here for more information on the State-Based Education Loan Aw… Continue Reading
12.18.19
Alaska Delegation Locks In Two More Years of Secure Rural Schools
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after successfully including a two-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program in the final Appropriations measures for Fiscal Year 2020. All three delegation members are strong proponents of the program, which many Alaska communities are forced to rely on due to declining timber receipts from surrounding federal lands. "From the Kenai Peninsula to Yakutat to Wrangell, t… Continue Reading
12.18.19
Murkowski Supports Bill to Bolster National Defense, Monitor Arctic Activity, and Support our Military
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of S. 1790, the defense authorization bill which authorizes $738 billion in national defense funding for Fiscal Year 2020. The bill includes the largest pay raise for troops in over a decade, equips our military with necessary resources to defend America, modernizes military infrastructure and tools, and prioritizes taking care of our military and their families. The bill also includes legislative priorities crafted by Senator Murkowski, includin… Continue Reading
12.17.19
Committee Reviews Nominee for Office of Surface Mining
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to consider the nomination of Mr. Lanny Erdos to be Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) at the Department of the Interior. Murkowski opened the hearing by noting that while OSM plays an important role in approving and monitoring projects and reclamation, federal law clearly points to states as the lead regulator of coal mines. "In my home state of Ala… Continue Reading
12.13.19
Murkowski Questions IHS Director Nominee about Alaska Concerns
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a Nomination Hearing this week to consider Rear Admiral (RADM) Michael D. Weahkee to be Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) raised a range of topics to RADM Weahkee, including health care and sanitation needs in Alaska and the issue of a federal mandate for payments of leasing costs under section 105(l) of the Indian Self Determination Act when tribal facil… Continue Reading
12.12.19
Committee Advances Legislation to Protect Vulnerable Children and Strengthen Families
Today the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee advanced bills to the full Senate to improve how we protect vulnerable children, fund domestic violence shelters, and help families across the nation. The bills, which were reported favorably out of the HELP Committee, include legislation to strengthen programs intended to keep children safe, protect families from and prevent violence, support strong communities, increase effective interstate background checks for child car… Continue Reading
12.12.19
Schatz, Murkowski Urge Passage of Bipartisan Resolution to Recognize Critical Role of Census, Importance of Full and Accurate Count
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced a bipartisan resolution to ensure the 2020 Census is fair and accurate. The resolution encourages individuals, families, and households across the United States to take part in the Census so that all communities can be counted. "The Census is mandated by the Constitution and plays a vital role in our democracy, ensuring that every person is counted and receives the representation and services they deserve," said Sen… Continue Reading
12.12.19
Murkowski Votes to Confirm new FDA Commissioner
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement today after voting to confirm Stephen Hahn as U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner: "As a member of the Senate HELP Committee I've had the opportunity to have constructive dialogue with the nominee and gauge his understanding of issues of importance to Alaska," said Senator Murkowski. "As a cancer researcher and noted oncologist, Dr. Hahn understands the need to do everything we can to ensure another generation … Continue Reading
12.12.19
Senators Hirono, Sullivan, Murkowski Ask CMS to Extend ACA Enrollment Deadline to Accommodate Residents of Hawaii and Alaska
Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) wrote to Seema Verma, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), requesting that CMS extend the Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment deadline for 2020 by two hours to accommodate residents of Hawaii and Alaska. This change would ensure residents in all 50 states are able to enroll in health coverage by CMS's publicly available deadline of December 15th. "As it currently sta… Continue Reading
