04.15.19

Murkowski Welcomes New Committee Staff

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced three recent additions to her Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staff: Tristan Abbey, who is returning to the committee as a senior professional staff member; Nick Matiella, who has joined the committee as a professional staff member; and Stephanie Miller, who has joined the committee as a detailee from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). "I'm thrilled to welcome Tristan, who helped spearhead our efforts to lift the oil export ban… Continue Reading

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04.12.19

Senators Decry Lack Of Action On Disaster Aid For Suffering States

U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) today joined Senate colleagues, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), in expressing disappointment in Congress' failure to deliver critical disaster aid to their states to assist in recovery efforts from natural disasters in 2018 and 2019. It has been six months since Georgia and Florida took a direct hit from Hurricane Michael. The senators have worked to negotiate in good faith since 2018 on a bipartisan disaster r… Continue Reading

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04.12.19

Murkowski Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster America’s Arctic Role

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation aimed to increase the nation's presence in the Arctic by supporting responsible research and development in the U.S. Arctic while giving those who live in the region a greater voice on policy and research. The Shipping and Environmental Arctic Leadership Act (SEAL Act), cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), addresses increasing shipping and maritime traffic by establishing a congressional… Continue Reading

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04.12.19

In Case You Missed It: Murkowski Spotlights Violence Against Native Women

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) continues her push to address the issue of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous women, including calling upon federal agencies to work together to help put an end to the epidemic. This week Senator Murkowski was featured in a CNN news piece on the crisis, including efforts to raise awareness and steps of action. Shining a Spotlight: During a CNN interview, Senator Murkowski spoke to the problem of a lack of information and data, as well as the urgen… Continue Reading

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04.11.19

Murkowski: U.S. Can Deliver Energy Breakthroughs

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing that continued the committee's discussion about opportunities for innovative energy solutions that can reduce domestic and global greenhouse gas emissions. Murkowski opened by noting that emissions in the U.S. electric sector have declined substantially in the last decade, in large part due to flat demand growth, low cost natural gas, and the declining costs of renewable technologies. "The opportunity we have in front of us is to fost… Continue Reading

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04.11.19

Murkowski Raises STATES Act to U.S. Attorney General

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today took part in a Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the FY2020 budget request for the Department of Justice (DOJ). During the hearing, Senator Murkowski recounted U.S. Attorney General William Barr's prior commitment to address conflicting state and federal marijuana laws and asked him for an update on the DOJ's review process of the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act. Thi… Continue Reading

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04.11.19

Manchin, Murkowski, Capito, Cramer, Daines Bill Authorizes Full Suite of Carbon Capture, Utilization, Storage, and Removal Technology Programs

Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, Ranking Member on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the Enhancing Fossil Fuel Energy Carbon Technology (EFFECT) Act. The legislation would direct the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy to establish four new research and development (R&D) programs focused on coal and natural gas technology, carbon storage, carbon utilization, and carbon removal. "The energy experts who have come before the Senate Committee on Ene… Continue Reading

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04.11.19

Senate Confirms David Bernhardt with Bipartisan Support

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after voting to confirm David Bernhardt to be Secretary of the Interior. The Senate confirmed Bernhardt through a bipartisan vote of 56-41. "I congratulate Mr. Bernhardt on his confirmation to be Secretary of the Interior. He has what it takes to lead this Department - coming from the west, he understands our public lands, has more experience at the Department than all but one of his predecessors, and has extensive knowl… Continue Reading

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04.11.19

Senate introduces legislation to protect Association Health Plans, thousands from losing health insurance coverage

A group of senators introduced legislation today to prevent thousands of people from losing their health care coverage after a federal judge struck down the Department of Labor's Association Health Plans rule. This rule made it easier for small businesses to band together to provide their employees with comprehensive and affordable health insurance that has the same consumer protections that apply to large employer health plans. The legislation, led by U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., would ensu… Continue Reading

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04.10.19

Murkowski Welcomes Executive Orders on Energy Infrastructure

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after President Trump signed two executive orders prioritizing energy infrastructure and streamlining the permitting process for domestic and cross-border projects. "I appreciate the president's strong commitment to the improvement and modernization of our nation's energy infrastructure. We need fewer delays, greater predictability in our permitting process, and better coordination among government stakeholders to ensure n… Continue Reading

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04.10.19

Murkowski Asks Attorney General Barr for Commitment on Addressing Violence Against Native Women

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today called on Attorney General William Barr to work with her on addressing the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and on tribal jurisdictional concerns. Attorney General Barr testified in a Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee hearing examining the Fiscal Year 2020 budget request for the Justice Department. During the hearing, Murkowski raised the issue of protection for Alaska Native Villages in remote areas, and the need to exp… Continue Reading

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04.09.19

Murkowski: Shared Stewardship, Active Forest Management Essential for Rural Prosperity

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired an oversight hearing to examine the president's nearly $5.7 billion budget request for the U.S. Forest Service for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen testified on behalf of the Forest Service. Murkowski welcomed Christiansen back to the committee for the first time since being appointed chief last fall, and called on her to use the agency's funding responsibly to carry out its multiple-use mission. "Although this bud… Continue Reading

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04.09.19

Murkowski, Baldwin, Young, Ruppersberger Introduce Bill to Help Coastal Communities Prepare for Storms, Floods

Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) along with Congressmen Don Young (R-AK) and C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will help local and state governments protect the country's 95,000 miles of shoreline. The Digital Coast Act allows professionals at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to begin a comprehensive mapping process of the nation's shorelines. Coastal communities will be able to use the data t… Continue Reading

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04.09.19

Shaheen, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation in the Senate to Tackle Obstacles Preventing Adolescent Girls from Accessing Quality Education

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today reintroduced her legislation with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) that would help address the unique barriers adolescent girls in developing countries face in accessing an education. Representative Lois Frankel (D-FL) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Today, approximately 130 million girls around the world are not in school. They face a wide variety of barriers that prevent them from receiving a necessary education. The Keep… Continue Reading

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04.05.19

Alaska Delegation Supports Legislation to Protect States Rights

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, announced their support for legislation to protect states that have legalized marijuana. Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reintroduced bipartisan legislation, The Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act, to remove the threat of federal intervention and prosecution in states that regulate marijuana use and sales. Representatives David Joyce (R-OH) and Earl … Continue Reading

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04.05.19

MANCHIN, CAPITO & MURKOWSKI REINTRODUCE RARE EARTH ELEMENT ADVANCED COAL TECHNOLOGIES ACT

U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Rare Earth Element Advanced Coal Technologies Act (REEACT), which would allow for the development of technology capable of extracting rare earth elements (REEs) from coal and coal byproducts to re-establish a U.S. based supply chain. "As the leader of the free world, the United States should not be depending on China and other foreign nations for our supply of rare earth elements. We utilize … Continue Reading

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04.04.19

Murkowski Supports Needed Reform for Senate Nomination Process

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after voting to set a precedent that reduces the post-cloture debate time for all sub-cabinet level nominees and lower court judges: "Those who know me know that I am a strong supporter of the institution of the Senate and our process, and I am reluctant to change the rules under which we operate. But in recent years, it has become clear that rules that have worked for decades-even a century-are now being abused to delay and obst… Continue Reading

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04.04.19

ENR Advances Bernhardt, Combs, and Jorjani Nominations

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) today held a business meeting to advance the following nominees to the Senate floor: Mr. David Bernhardt to be Secretary of the Department of the Interior; Ms. Susan Combs to be Assistant Secretary of Interior for Policy, Management, and Budget; and Ms. Aimee Jorjani to be Chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, supported all three nominations as ENR favorably reported Combs and … Continue Reading

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04.04.19

Senator Murkowski Questions Administrator Wheeler over EPA Budget

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) chaired an Interior Appropriations Subcommittee hearing yesterday, examining the Fiscal Year 2020 budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During the hearing, Senator Murkowski reviewed programs within the EPA to ensure the agency is focusing on its core mission to protect the health of our communities as well as addressing unique situations and challenges Alaskan communities face with EPA regulations. "When I go home to Alaska, I see firs… Continue Reading

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04.03.19

Murkowski Questions FEMA Leadership on Earthquake Recovery Efforts

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security today held a hearing to review FEMA's FY2020 Budget Request. During the hearing, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) raised Alaska specific concerns to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Administrator Peter Gaynor. In light of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Alaska on November 30, 2018, Senator Murkowski highlighted real-life examples of difficulties that Alaskans are facing as they seek assistance from FEMA. … Continue Reading