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 Announces Tongass National Forest providing the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski joined the U.S. Forest Service in announcing that the Alaska Region of the Forest Service, which features the Tongass and Chugach National Forests, has been selected to provide the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. An annual symbol of hope and celebration, the tree offers an opportunity to showcase Alaska's majestic landscape, unique culture, rich traditions, diverse ecosystems, and abundant resources. The tree will symbolize Alaskans’ connection to the lands t… Continue Reading
03.23.24
Murkowski Announces Significant Investments for Alaska in Final FY 2024 Appropriations Package
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced more wins for Alaska within the second (and final) package of appropriations bills for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. Earlier this morning, the Senate passed H.R. 2882, the vehicle for those appropriations bills, by a vote of 74-24. The package contains the FY 2024 bills for Defense; Financial Services and Genera… Continue Reading
03.22.24
Alaska Delegation Secures Funding for Commercial Icebreaker
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) and Representative Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) today announced they have successfully secured federal funding for the purchase of a Commercially Available Icebreaker. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations Act includes $125 million to purchase the icebreaker. The delegation has also secured commitments from the Coast Guard that the icebreaker will be homeported in Juneau, Alaska to afford the vessel gr… Continue Reading
03.20.24
Murkowski Welcomes More Than 40 Awards for Climate Projects in Tribal Communities Across Alaska
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today welcomed the announcement of more than $30.4 million for 42 climate resilience projects in tribal communities in Alaska. These awards, made through funding provided by Congress through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and the annual appropriations process, will help tribal communities across the state adapt and bolster their resilience to climate change. “The se… Continue Reading
03.18.24
Murkowski Announces Longtime Alaskan Garrett Boyle as Chief of Staff
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced that Garrett Boyle will be returning to her Washington, D.C. office as Chief of Staff. He will replace the departing Chief of Staff, Kaleb Froehlich. “I am very pleased to announce Garrett Boyle as my new Chief of Staff, and welcome him back to my team” said Senator Murkowski. “His strong background in rural development and policy issues on both the federal and state side make him uniquely qualified to serve in this new role. Having … Continue Reading
03.13.24
Murkowski Announces Big Wins for Alaska in Six-Bill Appropriations Package
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced big wins for Alaska within H.R. 4366, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024. The measure combines six of Congress’ 12 funding bills for Fiscal Year (2024) and passed the Senate on Friday evening through a bipartisan vote of 75-22. “After months of unnecessary delay, Congress has finally taken a big ste… Continue Reading
03.11.24
ICYMI: Biden Targets Alaska’s Petroleum Reserve
Washington, DC -The Hill recently published an opinion piece from Alaska’s bipartisan congressional delegation, outlining how the Biden administration is targeting the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) with sweeping restrictions that are designed to prevent future development. The delegation argues these restrictions are unfair, unlawful, and will hurt Alaska’s economy and West Coast energy security while doing nothing to address climate change. Despite this, the Biden administration’s … Continue Reading
03.08.24
Murkowski urges movement on Dr. Mike Sfraga’s nomination for Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus, appeared in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to urge the committee to move on Dr. Mike Sfraga’s nomination for Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic region. Senator Murkowski was the lead proponent on the creation of the position, which the State Department established in August 2022. Dr. Sfraga was nominated to the ambassadorship on February 13, 2023. “As Senator to the only Arcti… Continue Reading
03.06.24
Murkowski, Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Require Transparency in Political Ads with AI-Generated Content
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the bipartisan AI Transparency in Elections Act to require disclaimers on political ads with images, audio, or video that are substantially generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The legislation requires political ads created or altered by AI to have a disclaimer, except when AI is used for only minor alterations, such as color editing, cropping, resizing, and other immaterial uses. The bill also requires the Federal Ele… Continue Reading
03.05.24
Murkowski, Sullivan, and Colleagues Urge Service Secretaries to Implement Cold Weather Pay for Servicemembers
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led a group of her Senate colleagues in two letters urging U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth to begin implementing the cold weather special duty pay for servicemembers based in certain locations, a provision Senator Murkowski led in the Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA aimed at addressing mental health in the military. The letter was also signed by Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).… Continue Reading
03.04.24
Murkowski Announces New Staff in Washington, DC Office
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced several new staff, fellows, and interns who will serve in her Washington, DC office. “I’m proud to announce the newest additions to my team, all of whom will be based in Washington, DC. Each individual brings diverse skills and a passion for serving our great state of Alaska,” Murkowski said. “I’m glad to have them on board and confident their contributions will make a difference for Alaskans.” Kit Cunningham joins the office … Continue Reading
02.28.24
Vice Chairman Murkowski Welcomes Report And Recommendations From The Alyce Spotted Bear And Walter Soboleff Commission On Native Children
Last week, the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children (Commission) transmitted its official and final report and recommendations to the President and Congress as directed by bipartisan legislation Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) ushered into law (Public Law 114-244, as amended by Public Law 117-41) in 2016. Congress created and directed the Commission to conduct an intensive study of federal, tribal, state and local programs and grants available to American Indian, Al… Continue Reading
02.27.24
Murkowski, Sullivan Welcome $125 Million for Rural Energy in Alaska
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) today welcomed the Department of Energy’s (DOE) announcement of up to $125.1 million for five energy development projects in Alaska. DOE awarded the funds under its Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program, which Murkowski helped author as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-58). “One of my priorities when crafting the bipartisan infrastructure law was cleaner and more affordable en… Continue Reading
02.26.24
Murkowski Celebrate Blocking the Kroger-Albertsons Merger
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representative Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) celebrate the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) decision to sue to block the Kroger-Albertsons merger. “This announcement will come as a relief to countless Alaskans. From the potential for even higher grocery prices to longer-term store closures, there were just too many unknowns and uncertainties for this merger to move forward,” said Senator Murkowski. “The delegation worked hard to ensure that Alaskans’ co… Continue Reading
02.23.24
Murkowski, Sullivan Applaud $45 Million Investment in Alaska’s Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
Anchorage, AK - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) today applauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of $45,509,000 for drinking water, clean water, and wastewater infrastructure upgrades in Alaska. EPA received the funding to make these awards, which go to state-run programs, from 2021’s bipartisan infrastructure law. “Thanks to this award, more Alaskans will have access to clean drinking water and upgraded wastewater facilities. This is truly … Continue Reading
02.15.24
ICYMI: Murkowski Addresses the Alaska State Legislature
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today delivered her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature during a joint legislative session at the Capitol Building in Juneau. Murkowski highlighted recent accomplishments that are helping to create jobs, boost the economy, and strengthen infrastructure in Alaska. While celebrating those wins, she also underscored significant challenges—like workforce shortages and the need to boost quality of life—that the state is facing. To address those chal… Continue Reading
02.14.24
Delegation Applauds USDA Purchase of Alaska Seafood Products
Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) and Representative Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) applauded the USDA announcing its plans to purchase about $100 million of Alaska pink and sockeye salmon through Section 32 and the Commodity Credit Corporation. “USDA’s Section 32 purchase announcement is great news for Alaska—almost $100 million of Alaskan seafood for people experiencing food insecurity. This purchase won’t just bolster Alaska’s seafood industry and support our coas… Continue Reading
02.13.24
Sullivan, Murkowski Renew Effort to Deliver Alaska Native Vietnam-Era Veterans Their Rightful Land Allotments
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (both R-Alaska) have introduced legislation to extend the Alaska Native Vietnam Veteran Land Allotment Program for another five years before its expiration in December 2025. The program was established by a Sullivan-authored provision that became law in 2019, which enabled several thousand Alaska Native veterans to apply for their congressionally-promised Native land allotments—an opportunity many originally missed due to their military service durin… Continue Reading
02.13.24
Murkowski Statement on Passage of National Security Supplemental
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) issued the following statement on the Senate voting 70-29 to pass the national security supplemental package: “Today the Senate delivered an important message to our allies around the world - you can count on the United States. With the Senate’s support of this comprehensive national security bill crafted through months of bipartisan negotiation, our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan will be one step closer to receiving much needed and overdue support.… Continue Reading
02.12.24
Murkowski Introduces Working Waterfronts Bill to Boost Coastal Workforce, Fisheries, and Infrastructure
Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), introduced the Working Waterfronts Act, legislation which includes more than a dozen provisions aimed at boosting the workforce, energy and shoreside infrastructure, food security, and economies of coastal communities in Alaska and across the country. The bill will also support efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change on coastal communities and strengthen federal conservation research projects. In October 2022, Senator Murkowski began soliciti… Continue Reading