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.
Alaska Congressional Delegation Applauds Historic DOJ Public Safety Investments for Alaska
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today applauded the Department of Justice's announcement that Attorney General Barr will award $42 million in grant funding to improve public safety in rural Alaska. Specifically, the funding aims to address the lack of law enforcement in communities across Alaska through support for Alaska Native villages, tribes, and victim services. Attorney General Barr made the announcement during a teleconference address t… Continue Reading
10.17.19
Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Address Alaska’s Rural Public Safety Crisis
In her continued effort to address the public safety crisis in rural Alaska, U.S Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Alaska Tribal Public Safety Empowerment Act, legislation to empower tribes in Alaska to exercise the special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction on a pilot basis. Among domestic violence victims in Alaska, Native women are over-represented by 250 percent, yet one in three communities in rural Alaska have no local law enforcement. Specifically, the bill expands the ju… Continue Reading
10.17.19
Murkowski: Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a Vital National Asset
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine the status of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and its continued importance to our nation's energy security. In her opening statement, Murkowski highlighted the SPR as a vital national asset and the importance of maintaining a robust emergency reserve in case of supply disruptions and the economic shockwaves that can follow. "You don't give up your insurance policy when you're healthy, and we should not give up the SPR… Continue Reading
10.16.19
Murkowski, Smith Introduce Indian Energy Legislation
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Tina Smith, D-Minn., today introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and improve the Department of Energy's Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs (OIE). The bill, entitled the Tribal Energy Reauthorization Act (TERA), reauthorizes OIE and the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program (TELGP) through 2030, updates eligibility requirements for energy project grants, and encourages more locally and regionally based partnerships when providing technic… Continue Reading
10.16.19
Senators Sullivan, Murkowski Praise Nomination of Joshua Kindred
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded President Donald J. Trump's announcement on his intent to nominate Joshua Kindred to serve as United States District Court Judge for the District of Alaska. "I congratulate Joshua on being nominated to serve on the federal bench for the District of Alaska," said Senator Sullivan. "With his extensive criminal and trial experience, combined with a deep understanding of Alaska and Alaska-centric federal l… Continue Reading
10.15.19
Delegation Welcomes Draft of Tongass-Specific Roadless Rule
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (Forest Service) announced the release of its draft Roadless Rule for the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska. "I'm very pleased the administration has listened to Alaskans and is proposing a full exemption from the Roadless Rule as its preferred alternative," Murkowski said. "I thank President Trump, Secretary Per… Continue Reading
10.08.19
Tester, Murkowski, Shaheen, Sullivan Spearhead Bill to Bring More Addiction Counselors to Communities
U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) recently introduced legislation to provide better access to treatment for substance use disorders by recognizing licensed addiction counselors (LACs) under Medicare. The Senators' Addiction Treatment Access Act would allow health care facilities to bill Medicare for LAC services. LACs are not currently recognized as providers by Medicare, which prevents them from receiving reimbursement a… Continue Reading
10.03.19
Senators Call for Financial Certainty for Rural Counties
U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho and 27 of their Senate colleagues today requested that any end-of-year legislation include at least a two-year reauthorization of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) programs. In a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the senators wrote, " Congress has an obligation to ensure counties with lar… Continue Reading
10.01.19
Murkowski Statement on the President’s Intent to Nominate James Danly for FERC
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the President announced his intent to nominate James Danly to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). "I welcome the President's decision to nominate a Republican commissioner and to fill a critical seat that has now been vacant for nine full months," Murkowski said. "We will need to receive both a formal nomination and all associated paperwork before proceeding to a hearing, which has not bee… Continue Reading
09.30.19
Committee Approves FY2020 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill
The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations bill. As a member of the committee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) secured a range of initiatives to improve research and technology in the Arctic, strengthen public safety in rural Alaska, and ensure Alaska's fisheries continue to thrive. This legislation, which funds the U.S. Department of Commerce and Justice, the National Science Foundation, the Nat… Continue Reading
09.27.19
Funding Bills Advance to Full Senate
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved both the Homeland Security and State & Foreign Operations Appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2020, sending them to the full Senate for consideration. As a member of the Committee, U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) worked to secure provisions to support the U.S. Coast Guard with the assets and infrastructure they need to keep our people and our waters safe, prioritize our nation's leadership in the Arctic, as well as invest in security and improving … Continue Reading
09.27.19
Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Cybersecurity in Alaska and Across Rural America
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday introduced legislation to enhance the security of our nation's electric grid. The bill, entitled the Protecting Resources On The Electric grid with Cybersecurity Technology (PROTECT) Act, establishes a grant program at the Department of Energy to advance the cybersecurity defenses of rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in Alaska and throughout the nation. It also directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to incentivize cybersec… Continue Reading
09.27.19
Murkowski Votes to Confirm Eugene Scalia as Labor Secretary
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after voting to confirm Eugene Scalia as Secretary of Labor: "After thoroughly vetting Eugene Scalia for the post of Secretary, I found him to be highly qualified. I had the opportunity to meet with him in person and speak on the phone about issues important to Alaskans. This gave me a chance to not only learn more about Mr. Scalia and his experience, but educate him on Alaska's unique issues and opportunities," said Senator Mu… Continue Reading
09.26.19
Big Wins for Alaska in Interior Funding Bill
The Senate Appropriations Committee today advanced the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2020. The Interior Subcommittee is responsible for funding agencies that are charged with managing our public lands, ensuring clean water and clean air, meeting federal trust responsibilities for Native peoples, and funding cultural agencies and museums. As chairman of the Interior Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) crafted a bill with funding to st… Continue Reading
09.26.19
Murkowski, Udall, Sullivan Introduce Bill to Protect Indian Health Service Funding During Lapses in Appropriations
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced the IHS Advance Appropriations Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation which amends the Indian Health Service Improvement Act to authorize advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service by providing two-fiscal-year budget authority, shoring up the gaps in the funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS), the agency responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Th… Continue Reading
09.26.19
Murkowski, Jones, Cassidy Introduce Legislation to Give Patients Timely and Safe Access to Treatment
Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Doug Jones (D-AL), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), today introduced the Safe Step Act of 2019. This legislation would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to require group health plans to provide an exception process for any medication step therapy protocol, tools used by health plans to control spending on patient's medications, to help ensure patients are able to safely and efficiently access treatment. Additional cosponsors of the legislation incl… Continue Reading
09.25.19
Murkowski Votes to Uphold Separation of Powers
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after voting on S.J. Res. 54, the National Emergency Declaration Resolution of Disapproval: "My vote today is about ensuring we respect the separation and balance of powers that are fundamental to our democracy. The U.S. Constitution distinctly gives the legislative branch the power to appropriate. From the outset, I noted my opposition to this emergency declaration and what that meant, including my concern over diverting funds a… Continue Reading
09.25.19
ENR Advances Consensus Energy Storage Legislation
Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Ranking Member Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., today advanced a comprehensive energy storage package to the full Senate during a business meeting held by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The package was reported as an amendment to S. 1602, the Better Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act introduced by Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine. The committee chose to amend her bill as a reflection of her leadership on energy storage and clean energy technologie… Continue Reading
09.24.19
Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent E-Cigarette Tampering
Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley, joined by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), today introduced new legislation to set safety standards in the design of e-cigarette and vaping devices. The Senators' legislation-the E-Cigarette Device Standards Act of 2019-follows a spate of hundreds of illnesses and eight deaths linked to vaping across the United States. In some of the most serious cases, victims reportedly may have fallen ill … Continue Reading
09.24.19
Murkowski Interior Bill Advances to Full Committee
The Senate Interior-Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee today advanced its FY2020 appropriations bill with funding to strengthen the economy, improve water and wastewater infrastructure, and create safer and healthier communities across the state. As chairman of the Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) worked to address a range of challenges, needs, and opportunities in Alaska by securing provisions to develop infrastructure projects, improve access to Nativ… Continue Reading