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 Commends USDA Purchase of Alaska Pollock Products for Food Nutrition Assistance Programs
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-Alaska), today commended the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) approval of a Section 32 purchase of up to $41 million of surplus Alaska Pollock Products. USDA's purchase of Alaska Pollock will be distributed to various food nutrition assistance programs, including charitable organizations. "With a wide range of health benefits and its popularity among consumers, Alaska Pollock is one of the most valuab… Continue Reading
07.23.19
Murkowski Comments on Budget Deal
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement regarding the budget deal reached by administration negotiators and congressional leadership: "While this budget agreement is far from perfect, it reflects real compromise. It prioritizes our nation's defense and our veterans and puts reasonable constraints on non-defense spending. It avoids controversial riders, reduces the prospect of a government shutdown, and allows us to move forward in the appropriations process. I comme… Continue Reading
07.23.19
ENR Reviews U.S. Interests in the Freely Associated States
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine U.S. interests in the Freely Associated States (FAS), which include the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. Relations between the U.S. and FAS began during World War II, when the United States ended Japanese occupation of the region. Murkowski opened the hearing by outlining the important relationship the United States has with these nations. "The FAS nations are … Continue Reading
07.23.19
Murkowski Votes to Confirm Mark Esper as Defense Secretary
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement today after voting to confirm Mark Esper as Secretary of Defense: "Mark Esper is a leader with a proven ability to make tough choices, a keen understanding of global security risks, and the focus to defend our country from current threats while always preparing for future adversaries. Esper not only has the qualifications to lead in the Defense Department, but he has the track record and expertise to follow suit. Esper is a tru… Continue Reading
07.18.19
Van Hollen, Murkowski, Foster Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Create National Fab Lab Network
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-Ill.) recently introduced the National Fab Lab Network Act, legislation to expand Fab Labs across the country. These facilities are equipped with digitally-controlled tools that enable individuals to create and innovate new products. These tools range from laser cutters, to 3D printers, to automated knives - and training is also provided. To encourage the growth and expansion of new and cu… Continue Reading
07.18.19
Bipartisan, Bicameral STOP Act To Safeguard Tribal Items Introduced
Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) reintroduced the bipartisan Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act, a bill to prohibit the exporting of sacred Native American items and increase penalties for stealing and illegally trafficking tribal cultural patrimony. The House companion was introduced by Assistant House Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), Don Young (R-Alaska), and Tom Cole (R-Okla.). "I am p… Continue Reading
07.16.19
Energy Committee Advances 22 Bills
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today held a business meeting to consider and report 22 energy-related measures to the full Senate. Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, thanked her colleagues for their bipartisan efforts to develop these measures and outlined the important work ahead on the Senate floor. "I'm excited to be moving legislation related to nuclear energy, mineral security, energy efficiency, and carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration out of committee," Murko… Continue Reading
07.12.19
Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Aid Alaskan Communities
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), today introduced the Small County PILT Parity Act. The bill would amend the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which provides annual payments to local governments with federal lands in Alaska and across the country, to make its formula more equitable for large boroughs with small populations. Twelve boroughs or census areas in Alaska have populations under 5,000 and large tracts of federal lan… Continue Reading
07.12.19
Murkowski Hosts Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen in Southeast Alaska
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this past weekend hosted USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) Chief Vicki Christiansen in Southeast Alaska. The trip gave Chief Christiansen a direct look at challenges and opportunities in the Tongass National Forest and an opportunity to hear from local stakeholders and tribal leaders about the need to build a strong, sustainable economy in the region. "I thank Chief Christiansen and her team for joining me in Southeast to see and experience our nation's la… Continue Reading
07.11.19
Senators Hassan, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment for Substance Use Disorder
Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would help health care providers more effectively treat patients suffering from substance use disorder. The bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act would eliminate an outdated requirement that needlessly restricts health care providers from prescribing buprenorphine, a proven medication-assisted treatment that has helped countless Americans struggling with substance use disorder. C… Continue Reading
07.09.19
Murkowski Welcomes Interns to the Alaska Report
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently hosted a Q&A with her first summer session of recent high school graduate interns for her annual recording of the "Alaska Report." Senator Murkowski provided her 10 interns the chance to close out their time in D.C. with a round of questions on her personal and professional experiences, including questions on her personal definition of success, opportunities to improve Alaska's justice system, her motivation to address the epidemic of missing and m… Continue Reading
07.02.19
Alaska Congressional Delegation Welcome Disaster Relief for Alaska Fisheries
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-Alaska), today welcomed an announcement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that the agency approved $53.8 million to restore losses for Alaska fisheries impacted by the 2016 Gulf of Alaska pink salmon fishery disaster. NOAA approved and transferred the funds to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the agency tasked with distributing the relief payments to fishermen and their deckha… Continue Reading
07.02.19
Murkowski, Schatz Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Impact of the ANSEP Program
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) have introduced the Building Indigenous STEM Professionals Act. This legislation will reauthorize and amend a grant designed to help create or expand programs that produce Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian graduates in science, technology, engineering, and math fields (STEM). Inspired by the nationally-recognized Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP), which grows STEM professionals from elementary school through coll… Continue Reading
06.28.19
Alaska Congressional Delegation Welcome DOJ Declaration of Law Enforcement Emergency in Rural Alaska
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today welcomed the Department of Justice's Announcement that Attorney General Barr will declare a law enforcement emergency in rural Alaska under the Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Program today. Immediately following his announcement, $6 million was made available to the state of Alaska to support critical law enforcement needs of Alaska Native villages. In addition, the Attorney General will auth… Continue Reading
06.28.19
Murkowski Backs Effort to Lower Cost of Health Care
During a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Executive Session, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019, legislation aimed at lowering the costs of healthcare by ending surprise medical billing, creating more transparency, and increasing prescription drug competition. The legislation, which includes 54 proposals from 36 Democrats and 29 Republicans, was moved favorably out of committee by a vote 0f 20-3. "I want to acknowl… Continue Reading
06.28.19
Senators Markey and Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Support Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in Correctional Facilities
Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) recently introduced the Community Re-Entry through Addiction Treatment to Enhance (CREATE) Opportunities Act, legislation to help expand access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) like Suboxone for justice-involved individuals. This legislation would create a new grant program within the Department of Justice for state and local governments to provide MAT in their correctional facilities. The program would require grantees to p… Continue Reading
06.28.19
Murkowski Backs Bill to Bolster National Security
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that authorizes the appropriation of $750 billion in national defense funding for FY2020. The bill includes two amendments from Senator Murkowski to address suicide prevention in the military and to evaluate Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic. In addition to the priorities supported by Senator Murkowski, the bill also provides a pay raise for troops, invests in modernizin… Continue Reading
06.27.19
Border Emergency Supplemental Package Passes Senate
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently voted in favor of The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act of 2019. The bipartisan package provides a total of $4.59 billion to address the humanitarian crisis at the United States' Southern Border, including funding for Health and Human Services, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Justice Department, and the U.S. Military. The legislation passed the Senate by a strong bipartisa… Continue Reading
06.27.19
Murkowski: It’s Time to End the Nuclear Waste Stalemate
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine options for the interim and long-term storage of nuclear waste. The committee also received testimony on S. 1234, the Nuclear Waste Administration Act (NWAA), which was introduced in late April by Murkowski, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Murkowski opened the hearing by speaking to the importance of nuclear energy in our country's electric gene… Continue Reading
06.26.19
Murkowski Reacts to EPA Announcements on Pebble Mine
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would resume the process of withdrawing the proposed determination it issued in 2014 for the Pebble mine project in southwest Alaska. The agency also announced that it would initiate a process under Section 404(q) of the Clean Water Act to elevate its environmental concerns on the project, which is under review by the Army Corps of Engineers. "I have never s… Continue Reading
