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

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04.03.19

Rubio Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Promote U.S. Shark Conservation as a Global Model of Sustainability

Today, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) reintroduced the Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act (S. 1008), bicameral legislation that recognizes the sustainable and economically-valuable fishing practices of U.S. shark fishermen and promotes U.S. standards for shark conservation and humane harvest abroad. U.S. Representative Daniel Webster (R-FL) has introduced similar legislation (H.R. 788) in the… Continue Reading

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04.03.19

Cortez Masto, Murkowski, Tester Introduce Legislation to Address Crisis of Missing, Murdered and Trafficked Native Women

U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jon Tester (D-MT) today introduced the Not Invisible Act of 2019, legislation aimed at addressing the crisis of missing, murdered, and trafficked Native people by engaging law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, and service providers and improving coordination across federal agencies. This bipartisan bill establishes an advisory committee of local, tribal and federal stakeholders to make recommendations to the Depa… Continue Reading

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04.01.19

Murkowski Announces New Staff and Healthcare Team

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced the addition of Amber Ebarb, joining Murkowski's Washington, DC office as the new Legislative Assistant for Alaska Native, Rural, and Indian Affairs. In addition, Murkowski announced the establishment of her new healthcare team, new staff member Angela Ramponi and current staff member Annie Dietderich. Ramponi and Dietderich will cover the healthcare portfolio as Legislative Aides. Kennita Williams is joining Senator Murkowski's Fairbanks office… Continue Reading

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03.31.19

Murkowski Comments on Court Ruling on Arctic OCS

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska released a ruling that reinstates President Obama's withdrawal of the vast majority of the Beaufort Sea and all of the Chukchi Sea from responsible oil and gas development. "I strongly disagree with this ruling, which asserts that past presidents can bind their successors and only Congress can overturn those decisions," Murkowski said. "That is not the correct interp… Continue Reading

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03.29.19

Murkowski Reacts to King Cove Court Ruling

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska released a ruling that sets aside and vacates a small land exchange between the Department of the Interior and the King Cove Corporation. "This is a disappointing case and a disappointing ruling," Murkowski said. "There have been nearly 100 medevacs in King Cove - many carried out by the Coast Guard - since 2014 alone. There is no question that the people who live th… Continue Reading