03.28.19

Senate Passes Feinstein, Murkowski Women’s History Month Resolution

The Senate last night passed a resolution designating March as "National Women's History Month." The resolution was written by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). "It's wonderful that the Senate has passed our resolution celebrating the importance of women in our country's history," said Senator Feinstein. "Recognizing March as Women's History Month reminds us of the many extraordinary achievements made by women, including the historic number of women… Continue Reading

---

03.28.19

Feinstein, Murkowski, Lieu, Stivers Bill Devotes Federal Resources to Fight Homelessness

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Representatives Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) today introduced the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act, a bill to increase federal resources to battle homelessness. Specifically, the bill authorizes $750 million in grants annually for the next five years for local governments to combat homelessness. As a way to address the root causes of homelessness, this legislation for the first time wo… Continue Reading

---

03.28.19

Whitehouse, Murkowski Unveil Bill to Advance Understanding of Oceans, Great Lakes, and Coasts

U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus, today unveiled new legislation to advance data collection of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts. The Bolstering Long-Term Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries Act, or the BLUE GLOBE Act, would accelerate technology innovation, grow the marine workforce, and develop a better understanding of the blue economy. "We know mor… Continue Reading

---

03.28.19

Bipartisan Group of 47 Senators Urges Trump Administration to Withdraw Proposed SNAP Rule

Today, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led a bipartisan letter that raised concerns about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposed rule to make harmful changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and urged Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to withdraw the proposal. "The proposed changes would take food assistance away from Americans struggling to find stable employment while doing nothing to help them to actually become permanently… Continue Reading

---

03.28.19

Murkowski: Bernhardt Has the Background, Experience, and Competence to be Secretary of the Interior

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to consider President Trump's nominee to be Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI), David Bernhardt. The Senate previously confirmed Mr. Bernhardt as Deputy Secretary with bipartisan support in May 2017 and he has served as Acting Secretary since January 2019. Murkowski opened the hearing by expressing her strong support for Bernhardt's nomination, recognizing his extensive experience with public lands and natural resource i… Continue Reading

---

03.28.19

Sens. Coons, Murkowski, and Harris Applaud Senate Passage of bill during Women's History Month to recognize ‘Hidden Figures’ for contributions to U.S. leadership during the Space Race

U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) today applauded Senate passage of a bipartisan bill they introduced, along with 68 of their colleagues, to award Congressional Gold Medals to Katherine Johnson and Dr. Christine Darden and to posthumously award Congressional Gold Medals to Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. The bill would also award a fifth Congressional Gold Medal to honor all women who contributed to NASA during the Space Race. The bill … Continue Reading

---

03.27.19

Murkowski, Booker, and 13 Colleagues Reintroduce the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Cory Booker, D-N.J., James Risch, R-Idaho, Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Chris Coons, D-Del., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to boost nuclear energy innovation and ensure advanced reactors can provide clean, … Continue Reading

---

03.27.19

Delegation Reaffirms Strong Support for Coastal Plain Leasing Program

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management, Joe Balash, to express their continued strong support for the oil and gas leasing program for the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently moving forward with the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the program. "We are pleased the Departm… Continue Reading

---

03.26.19

Alaska Congressional Delegation Welcomes Supreme Court’s Unanimous Decision on Sturgeon Case

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today welcomed a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Sturgeon v Frost, that the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) explicitly barred the National Park Service from prohibiting John Sturgeon from operating his hovercraft to hunt moose along the Nation River in the Yukon-Charley National Preserve in Alaska. In an opinion authored by Justice Elena Kagan, the court upheld the promises made t… Continue Reading

---

03.26.19

Murkowski: Voting Against Costly, Impractical Green New Deal

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor in advance of a vote on the Green New Deal resolution. Murkowski explained the impracticality of the resolution and instead outlined the more practical, pragmatic steps Congress can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Murkowski highlighted areas where Congress has already made progress in supporting policies to reduce emissions, such as increased funding for t… Continue Reading

---

03.26.19

Sullivan, Murkowski Resolution Recalls Exxon Valdez Tragedy

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) yesterday introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate marking the 30th anniversary of the disastrous Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The collision of the Exxon Valdez tanker with Bligh Reef in the early morning of March 24, 1989 resulted in the release of roughly eleven million gallons of crude oil into the open ocean, impacting more than 1,300 miles of coastline. "The Exxon Valdez disaster marked a turning point in the… Continue Reading

---

03.21.19

Murkowski, Shaheen Build on Bipartisan Efforts to Address Health Concerns for Firefighters’ Exposure to PFAS, Announce Bill that Would Require Blood Testing as Part of Routine Physicals for Military Firefighters

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced today that they'll introduce bipartisan legislation next week that would require the Department of Defense to include blood testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as part of routine physicals for military firefighters. The Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act builds on the Senators' efforts to prioritize actions that respond to the potential health effects of occupational exposure to PFAS, particula… Continue Reading

---

03.15.19

Alaska Delegation Moves to Protect Native Craftsmen

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Congressman Don Young (R-AK) this week introduced the Empowering Rural Economies Through Alaska Native Sustainable Arts and Handicrafts Act, in the House and the Senate. The legislation would preempt states from banning walrus ivory, whale bone, and other marine mammal products that have been legally carved by Alaska Natives under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Additionally, the bill preempts states from issuing bans on fossiliz… Continue Reading

---

03.15.19

Feinstein, Murkowski Introduce Women’s History Month Resolution

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced a resolution designating March as "National Women's History Month." "Women's History Month gives us an opportunity to reflect on the contributions women have made to our country and inspire the next generation of women leaders," Senator Feinstein said. "When I first came to the Senate, there were only two other women serving in the chamber. Today, a quarter of the senators are women and a record number of … Continue Reading

---

03.14.19

Senator Murkowski Votes to Uphold Separation of Powers

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after voting on House Joint Resolution 46, to terminate the President's national emergency declaration at the United States' southern border: "I take very seriously my oath to uphold the Constitution, and my respect for the balance within the separation of powers. Article 1 provides that the power to appropriate lies with the legislative branch. When the executive branch goes around the express intention of Congress on matters wi… Continue Reading

---

03.14.19

Murkowski Introduces Bill to Address Ocean Acidification

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act, legislation to address ocean acidification by identifying and assessing communities which are most dependent on coastal and ocean resources that may be impacted by ocean acidification. The bill would conduct coastal community vulnerability assessments related to ocean acidification, assessing the nature of social and economic vulnerabilities of coastal communities and identify the harmful impacts of oc… Continue Reading

---

03.13.19

Murkowski Supports Yemen War Resolution

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after voting for S.J. Res. 7, the Yemen War Powers Resolution, which passed the Senate by a vote of 54-46. "Over the past three months, the world has watched the humanitarian crisis in Yemen continue to deteriorate, and we have seen no meaningful action, nor has Congress been provided any meaningful information after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi," said Senator Murkowski. "Saudi Arabia has long been an ally, but that … Continue Reading

---

03.12.19

Senators Introduce Bill to Improve Access to Justice in the West, Create New Twelfth Circuit

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Martha McSally (R-AZ), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have introduced the Judicial Efficiency Improvement Act of 2019, a bill that would codify the Judicial Conference's most recent recommendations as well as other important measures to enhance the effectiveness of the federal judiciary. The legislation would authorize 56 permanent district court judgeships, convert eight temporary district court judgeships into permanent posts, and authorize fi… Continue Reading

---

03.12.19

President Trump Signs Sweeping Lands Package into Law

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commended President Donald J. Trump for signing S. 47, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, formerly known as the Natural Resources Management Act, into law. The bipartisan legislation contains more than 120 public lands, resources, sportsmen, conservation, and water management bills. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 92 to 8 on February 12, and the House passed it on February 26 by a vote of 363 to 62. "I thank P… Continue Reading

---

03.12.19

Murkowski Statement on President’s Budget Request

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after President Trump unveiled a budget blueprint for Fiscal Year 2020: "The President's request is the first step in the budget process. I look forward to reviewing the President's priorities - including his commitment to our national defense and proposed spending cuts - and will take them under consideration as we work through the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations process." Murkowski is a member of the Senate Appropriations C… Continue Reading