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.
ENR Reviews Priorities for U.S. Territories
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday chaired a hearing to examine the priorities of the U.S. territories and how Congress can help to achieve them. The hearing featured four territorial governors: Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló; Guam Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero; U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. Albert Bryan; and Northern Mariana Islands Gov. Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres. "I have had the privilege of visiting four of the territories as chairman of this committee," Murkowski said. "C… Continue Reading
02.27.19
“Magnificent” Public Lands Package Heads to the President’s Desk
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, today welcomed the House of Representatives' bipartisan approval of S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act. After the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 92 to 8 on February 12, the House passed it this afternoon by a vote of 363 to 62. The bill will now head to the president's desk. "I commend Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Bishop for their partnership and leadership to move this im… Continue Reading
02.26.19
What They're Saying in Support of the Natural Resources Management Act
S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act, is a bipartisan package of more than 120 public lands, natural resources, sportsmen, conservation, and water management bills that was introduced in January 2019 by Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and former committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). Murkowski, ENR Ranking Member Manchin, and Cantwell led the Senate's strong approval (92-8) of S. 47 on February 12. Today, the House is expected to vote on final p… Continue Reading
02.26.19
Duckworth, Murkowski, Chu & Walorski Re-Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Expand Coverage for Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors
U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA-27) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN-2) today re-introduced legislation to ensure breast cancer patients and survivors who have experienced a mastectomy are able to access custom breast prosthetics under Medicare. The Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act would provide coverage for custom fabricated breast prostheses, the only human body part not currently covered by Medicare, to the more than 144,… Continue Reading
02.22.19
Murkowski Comments on Draft EIS for Pebble Mine
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) released the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the Pebble mine project in southwest Alaska. "The Army Corps has now released a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Pebble mine. While it will take time to review this 1,400-page document and its supporting materials, I have begun to do so and encourage all Alaskans to do the same, because it is cri… Continue Reading
02.21.19
Tester, Sullivan, Udall, Murkowski Team Up to Improve VA Outreach to Native American Veterans
U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are teaming up to improve the VA's outreach, health care and benefits for Native Americans. The Senators introduced the bipartisan VA Tribal Advisory Committee Act to establish a VA Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs. The Committee will facilitate communication and understanding between the VA and Tribal governments to better address the unique barriers Native American vet… Continue Reading
02.21.19
Murkowski, Cantwell, Gardner, Wyden, Feinstein Reintroduce Bill to Help Prepare and Protect Communities from Landslides
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., recently reintroduced bipartisan legislation to improve the science and coordination needed to help local communities prepare for and respond to landslides and other natural hazards. S. 529, the National Landslide Preparedness Act, will help protect communities and property, save lives, and improve emergency preparedness and planning by targeting key gaps in cu… Continue Reading
02.15.19
Murkowski: Cybersecurity a Priority in the 116th Congress
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday chaired a hearing to examine the status and outlook of efforts to protect our nation's energy infrastructure from cyber threats and attacks. The hearing featured Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Neil Chatterjee, Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) Karen Evans, and representatives from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the West V… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Funding Package to Improve Border Security, Strengthen Infrastructure and Invest in Communities Heads to President
Congress today passed a funding bill package that sets federal funding levels for Fiscal Year 2019, sending it to the president to be signed into law. The funding package combines the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Appropriations bills for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; Commerce, Justice, Science; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior-Environment; State and Foreign Operations; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. As Chairman of… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Murkowski Interior Bill Secures Big Wins for Alaska
Both the Senate and House today passed a seven-bill appropriations package containing funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The package included U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski's (R-AK) Interior-Environment bill, which passed both chambers and is a negotiated agreement that addresses a range of challenges, needs, and opportunities in Alaska. Senator Murkowski, chairman of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, secured provisions to strengthen Alaska's economy, improve wa… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Murkowski Votes to Confirm William Barr as Attorney General
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after voting to confirm William Barr as U.S. Attorney General: "What the Justice Department needs more than anything else right now is a strong, experienced, thoughtful hand at the helm. Former Attorney General Barr is well suited to the task and to fill the spot he once held. He understands and respects the uniquely independent role that the Justice Department and its career attorneys occupy in our constitutional system," said… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Managing Pain During the Opioid Crisis
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) this week joined her colleagues on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee in an oversight hearing to better understand causes of pain, how we improve managing patient care, and the status of developing new medicines and methods to manage and treat pain. The Committee heard from the following witnesses: Cindy Steinberg- U.S. Pain Foundation; Halena Gazelka, M.D.- Mayo Clinic Opioid Stewardship Program and Mayo Clinic Impatient Pain Service;… Continue Reading
02.13.19
Warren, Murkowski, Grijalva, & Cole Re-Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Suicide Crisis in Native Communities
United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), along with Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.), re-introduced the bipartisan Native American Suicide Prevention Act in the Senate and the House. This legislation would help address the alarming suicide rate in Native communities by requiring collaboration among states and tribal nations in the design and implementation of statewide suicide intervention and prevention strategies. … Continue Reading
02.12.19
Murkowski Secures Senate Passage of Bipartisan Lands Package
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, today led the Senate's strong bipartisan approval of S. 47, her Natural Resources Management Act. The Senate passed the legislation this afternoon on a final vote of 92 to 8, and it will now head to the House of Representatives. Click photo for video of Murkowski's remarks following Senate passage of S.47 "The Senate's overwhelming approval of this bipartisan lands package is a significant v… Continue Reading
02.12.19
Klobuchar, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Behavioral Health Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced bipartisan legislation to fund behavioral health crisis response training for law enforcement. The Behavioral Health Crisis Response Improvements Act will support state and local law enforcement agencies with training for officers who respond to cases involving people with a mental illness or substance use disorder. "People struggling with mental health or substance use disorders are some of the most vulnerable members of o… Continue Reading
02.12.19
ICYMI: Murkowski Urges Colleagues to Support Bipartisan Lands Package
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, yesterday spoke on the Senate floor about S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act. She highlighted the extensive regular order process the package of 100-plus bills has undergone in the Senate, House, or both chambers; the provisions essential to Alaskans and other local communities throughout the country; and the numerous local, state, and national organizations that support passage of this… Continue Reading
02.11.19
Alaska Delegation Welcomes Dana Herndon to Serve Juneau Area Constituency
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both (R-AK), today announced that Dana Herndon has been hired as their Juneau Delegation Representative. As the Senators' representative, Herndon will assist constituents in Juneau and other communities in Southeast Alaska. Herndon will replace Connie McKenzie, who served in this position for the delegation after nearly 15 years. "We are sad to see Connie go after her many years of public service. She has served the people of the region well and… Continue Reading
02.11.19
Van Hollen, Murkowski Announce Bipartisan Support for 2.6% Pay Raise for Federal Workers
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced bipartisan support for legislation to provide federal employees with a 2.6 percent cost of living increase. The House of Representatives passed companion legislation to this measure last month. "Our federal workforce protects our nation, ensures the safety of our food and medicine, delivers Social Security and veterans' benefits, and carries out countless other responsibilities on behalf of our citizens. The shu… Continue Reading
02.08.19
Murkowski Language Preservation Bill Advances
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee this week unanimously advanced legislation to support Native American language revitalization programs for consideration by the full Senate. On January 29, 2019, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, (R-AK) joined Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) in introducing the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act, to improve the grant program that funds a variety of language learning activities such as Native language immersion and language teacher traini… Continue Reading
02.08.19
Murkowski: U.S. Must Continue to Lead on Energy Innovation
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday chaired a hearing to examine the current status and future of energy innovation in the United States. The hearing featured Department of Energy (DOE) Under Secretary of Science Paul Dabbar, former DOE Secretary Ernest Moniz, and representatives from the Bipartisan Policy Center, ClearPath, the Council on Competitiveness, and West Virginia University. Murkowski opened by stressing the importance of fostering an environment that encourages innovation… Continue Reading
