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.
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
02.07.19
Murray, Murkowski to Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve and Expand Health Care Services for Survivors of Sexual Assault
Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), will reintroduce the Survivors' Access to Supportive Care Act (SASCA), a bipartisan, bicameral bill to help improve and expand access to health care services for survivors of sexual assault. As the Senators announced SASCA's reintroduction in the Senate, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Congressman Peter King (R-NY) are also working to reintroduce a bipartisan version in the House. Senator Murray first introduced… Continue Reading
02.07.19
Tester, Murkowski, Pingree Reintroduce Bill to Support Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma
U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today reintroduced their bipartisan bill to improve resources and care for survivors of military sexual trauma (MST). Their Servicemember and Veterans' Empowerment and Support Act expands the definition of MST to ensure servicemembers and veterans who experience online sexual harassment can access VA counseling and benefits. It also codifies a lower burden of proof so more survivors are e… Continue Reading
02.07.19
Shaheen, Lowey Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Push to Permanently Repeal the Global Gag Rule
Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the only woman on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and House Appropriations Chair Nita Lowey (NY-17), led a bipartisan, bicameral reintroduction of the Global Health, Empowerment, and Rights (HER) Act in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The legislation would permanently repeal the harmful Global Gag Rule. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined Shaheen to introduce the legislation in the Senate. The Global Gag… Continue Reading
02.07.19
Murkowski Supports Peace and Democracy in the Middle East
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after voting in favor of the Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act, which passed in a 77-23 vote. The legislative package aims to improve our nation's diplomatic presence in the Middle East, strengthens the U.S.-Israel alliance, increases defense cooperation with Jordan and Israel, and imposes new sanctions on entities doing business with the government of Syria. This bill includes two pieces of legislation Sena… Continue Reading
02.07.19
Murkowski Kicks Off Floor Debate on Bipartisan Lands Package
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), today spoke on the Senate floor to begin debate on S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act. This bipartisan package of more than 100 public lands, natural resources, and water bills was reintroduced by Murkowski and former ENR Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., in January 2019. Yesterday, Murkowski, Cantwell, and ENR Ranking Member Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., secured an overwhelmingly … Continue Reading
02.06.19
Murkowski’s Response to President Trump’s State of the Union Address
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) tonight released the following video message after President Trump delivered his second State of the Union Address: CLICK HERE to watch full video. Excerpts from Murkowski's video message: "The President's address to the nation was designed to encourage, to be uplifting. He began with a message to us in the Congress to come together, to collaborate, to cooperate, to compromise. And I think it's important to recognize that that's an important message that… Continue Reading
02.05.19
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 100 public lands, natural resources, and water bills that was reintroduced in January 2019 by Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and former committee Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. Numerous groups, including local and tribal governments, as well as national, regional, and local associations that represent travel, hunting, fishing, wildlife conservation, and outdoor recreation in… Continue Reading
02.05.19
ENR Committee Ratifies Subcommittee Rosters for 116th Congress
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today held an organizational business meeting to approve its funding resolution and adopt rule changes. The committee also ratified the membership of its four subcommittees, which are as follows: ENERGY Bill Cassidy, Chairman James E. Risch Martin Heinrich, Ranking Mike Lee Ron Wyden Steve Daines … Continue Reading
02.05.19
Murkowski: Energy and Mineral Security are the Building Blocks of a Robust Economy
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired the Energy and Natural Resources Committee's first hearing of the 116th Congress, to examine the outlook for energy and minerals markets. The hearing featured witnesses from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), ClearView Energy Partners, the R Street Institute, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. After welcoming new Ranking Member Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and two new committee members, Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith, … Continue Reading
02.05.19
Murkowski Welcomes Nomination of David Bernhardt to be Interior Secretary
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after President Donald Trump announced he would nominate David Bernhardt to be Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI). "I strongly support David Bernhardt to serve as the next Secretary of the Interior. He already has helped the Department accomplish a great deal for Alaska and the nation, both as deputy secretary and as acting secretary, and he is more than capable of leading on a permanent basis. I will schedu… Continue Reading