03.23.18

Murkowski: Big Impacts for Alaska in Funding Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Early today, the Senate passed a bill that sets federal funding levels for the remainder of the fiscal year, providing the biggest defense spending increase in fifteen years and the largest pay increase for our troops in close to a decade. In addition, it makes significant investments in addressing school safety, fighting the opioid epidemic, and combatting substance abuse. As Chairman of the Interior Appropriations subcommittee and member of the Appropriations Committee, U.S.… Continue Reading

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03.22.18

Murkowski: Investments in Water Infrastructure and Management Systems Vital to Protecting Communities from Drought

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine the western water outlook for 2018 and three bills to upgrade water infrastructure, management, and storage systems to ensure our communities have access to clean, reliable water supplies. "For over a decade, the West has suffered through drought conditions. Changing climate conditions and weather patterns appear to be making matters worse," Murkowski said. "There's no question that we need to overhaul and modernize America'… Continue Reading

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03.22.18

Murkowski: Interior Bill Benefits Alaska

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today outlined the benefits for Alaska in the 2018 government funding bill currently before Congress. As chairman of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Murkowski's portion of the bill makes significant strides in developing infrastructure projects, improving access to Native healthcare, and reducing the National Park Service's maintenance backlog. "I am proud of the work we have done in this Interior appropriations bil… Continue Reading

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03.21.18

Online Sex Trafficking Prevention Bill Passes Senate

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski voted in favor of the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, which passed by a vote of 97-2. The bill gives power back to prosecutors, victims, and state attorneys by giving a clearer path to pursue legal action against website providers who are posting advertisements for sex workers, many of whom are actively caught up in sex trafficking. Senator Murkowski is an original co-sponsor of the Senate's online trafficking prevention bill, Stop … Continue Reading

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03.21.18

Feinstein, Murkowski, Colleagues Introduce Women’s History Month Resolution

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led a group of their colleagues today in introducing a resolution designating March as "National Women's History Month." "Women's History Month offers us a chance to celebrate the remarkable women in our nation's history and encourage the next generation to reach for new heights in business, academia, athletics, science, government and more," Feinstein said. "When I was sworn into the Senate, there were only two wome… Continue Reading

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03.20.18

Murkowski: DOE Must Focus on Maintaining U.S. Global Leadership in Science and Innovation

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired an oversight hearing to examine the U.S. Department of Energy's $30.6 billion budget request for Fiscal Year 2019. Murkowski opened the hearing by welcoming Secretary of Energy Rick Perry back to the committee and noted that she looks forward to hosting him in Alaska in the near future. In her opening remarks, she focused on the importance of energy innovation. "While we should always be looking for places to cut the budget, we should also reco… Continue Reading

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03.15.18

Committee Reviews Two Energy Nominees

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to consider two nominees for the Department of Energy (DOE). The nominees were Ted Garrish to be Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs and James Campos to be Director of the Office of Minority Impact. Murkowski opened the hearing by thanking both nominees for their willingness to serve our country and highlighting their qualifications for the roles. "Mr. Garrish has a lo… Continue Reading

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03.15.18

Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan Welcome FERC Review Schedule for AK LNG Project

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today released the following joint statement after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released a Notice of Schedule for the environmental review process for the Alaska LNG (AK LNG) project. "This schedule is a necessary step forward for the AK LNG project and provides a clear trajectory for Alaskans' efforts to commercialize our massive reserves of natural gas. FERC's schedule for this project-the largest energy infrastruct… Continue Reading

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03.14.18

Murkowski on Ending the Opioid Crisis in Rural Alaska

Today the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, of which U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski is a member, focused on understanding the extent of the impacts of the opioid epidemic in Native American and Alaska Native communities and steps to make a difference. Witnesses testifying ranged from Tribal leaders to health professionals in the Indian Health Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as a representative from the U.S. Department of Justice. "Alaska may be a rural state, b… Continue Reading

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03.14.18

Regulatory Relief Bill Passes Senate

U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) today voted for S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, legislation that measures good practices and fair treatment of banking institution customers and rolls back many burdensome Dodd-Frank provisions that had unintended consequences for consumers, home-buyers, and small business owners. "I have heard from many local lending institutions and they are excited about the regulatory relief measures for community and regional finan… Continue Reading

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03.14.18

Murkowski Congratulates Ulsom on Iditarod Victory

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today congratulated Joar Leifseth Ulsom, of Norway, and his team on winning the 2018 Iditarod, finishing in nine days and twelve hours. "The Iditarod holds a special place in Alaska's history and demonstrates the toughness and determination that sets this event apart from the rest of the world. This thousand mile race takes mushers across rugged terrain in harsh winter conditions-a true test of grit. A huge congratulations to Joar Leifseth Ulsom on his victory today.… Continue Reading

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03.13.18

Murkowski: Interior Budget Proposal Will Increase Access, Protect Lands, Boost Resource Production

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine the U.S. Department of the Interior's $11.7 billion budget request for Fiscal Year 2019. Murkowski opened the hearing by welcoming Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke back to the committee and highlighting the good work he has done for Alaska, other western states, and the nation during his first year leading the department. "You and I have worked closely to chart a path to greater energy security, which runs right throu… Continue Reading

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03.12.18

Senators Tina Smith, Lisa Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Mental Health Services in Schools

U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced a bipartisan bill to expand mental health services in the school system. The Improving Access to Mental Health Services Act would bring mental health professionals who currently work in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) into schools, community-based organizations, and into the homes of families who need the services. Right now, NHSC professionals can only provide care at certain approved clinics and are limited in th… Continue Reading

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03.09.18

Murkowski on Steel and Aluminum Tariff Announcement

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski made the following statement after President Trump announced he is imposing a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports: "I share the President's desire to help rebuild our steel and aluminum industries, but have significant concerns about the impact these tariffs will have on our broader economy, trade relationships, and particularly our nation's energy sector. A lot of good work has gone into ensuring that the U.S. is able to r… Continue Reading

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03.09.18

Donnelly, Murkowski, Hassan Announce Bipartisan Bill to Address Opioid Treatment Workforce Shortage

U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) announced the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act, bipartisan legislation that would address the ongoing shortage of professionals needed to provide treatment and recovery services as communities combat the opioid abuse epidemic. The bill would incentivize students to pursue substance use disorder work by providing them with student loan relief up to $250,000 if they work for six years in areas tha… Continue Reading

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03.08.18

Bipartisan Advanced Nuclear Research and Energy Bill Passes Senate

Bipartisan legislation led by Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) cleared the Senate today by voice vote. The measure, S.97, known as the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, (NEICA), would create partnerships between private-sector innovators in nuclear energy with government researchers to create the next generation of clean, advanced nuclear power. The measure, cosponsored by Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), … Continue Reading

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03.08.18

Energy and Natural Resources Committee Advances 24 Measures

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today held a business meeting to approve 24 energy, lands, and territories bills. After the meeting, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, thanked her colleagues for their work to develop and report the measures for consideration by the full Senate. The bipartisan measures reported today include bills to: address Northern Mariana Islands workforce needs; expedite the approval of small-scale LNG exports; boost research efforts at the Departmen… Continue Reading

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03.06.18

USGS Nominee Will Prioritize America’s Mineral Security

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to consider the nomination of Dr. James Reilly to be director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS surveys and inventories our nation's mineral base, provides real-time data for natural hazards, and deploys thousands of stream gauges across the country to monitor groundwater and river levels. Murkowski opened the hearing by thanking Dr. Reilly for his willingness to serve our coun… Continue Reading

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03.05.18

Senator Hatch and Bipartisan Senators Introduce Critical School Safety Legislation

Today US Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Udall (D-NM), Dean Heller (R-NV), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Doug Jones (D-AL), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Angus King (D-ME) in… Continue Reading

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03.02.18

Duckworth, Murkowski & Udall Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Ensure Servicemembers Don’t Go Hungry

U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Lisa Murkowksi (R-AK) and Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced bipartisan legislation this week to help prevent troops and military families from going hungry so that no one willing to serve this nation in uniform struggles to feed their families. The Military Hunger Prevention Act fixes a quirk in federal law and eliminates inconsistencies that prevent many low-income servicemembers from accessing federal food assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assi… Continue Reading