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.
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
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
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
03.01.18
Murkowski: Common Sense Solutions and Cooperation Necessary to Protect Energy Infrastructure Against Cyber Threats
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine opportunities to promote the cybersecurity and resiliency of our nation's critical energy infrastructure. "Protecting our nation's energy infrastructure is critical to maintaining so much of the American way of life," Murkowski said. "We have repeatedly heard how protection of our nation's critical assets is a shared responsibility, with federal, state, and private sector partners working together to improve cyber defenses a… Continue Reading
02.23.18
Murkowski Calls on Oil and Gas Industry to Share Hiring Data, Seeks Input to Increase Hiring of Alaskans
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week sent a letter to the five largest oil and gas producers in Alaska, raising concerns about the rising percentage of workers from outside of the state and requesting ideas to increase the number and share of Alaskans who work in the industry. "Consistent with my previous requests over the past years, I ask that you provide up-to-date information on your companies' employment of Alaska residents, including data for your contractors and subcontract… Continue Reading
02.16.18
Sen. Murkowski to Host Forest Service Chief in Southeast Alaska
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced she will host U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke on Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24 in Ketchikan and on Prince of Wales Island in the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska. The trip will allow Chief Tooke, who took over as the head of the Forest Service in August 2017, to hear from a variety of local stakeholders and gain a greater understanding of the forest management challenges faced by communities i… Continue Reading
02.16.18
Murkowski Welcomes Critical Mineral List
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's release of a draft list of critical minerals, which are important to the U.S. economy and national security but increasingly imported from foreign nations. "I thank Secretary Zinke for his recognition of the dangers of our foreign mineral dependence and his continued efforts to strengthen our nation's mineral security," Murkowski said. "This list provides a good starting point as we seek to develop more of the m… Continue Reading
02.16.18
Murkowski Statement on Senate Immigration Votes
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski made the following statement after the Senate failed to advance immigration legislation to address DACA and improve border security: "I am extremely disappointed that the Senate failed to advance our bipartisan proposal that provided both certainty for the Dreamers and critical improvements to border security. The legislation was developed through weeks of discussion and while far from perfect, it offered a path forward to the most urgent and pressing immigration i… Continue Reading
02.15.18
MURKOWSKI, SCHATZ RENEW CALL FOR FULL BENEFITS OWED TO FILIPINO WWII VETERANS
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, introduced the Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2018 today. The bipartisan legislation would restore the U.S. government's promise to Filipino World War II veterans and ensure those surviving are fully eligible for the benefits they earned. "We must never forget that the Philippines was annexed by the United States during World W… Continue Reading
02.14.18
Senators Unveil Bipartisan Amendment to Protect Dreamers, Strengthen Border Security
Click HERE to read the text of the amendment A bipartisan group of 16 Senators unveiled legislation this evening to protect "Dreamers" and to strengthen border security. The Senators are part of the Common Sense Coalition, a group of 25 Republican, Democratic, and Independent Senators convened by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), who have been meeting nearly every day in Senator Collins' office to develop a framework to address Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (D… Continue Reading
02.12.18
Murkowski Statement on President Trump’s Budget Request
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today responded to President Trump's budget request for Fiscal Year 2019: "The Trump administration established his budget priorities for our nation today, which includes a call for major investments for our national defense and removal of unnecessary regulations. Those are proposals I can get behind. I'm glad to see that the administration has proposed significant resources to combat the opioid epidemic. I'm also pleased by the administration's interest in gr… Continue Reading
02.09.18
Murkowski, Sullivan Applaud Emergency Relief for Communities Affected by Fisheries Disasters
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today applauded the inclusion of funding for fisheries disasters in the Bipartisan Budget Act, which established funding levels through the end of Fiscal Year 2019. The bill passed the Senate in a vote of 71-28. Last month Senators Murkowski and Sullivan called on their colleagues to include disaster funding for coastal communities affected by longstanding and ongoing fisheries disasters, as Congress considered a relief package for U.S… Continue Reading
02.09.18
Murkowski: ANCSA Improvement Act Fulfills Federal Promises to Alaska Natives
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week spoke at a legislative hearing held by the Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining to highlight the importance of S. 1481, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Improvement Act. The bill, sponsored by Murkowski and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, will help ensure that ANCSA continues to serve and benefit Alaska Natives as Congress intended. "Back in 1971, Congress passed ANCSA to settle the aboriginal land claims of Alaska Natives,… Continue Reading
02.09.18
Senate Passes Bipartisan Budget Act
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the two-year budget agreement, the Bipartisan Budget Act, which also includes a Continuing Resolution to funds government programs until March 23. The bill passed the Senate in a vote of 71-28. "Passage of this legislation ensures our military has the support needed to meet the challenges of an increasingly dangerous world. Providing our armed forces and the veterans who have bravely served us with the resources they need should always remain… Continue Reading
02.08.18
Murkowski on Fighting the Opioid Crisis
Today the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, of which U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski is a member, focused on the impact the opioid crisis has on children and families. The hearing featured witnesses representing a medical facility and foundations who focus on foster care and child welfare, research of opioid-exposed infants and women with substance-use disorders, and education for families about the dangers of drug abuse. "The issue of addiction and how opioids are devastatin… Continue Reading
02.08.18
Murkowski: Modern Energy Infrastructure Key to Ensuring U.S. Competitive Advantage
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine how our nation's energy infrastructure, from production to generation to distribution, has significantly evolved over time. The committee also examined how federal policies affect energy infrastructure, and heard how new technologies and continued innovation will provide us with opportunities to continue to improve these systems. "Energy infrastructure has been a key focus for our committee, particularly the roadblocks that … Continue Reading
02.07.18
Murkowski Welcomes Bipartisan Government Funding Agreement
Tonight U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement on the bipartisan budget agreement, establishing funding levels through the end of Fiscal Year 2019: "Our inability to fund the government frustrates every American, but is actually damaging to our military and the institutions Alaskans rely upon every day. This agreement is a signal that we can overcome partisan differences and find common ground in the interest of those we represent. Like any compromise, I do not supp… Continue Reading
02.07.18
Hirono, Murkowski, Women Senators Recognize American Heart Month
Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led the Senate's annual resolution recognizing February as American Heart Month. "Heart disease is the leading cause of death of women in the United States," Senator Murkowski said. "And while we've made good progress through research and advocacy, there is still so much we have to learn about our cardiovascular health. It is imperative that we continue to be proactive in providing our healthcare professionals, our families, and … Continue Reading
02.06.18
Committee Reviews Legislation for U.S.-Affiliated Islands
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today held a hearing to receive testimony on legislation to address two time-sensitive issues related to U.S.-affiliated islands. The bills were S. 2182, the Bikini Resettlement and Relocation Act, and S. 2325, the Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Workforce Act. Following World War II, Congress created a trust fund for the people of Bikini for the rehabilitation and resettlement of Bikini Atoll in the wake of U.S. nuclear testing. Today, Murkowski expressed her … Continue Reading
02.02.18
Murkowski Proudly Announces 2018 Military Academy Nominations
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) proudly announced the names of 35 young Alaskans she is nominating to the U.S. military service academies for the class of 2022. "It is an honor to nominate such accomplished young adults for admission into our nation's military academies. This year I received countless applications from talented young men and women from across the state. I know each of the nominees will be incredible representatives of our state," said Senator Murkowski. "I wish them al… Continue Reading
