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 on Addressing the Opioid Crisis
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) participated in a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing to address the nation's opioid crisis, that focused on examining the cause of the crisis and steps to turn the tide on the devastating crisis. The hearing featured one witness, Mr. Sam Quinones, journalist and author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic, who provided his perspective on the opioid crisis, including his understanding of the cause and how s… Continue Reading
01.05.18
New Offshore Program Promises Greater Access to Alaska’s Offshore Arctic
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Department of the Interior (DOI) released a new draft proposed Five-Year Oil and Gas Leasing Program for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for 2019-2024. The draft proposal is the first step toward a more competitive offshore leasing program in the United States. "This draft program is another positive step as we seek to reinforce our nation's status as a global energy leader," Murkowski said. "Secretary Zinke's … Continue Reading
01.03.18
After Several Long Years, Reason for Hope in King Cove
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement to mark the fourth anniversary of the Obama administration's callous rejection of a life-saving road for the people of King Cove, Alaska. An 11-mile road segment is needed to connect King Cove with nearby Cold Bay, which is home to an all-weather airport. "For years, the Department of the Interior has ignored King Cove's need for reliable transportation, particularly during medical emergencies," Murkowski said. "Today, h… Continue Reading
12.22.17
Murkowski Announces New Additions to Committee Staff
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced three recent additions to her Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staff: Suzanne Cunningham as senior policy advisor for oil and gas, Diana Nielsen as a legal fellow, and Tonya Parish as press assistant. "I'm pleased to welcome Suzanne, Diana, and Tonya to our team," Murkowski said. "Suzanne brings significant experience from her work in the Alaska State Legislature, Diana has considerable knowledge of energy and r… Continue Reading
12.21.17
Murkowski Welcomes Secretary Zinke's Order to Strengthen American Mineral Security
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed strong support for a new Secretarial Order signed by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to curb the nation's growing dependence on foreign sources of minerals. Murkowski attended the signing ceremony at the Department of the Interior. "Our nation's growing dependence on foreign minerals is a distinct threat to our economy, our national defense, and our international competitiveness," Murkowski said. "We need to improve all aspects of the supply ch… Continue Reading
12.21.17
Senate Passes Bill to Provide Short-Term Funding
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today released the following statement after the Senate passed H.Res 289 to provide short-term government funding. "I am pleased that my colleagues and I have passed a resolution to fund the government through January 19th. It is important that we avoided a shutdown for our nation, for the countless Alaskans that are federal employees, and for all the individuals who rely on government services. "While there are topics that I believe this resolution is lacking, we c… Continue Reading
12.20.17
After 37 Years, Responsible Development Is Closer Than Ever
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today released the following statements after the House and Senate passed H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, securing a major victory for Alaskans and all Americans. In addition to reforming the tax code, the bill opens the non-wilderness 1002 Area in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to responsible energy development. "This is a watershed moment for Alaska and all of America," Murkowski said. "We have fought to… Continue Reading
12.20.17
Historic Tax Reform Bill Heads to President’s Desk
U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) applauded passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act conference report, comprehensive tax reform that reduces taxes and encourages the economic growth needed to create jobs and generate wealth. The legislation includes a section written by Senator Murkowski, which contains an important step in creating new economic opportunities by opening up the non-wilderness 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for responsible energy development. The bill now heads t… Continue Reading
12.19.17
Murkowski Introduces Bill to Address Ocean Acidification
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently introduced the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2017 to identify and assess communities, including island communities, low-population rural communities, and subsistence communities, that are most dependent on coastal and ocean resources that may be impacted by ocean acidification. This bipartisan bill was introduced with Senators Cantwell (D-WA), Collins (R-ME), Peters (D-MI), and Whitehouse (D-RI). "Alaska's culture … Continue Reading
12.15.17
Senators Introduce New Bipartisan Legislation To Combat Sexual Harassment And Discrimination In Congress, Bring Transparency And Accountability To Sexual Harassment Reporting Process
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) today introduced new bipartis… Continue Reading
12.15.17
Murkowski: Conference Report Opens the 1002 Area, Reforms Tax Code
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after she, along with all of the Republican conferees for H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed and unveiled the final conference committee report for the bill. The conference report includes two titles: the first to provide tax relief to American families and businesses, and a second, authored by Murkowski, to open a small portion of the non-wilderness 1002 Area in northeast Alaska to responsible energy development. … Continue Reading
12.15.17
Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge Congressional Leadership To Commit Resources To Opioid Epidemic
Washington, D.C. - As the Nation's opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities across the country, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) have called on Senate leadership to provide states with the resources they need to tackle this ongoing public health emergency. In their letter, the bipartisan group urge Leaders Mc… Continue Reading
12.14.17
Murkowski: Reconciliation Bill is a Great Opportunity for Alaska, America
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today participated in a public meeting of Senate and House conferees on H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. During the meeting, Murkowski reiterated her strong support for this pro-jobs, pro-growth, and pro-energy bill that will benefit American families and businesses. The energy title of the bill, authored by Murkowski, opens a small portion of the non-wilderness 1002 Area in northeast Alaska to responsible energy development. "This legislation will be good … Continue Reading
12.12.17
Murkowski: Streamlining the Federal Permitting Process is Essential to Modernizing U.S. Energy Infrastructure
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired an oversight hearing to examine the permitting processes for energy and resource infrastructure projects at the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The hearing focused on permitting challenges and opportunities to improve the responsiveness, transparency, and predictability of permit reviews. "We all recognize that we need to make investments to upgrade and modernize our aging infrastructure," Mu… Continue Reading
12.07.17
Congressional Delegation Congratulates Alaskan Joe Balash on Confirmation as Assistant Secretary of the Interior
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Senate voted 61-38 to confirm Alaskan Joe Balash to be the next U.S. Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the Department of the Interior Click image or here to view Senator Sullivan's floor statement "Today I'm pleased to see that after weeks of partisan gridlock, Joe Balash was finally confirmed as a U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for L… Continue Reading
12.07.17
Murkowski Statement on New FERC Chairman
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the swearing-in of Kevin McIntyre to begin a five-year term on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), starting today as the Commission's chairman. "I'm pleased to learn that Mr. McIntyre was sworn in this morning, bringing FERC to a full complement of Commissioners for the first time since 2015. For more than two years, I have been working toward the day when FERC would once again have a full bench. We work… Continue Reading
12.07.17
Murkowski Named to Reconciliation Conference Committee
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was selected today to serve on the Conference Committee for H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The conference committee will reconcile House and Senate legislation to reform the tax code and open a small portion of the non-wilderness 1002 Area in northeast Alaska to responsible energy development. "I'm grateful to Leader McConnell and my colleagues for the opportunity to represent Alaska and the nation as we bring this important bill through the last parts of… Continue Reading
12.06.17
Murkowski: Monument Decisions Are Responsive to Local Input
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement after President Trump signed presidential proclamations reducing the size of two national monuments, Bears Ears and the Grand Staircase-Escalante, both located in Utah. The administration also released Secretary Zinke's final national monuments review and recommendations to the president. "The Antiquities Act has been misused in recent administrations to make sweeping withdrawals that ignore local concerns," Murkowski said. "L… Continue Reading
12.05.17
Committee Reviews Key Interior and DOE Nominees
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to consider two of President Trump's nominees for the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Department of Energy (DOE). The nominees were Dr. Tim Petty to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science and Dr. Linda Capuano to be Administrator of the Energy Information Administration (EIA). "Having these nominees before our panel brings us another step closer to getting ful… Continue Reading
12.05.17
Murkowski Bill to Improve Southeast Rural Health Passes Senate
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski praised the Senate's passage of her legislation, the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Land Transfer Act of 2017, which provides a land transfer of 19.07 acres in Sitka. S. 825, co-sponsored by Senator Sullivan, allows for much needed expansions by Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) at the Mt. Edgecumbe Sitka Campus. These extensions would enhance the level of healthcare services available to Southeast Alaska by providing a future site for… Continue Reading
