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.
Committee Advances Four Energy and Interior Nominees
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today held a business meeting to advance four of President Trump's nominees for the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of the Interior (DOI): Melissa Burnison to be Assistant Secretary of Energy for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs; Susan Combs to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management, and Budget; Ryan Nelson to be Solicitor for the Department of the Interior; and Anne White to be Assistant S… Continue Reading
01.26.18
Delegation Urges Interior to Keep Chukchi, Beaufort, and Cook Inlet in New Offshore Program
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to provide comment on the Alaska-specific offshore areas in the Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing for 2019-2024 that should be included in its Final Proposed Program. "We commend you for taking an inclusive approach that allows for meaningful public input as you determine where responsible development should occur on o… Continue Reading
01.26.18
Murkowski Reacts to EPA’s Pebble Announcement
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it would suspend its withdrawal of proposed restrictions on the Pebble project in southwest Alaska. EPA announced its decision after an extensive public process that included an extended comment period and meetings with local stakeholders. "Administrator Pruitt is taking a balanced approach by allowing Pebble to enter the permitting process, while noting EPA's duty … Continue Reading
01.25.18
Auto Show Hearing Highlights U.S. Innovation, Emerging Technologies
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a full committee field hearing at the Washington Auto Show to discuss the innovation, research, and development of advanced vehicle technologies and their impacts on our energy security and infrastructure. "This truly is an exciting time for the automotive sector, with a host of new technologies emerging in recent years," Murkowski said. "Lightweight materials like carbon fiber, titanium, aluminum, and composites are increasing vehicle efficienc… Continue Reading
01.24.18
Murkowski Recognizes Legislative Wins in Continuing Resolution
President Trump signed a short-term spending bill this week that will fund the government through February 8, 2018. In addition to ending a three day-long government shutdown, the continuing resolution makes legislative strides by reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program or CHIP for six years and suspending three Affordable Care Act taxes and fees. The taxes on medical devices and health insurance issuers are now delayed until 2020 and the Cadillac Tax is delayed until 2022. The Cad… Continue Reading
01.23.18
Hearing Spotlights Importance of Energy Infrastructure, Diverse Fuel Mix
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to discuss the performance of our nation's electric power system during cold weather events, particularly the recent bomb cyclone that affected Northeast states. The committee heard from representatives of the Department of Energy (DOE), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), PJM Interconnection, ISO New England, and Goodgrid. "Federal law and policy must enable ener… Continue Reading
01.22.18
Delegation Hails Landmark Agreement for Life-Saving Road
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today released the following statements after the Department of the Interior and the King Cove Corp. signed an agreement authorizing a small land exchange needed to construct a short, gravel, life-saving road that will connect King Cove, Alaska to the all-weather airport in nearby Cold Bay. "Common sense and compassion have finally prevailed," Murkowski said. "For decades, the people of King Cove have asked for what virt… Continue Reading
01.22.18
Murkowski Supports Compromise to End Government Shutdown
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after working with her colleagues on both side of the aisle to successfully pass a funding bill in the Senate to end the government shutdown. "I have been actively working over the weekend, with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to help facilitate an agreement. I am pleased that we were able to put our differences aside to get the government back on track and do what's right for our country. Together, we ended a government … Continue Reading
01.20.18
Working to Open Government
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement on the current government shutdown: "Shutting down the government is no way to govern. It is disruptive, harmful, wasteful, and impacts the thousands of Alaskans who are federal employees, contractors and all who rely on the services provided by our federal agencies," said Senator Murkowski. "I will continue working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in the House to get the government back open as fast as possible." On … Continue Reading
01.18.18
Murkowski in Favor of Funding Bill
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement regarding her support on passing the Continuing Resolution (CR) currently before Congress, to provide short-term government funding. Current funding expires Friday, January 19. "It is absolutely irresponsible to shut down the government. A Continuing Resolution is never ideal and is not the way to run a government, but this short-term fix is the best option we have in front of us, right now. The ripple effect of a government s… Continue Reading
01.18.18
Bipartisan Group of Senators Urges FinCEN to Stay the Course on Cannabis Banking
A bipartisan group of Senators, led by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), today urged the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to keep in place guidance that has enabled some financial institutions to provide banking services for legitimate cannabis businesses in states that have legalized medical or recreational cannabis. In addition to Merkley and Murkowski, today's letter to FinCEN Director Kenneth Blanco was signed by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Rand Paul (R-KY… Continue Reading
01.18.18
Energy Committee Considers Two 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 Energy (DOE). The nominees were Melissa Burnison to be Assistant Secretary of Energy for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs and Anne White to be Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management. During her opening statement, Murkowski thanked both nominees for their willingness to serve our country. "M… Continue Reading
01.17.18
Momentum Growing For Immigration Reform Proposal
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today welcomed the support of Republican Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) for a path forward on DACA and immigration reform. They will join Republicans Graham, Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) and Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) in backing this measure and working to protect Dreamers. "It's imperative that Congress act quickly so that young people who were brought to the U… Continue Reading
01.17.18
IEA: Technology, Policy Position U.S. As Global Energy Leader
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired an oversight hearing focused on the domestic and global energy outlook, featuring testimony from the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Dr. Fatih Birol. During the hearing, Murkowski and Birol discussed the significant improvements taking place in energy technologies and energy policy, ranging from the increased production of oil and natural gas to cost reductions in renewable energy and the continuing potential of nuclear ene… Continue Reading
01.15.18
Murkowski Commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski shared her thoughts on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Click here to watch Senator Murkowski's video message "Martin Luther King Jr. Day provides us a special opportunity, one in which we can come together, as friends and neighbors, as we reflect on the purpose with which Dr. King lived his life. I remain inspired by Dr. King's commitment to peace in his pursuit of justice and equality for all. "Over fifty years ago, during the March on Washington, Dr. Kin… Continue Reading
01.12.18
Murkowski, Sullivan Seek Emergency Relief for Communities Affected by Fisheries Disasters
As Congress considers a relief package for U.S. communities impacted by hurricanes and wildfires, Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, along with a bipartisan group of senators representing Washington, Oregon, and California, called on their colleagues to also include disaster funding for coastal communities affected by longstanding and ongoing fisheries disasters. The senators urged swift action to provide emergency funding to communities that depend on resilient, sustainable, and healthy… Continue Reading
01.10.18
Murkowski and Cantwell Welcome Capito and Smith
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the committee's ranking member, today welcomed two new members to the committee: Sens. Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Tina Smith, D-Minn. "We welcome Sens. Capito and Smith to our committee and look forward to working with them on a wide range of energy, lands, water, and resource issues throughout the remainder of this Congress," Murkowski and Cantwell said. "Together w… Continue Reading
01.10.18
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