10.27.17

Murkowski Supports Improving Safety for Alaska Natives and American Indians

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined her colleagues on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs this week to attend an oversight hearing to advance three bills to improve public safety for Alaska Natives and American Indians. Senator Murkowski showed her support for the bills, the Tribal Law and Order Reauthorization and Amendments Act, the SURVIVE Act, and Savanna's Act, by signing on as a co-sponsor. During her opening statement, Senator Murkowski spoke on the devastating statistics surro… Continue Reading

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10.26.17

Murkowski: Emerging Technologies Key to Protecting U.S. Energy Infrastructure from Cyber Intrusions

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to discuss the innovation of emerging cyber technologies that can be used to protect our nation's electric grids and other critical energy infrastructure from future cyberattacks. The committee heard from representatives of the Pacific Northwest, Oak Ridge and Idaho National Laboratories, Qubitekk, and New Context Services. While we are looking at solutions to rebuild stronger electric grids in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands t… Continue Reading

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10.26.17

Murkowski Statement on Opioid Public Health Emergency

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after President Trump made an announcement, directing the declaration of a nationwide public health emergency to address the opioid crisis: "I applaud President Trump for declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency, today. Opioid addiction has become one of the most devastating public health issues confronting our nation. It is impacting everyone, destroying families, spurring crime, hurting our economy, and leading t… Continue Reading

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10.24.17

Murkowski Supports Disaster Aid

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of a disaster aid bill to help communities facing hurricane destruction and fighting wildfires. The bill provides additional funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as well as funds to account for recent damage caused by wildfires, enabling aid workers to continue critical recovery operations, debris removal and infrastructure repair. The bill passed in a vote of 82-17. "The devasta… Continue Reading

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10.24.17

GAO: 2016 Tongass Plan Amendment is a Rule

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) determination that the U.S. Forest Service's 2016 Amendment to the Tongass Land Management Plan (TLMP Amendment) is a "rule" and therefore subject to the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Murkowski asked GAO to determine whether the TLMP Amendment met the definition of a "rule" earlier this year, and GAO announced yesterday that it does. "I welcome GAO's determination that the 2016 TLMP Amendment is a rule… Continue Reading

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10.23.17

Murkowski Introduces Bill to Authorize Cooperative Management Agreements Between District of Columbia and the National Park Service

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, recently introduced a bill that authorizes the District of Columbia (District) to enter into cooperative management agreements (CMAs) with the National Park Service (NPS) to more efficiently manage park sites across the District. The bill, S. 1956, is the companion bill to H.R. 2897, which was introduced in June by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C. "Both the District and the Park Service share the mutual goal of providing better, more cost-effective mana… Continue Reading

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10.19.17

Sullivan, Murkowski Introduce the Allowing Alaska IVORY Act

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, this week introduced S. 1965, the Allowing Alaska IVORY Act. The legislation would preempt states from banning walrus ivory or whale bone products that have been legally carved by Alaska Natives under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Additionally, the bill preempts states from issuing bans on mammoth ivory products. At last year's Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, Senator Sullivan held a Senate Environment and Public Works field hearing to … Continue Reading

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10.19.17

Senate Passes Budget Resolution, Opening Door to Tax Reform, Responsible Development of 1002 Area

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year 2018 budget resolution, which passed the Senate late tonight. "This budget resolution offers a tremendous opportunity to secure the future of Alaska, from long overdue federal tax reform to responsible energy development in a small part of the non-wilderness 1002 Area," Murkowski said. "Tonight was just the first step, but we are now on a path that will allow us to create jobs, generate new… Continue Reading

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10.17.17

Alaska Delegation Applauds EPA’s Selection of Chris Hladick as Region 10 Administrator

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young today released the following statement after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt appointed Alaskan Chris Hladick to serve as regional administrator for Region 10. "‎Chris is exactly what Alaska needs, an experienced Administrator that will implement the law instead of furthering agendas," said Senator Murkowski. "Chris has years of experience as the Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, … Continue Reading

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10.17.17

Murkowski Applauds Bipartisan Healthcare Deal

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WI), Chairman and Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), announced an agreement aimed at improving and stabilizing the individual insurance market. "For months now, I have been urging a bipartisan approach to healthcare reform. I applaud my colleagues, Senators Alexander and Murray, for continuing to work towards a bipart… Continue Reading

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10.17.17

AK Delegation Congratulates Tara Sweeney on Nomination for Key Role in Administration

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Tara Sweeney to be Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs within the U.S. Department of the Interior. "I extend my congratulations and full support to Tara on her nomination to serve as Assistant Secretary," said Murkowski. "Tara has a very strong record of professionalism and accomplishment in Alaska, across the co… Continue Reading

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10.12.17

Warren, Murkowski Urge Trump to Officially Declare Opioid Epidemic a National Emergency and Take Action to Help States Combat Crisis

Text of the letter (PDF) United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today sent a letter to President Donald Trump to express concern that he has not declared the nation's opioid epidemic a national emergency or taken meaningful actions, like those of Massachusetts and Alaska after declaring their own state-level emergencies, to address the crisis. The senators encouraged the President to heed the recommendation of the President's own Commission on Combating … Continue Reading

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10.10.17

Energy and Natural Resources Committee Developing Western Water and Drought Legislation

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power Chairman Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., last week held a bipartisan roundtable to discuss opportunities to reduce federal red tape for aquifer recharge when it does not impact other water users, fully respects state primacy on groundwater, and complies with state water law. Following the subcommittee's August hearing on water supply and drought resilience, this roundtable marks another step to gather input from water mana… Continue Reading

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10.05.17

Murkowski on Combatting Opioid Crisis

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) participated in a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing to address the federal response to the nation's opioid crisis, which included assessing current agency efforts and how federal, state, and local health departments are coordinating and working together. "The opioid epidemic is devastating communities in Alaska and across our nation. The families, friends and communities that are working together to address opioid addiction… Continue Reading

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10.04.17

Alaska Delegation Welcomes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Decision on Pacific Walrus

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and U.S. Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that the Pacific walrus will not be designated as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). New data shows that the Pacific walrus has adapted to certain threats, including loss of sea ice, and is not experiencing reductions in population. As a result, USFWS concluded that the population is sustai… Continue Reading

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10.04.17

Murkowski Committed to Long-term Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today spoke on the Senate floor about the devastating impact that Hurricanes Irma and Maria have had on the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, the current relief efforts underway on those islands, and how we might help in their long-term rebuild, particularly as it relates to their electric grid and power sector. Murkowski is chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which has jurisdiction for our U.S. territories. She opened her rem… Continue Reading

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10.03.17

Murkowski: Advanced Energy Storage Technologies Strengthen Grid Reliability and Resilience

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to discuss current and emerging energy storage technologies. The committee heard from representatives of the Energy Storage Association, Voith Hydro, the Pacific Northwest National Lab, and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Murkowski opened the hearing by once again offering her thoughts and prayers to all of those impacted by the recent hurricanes in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida, as well as the Americans in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Vir… Continue Reading

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10.03.17

Murkowski: Latest Sturgeon Decision an Affront to All Alaskans

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement slamming the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for again ruling against John Sturgeon, an Alaskan who sued the National Park Service after being forced off of the Nation River in 2007 for using a hovercraft to hunt moose, as he had been doing for decades. Just last year, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled unanimously (8-0) in favor of Mr. Sturgeon, who has fought his way through federal courts for 1… Continue Reading

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10.03.17

Murkowski Comments on New Grid Resiliency Proposal

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after Secretary of Energy Rick Perry submitted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) intended to protect the reliability and resiliency of the nation's bulk power system. "For years, I have been concerned about how federal laws and rules affect the reliability and resiliency of our nation's electric grids. I respect Secretary Perry for taking an action that he beli… Continue Reading

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09.29.17

Alaska Receives Two Native Language Education Grants

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) yesterday welcomed the announcement that Anchorage School District and Yukon-Koyukuk School District have been awarded two out of the five first-ever Native American Language program grants, funded by a program created by Senators Murkowski and Franken (D-MN) as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The newly developed, "Native American and Alaska Native Language Immersion Schools and Program," is intended to help schools, tribes, and Native organizati… Continue Reading