04.07.17

Murkowski and Sullivan Introduce Bill to Restart Alaska OCS Development

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, yesterday introduced the Offshore Production and Energizing National Security Alaska Act of 2017 (OPENS Alaska Act) to repeal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) withdrawals made at the end of the Obama administration, provide for lease sales in the Arctic OCS, and ensure Alaska receives a fair share of the revenues from oil and gas development off its coast. "After years of regulatory restrictions and burdens imposed by the Obama administrat… Continue Reading

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04.07.17

Murkowski Comments On Changes to Supreme Court Confirmation Process

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski released the following statement and answered questions after the Senate changed the rules to lower the number of votes needed to end a filibuster of a Supreme Court nominee. "I respect the traditions of the Senate. But it is not tradition to filibuster a Supreme Court nominee - a strategy the Senate Democrats sadly decided to employ. I have a longstanding practice of supporting a process that allows every nominee the opportunity for an up or down vote once the… Continue Reading

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04.05.17

Tester, Murkowski, Pingree Introduce Legislation to Support Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma

U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) are introducing bipartisan legislation to ensure the VA is providing appropriate benefits and care for survivors of military sexual trauma (MST). Following reports that nude photos of female service members were posted on Facebook and other websites without the service members' knowledge or consent, the members' legislation will allow service members and veterans who have experienced online… Continue Reading

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04.05.17

Murkowski Expresses Support for Supreme Court Nominee

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) spoke on the Senate floor on the qualifications of Judge Neil Gorsuch, the nominee to be the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and to offer her support for his confirmation. "After spending time with Judge Gorsuch, after studying his life story, I am left with the undeniable impression that Neil Gorsuch has been nominated to a position that he has prepared his whole life to assume. He is not merely a good choice in my book, he's the best choi… Continue Reading

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04.04.17

Sen. Murkowski Slams ANWR Wilderness Bill

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after a group of Senators reintroduced legislation to override the preferences of the vast majority of Alaskans, prevent the creation of thousands of high-paying jobs, weaken the nation's long-term energy security, and deprive Alaska of its best opportunity to pull itself out of recession. "This bill was dead before it got introduced," Murkowski said. In addition to representing Alaska, Murkowski is the chairman of the Se… Continue Reading

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04.04.17

Thune, Klobuchar Reintroduce Bill to Provide Licensure Clarity for Sports Medicine Professionals

U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) today reintroduced the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (S. 808), a bill that would clarify that health care services provided by a covered sports medicine professional to an athlete, athletic team, or staff member of an athlete or athletic team in a secondary state outside the state of licensure can be covered by the health professional's medical malpractice insurance provider. The bill would remove questions about licensing jurisd… Continue Reading

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04.04.17

Murkowski: No Time to Rest on the Question of Cybersecurity

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today held a hearing to examine current efforts to protect domestic energy delivery systems from cybersecurity threats and evaluated efforts to secure the nation's natural gas pipeline system. In addition to highlighting the work that must be done to stay ahead of emerging threats, the hearing fostered a discussion about how the energy industry has worked with its federal partners to modify their digital networks, engage in research and advanced technologies, … Continue Reading

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04.04.17

President Trump Signs Resolution Overturning U.S. Fish and Wildlife Regulation

The Alaska Congressional Delegation today applauded President Trump's signing of H.J. Res. 69, a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to overturn an August 5, 2016 rule by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that seized authority away from the State of Alaska to manage fish and wildlife on federal refuge lands in Alaska: "Upholding the rule of law and protecting Alaska's authority to manage fish and game throughout our state is critically important to me - which is why I … Continue Reading

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03.31.17

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Tammy Baldwin Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Maternal Care Access in Rural and Underserved Areas

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Improving Access to Maternity Care Act to reduce maternity care shortages by identifying areas lacking maternal health professionals and help incentivize providers to practice in these underserved, often rural areas. Babies born to mothers who received no prenatal care are three times more likely to be low birth weight, and are five times more likely to die than babies whose mothers received care. "I am happy to support… Continue Reading

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03.31.17

Murkowski Convenes Alaska Infrastructure Hearing

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday held the committee's fourth infrastructure hearing to examine the potential for infrastructure improvements that boost energy and mineral development in Alaska. The hearing focused on the positive impacts infrastructure would have on the state, including job creation and lower energy costs for Alaskans. "While yesterday we looked back to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Cession to purchase Alaska from Russia, it is i… Continue Reading

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03.30.17

Senators Form Bipartisan Alliance to Address Marine Debris Crisis

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) today introduced S. 756, the bipartisan Save our Seas (SOS) Act to help address the marine debris epidemic affecting America's ocean shorelines and inland waterways, as well as other coasts across the globe. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Gary Peters (D-MI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) have also co-sponsored the bill. "The global marine debris problem threatens treasured natural… Continue Reading

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03.30.17

Energy and Natural Resources Committee Advances 65 Bills

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today held a business meeting to approve a wide array of legislative proposals. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, thanked her colleagues for their work to develop and report, en bloc and by voice vote, a total of 65 bills from members of both parties. The committee approved seven bills introduced by Chairman Murkowski, as well as subcommittee assignments for Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala. "I am proud of the work our members have done to develop s… Continue Reading

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03.30.17

Alaska Senators Commemorate State’s Purchase from Russia 150 Years Ago

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK), introduced a resolution (attached below) commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Alaska Purchase. This resolution highlights important events from the past 150 years and recognizes the many characteristics that make our state so unique. "Honoring our 150th anniversary as part of the U.S. gives us the opportunity to look at Alaska's rich and diverse history and to see Secretary of State William Seward's vision carried out. He recogniz… Continue Reading

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03.30.17

Murkowski Discusses Health Awareness and Prevention Efforts for Native Youth

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined her colleagues on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to address risk factors for diabetes and identify ways to promote healthy choices for Native youth. The hearing evaluated the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), which is currently up for reauthorization, and is of particular importance to Alaska given the state's diabetes epidemic, particularly amongst Alaska Natives. Murkowski welcomed Martin Sensmeier from Yakutat, an actor in the… Continue Reading

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03.29.17

Senators Urge Economic Geologist to Put USGS Back on Track

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., this week sent a letter to President Trump urging him to nominate an economic geologist to be the next director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The letter also encourages the president to refocus the agency on its primary mission, which is to assess U.S. mineral reserves. "Despite the clear directives in its Organic Act, the most important charge for the USGS - the surveying of our nat… Continue Reading

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03.29.17

Bipartisan Group Reintroduces Sportsmen’s Act

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., this week introduced S. 733, the Sportsmen's Act of 2017. This bipartisan package expands and enhances sportsmen's access by making federal lands throughout Alaska and the nation "open unless closed" for fishing, hunting, recreational shooting, and other outdoor activities. "For too long, sportsmen's access to our federal lands has been restri… Continue Reading

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03.28.17

Murkowski: Foreign Mineral Dependence Continues to Grow

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today held a full committee oversight hearing to examine the United States' increasing dependence on foreign sources of minerals and the opportunities we have to rebuild and improve the domestic supply chain. The hearing touched on numerous issues, including permitting delays, which create a significant obstacle to economically viable domestic mineral production Click image to view archived video of the hearing. In her opening statement, Murkowski un… Continue Reading

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03.28.17

President Trump Signs Measure Repealing BLM Planning 2.0 Rule

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today joined President Trump at the White House for the signing ceremony of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) disapproval resolution, H.J. Res. 44, which overturns the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) "Planning 2.0" rule. The resolution passed the U.S. Senate with 51 votes and the U.S. House of Representatives with 234 votes. "When President Trump took office, he talked about returning power to the people, and he did just that today through the repeal of BLM's P… Continue Reading

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03.24.17

Murkowski: It’s About Time

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of State approved the cross-border permit for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. "After more than eight years of unnecessary delay by the Obama administration, this decision will finally allow the Keystone XL pipeline to move forward," Murkowski said. "The underlying analysis always pointed to approval, pipelines are the cleanest and most efficient way to move energy, and thousands of A… Continue Reading

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03.22.17

Murkowski Presses General Dunford on Russia Build-Up in Arctic

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today questioned General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for his views on Russia's military intentions in the Arctic. The question came as he testified before the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, of which Senator Murkowski is a member, during a hearing on the Department of Defense's FY18 budget. Senator Murkowski noted that Alaskans are concerned by the military build-up by our neighbors to the east, and asked General Dunford … Continue Reading