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 Welcomes Funding to Reduce Alaskans’ High Energy Costs
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the announcement that over $15 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are headed to the state to help Alaskans with their home heating bills. The State of Alaska will receive $9,151,603 from the LIHEAP Block Grant that will be distributed to Alaskans through the DHHS Division of Public Assistance. An additional $6,515,817 will be distributed to Native tribes and … Continue Reading
10.25.16
Murkowski Announces Expansion of Program to Help Nation’s Wounded Warriors
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced that Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) has been selected as a new site to offer creative art therapy for service members, veterans, and their families. The program, the Military Healing Arts, is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) to support arts and health in the military. It is designed to help our nation's wounded and injured service members and their families in their trans… Continue Reading
10.19.16
Alaska Senators Honor 50 Years of the Alaska Federation of Natives
The U.S. Senate recently passed a resolution (attached), introduced by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN). AFN was formed in October 1966 when more than 400 Alaska Natives, representing 17 Native organizations, conducted a historic 3-day meeting to address Alaska Native land rights. "I'm proud to honor and recognize the significance of AFN and what this organization has achieved. I look forward to the AFN … Continue Reading
10.14.16
State Department Responds to Delegation’s Transboundary Concerns
In response to a letter that Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-AK) wrote to Secretary of State John Kerry last month, the State Department told the Alaska Congressional Delegation in a letter (attached) that it will remain in close contact with concerned Alaskans and are committed to identifying the best ways to resolve shared concerns about risks posed to water quality and livelihoods in Alaska by mining activities in British Columbia. "I am encoura… Continue Reading
10.07.16
Murkowski Welcomes Gov. Walker’s OCS Announcement
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after Gov. Bill Walker (I-Alaska) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, signaling the State's nomination of offshore Arctic areas for the administration's upcoming Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Leasing Program for 2017-2022. "I appreciate the governor's formal nomination of the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Cook Inlet planning areas," Murkowski said. "While officials in the Obama administration ha… Continue Reading
10.07.16
U.S. Navy Responds to Murkowski’s Northern Edge Concerns
In response to a letter that U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) wrote to Secretary of the Navy last month, urging the Navy to connect and interact with concerned Alaskan communities about the timing, location, and potential impacts of the Navy's involvement in the Northern Edge 2017 (NE17) joint military exercise, Navy officials told Senator Murkowski in a letter (attached) they will work with local stakeholders to ensure the public is fully aware of the NE17 and the measures that will be put in… Continue Reading
10.06.16
Murkowski Announces That Previously Cancelled BIA Providers Conference is Back on Schedule
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski announced that the 2016 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Tribal Providers Conference, which was abruptly cancelled last month, is back on track to occur in November. The BIA Tribal Providers Conference, an annual meeting of Alaska's 229 federally recognized tribes and their federal partners, was canceled by the BIA due to logistical problems with a contractor. Tribes were notified through the conference website that "The Providers Conference has been cancelled unt… Continue Reading
10.03.16
Murkowski: GAO Finds Serious Gaps in Federal Mineral Policies
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the release of a report she requested from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examining the federal government's approach to identifying, assessing, and facilitating domestic mineral supplies. The report outlines a series of significant shortfalls and limitations, which together underscore the urgency and importance of reforming our nation's mineral policies. "I appreciate GAO's efforts to identify weaknesses and make… Continue Reading
09.30.16
Murkowski, Heitkamp Bill Creating Native Children’s Commission Heads to President’s Desk
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today announced that their bipartisan bill to improve the lives of Native American children passed Congress unanimously and now heads for the president's desk for his signature. The Senators' bill, the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act, implements solutions that would address the overwhelming obstacles Native children face - including experiencing levels of post-traumatic stre… Continue Reading
09.28.16
Senate Passes Continuing Resolution, Funds Military Construction Programs for Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after voting for the continuing resolution (H.R. 5325) that passed the Senate, 72-26: "By passing the continuing resolution today, we have avoided an unnecessary government shutdown, which would have harmed individuals, families, and businesses across the nation. And we provided funding to combat the public threat from the Zika virus, as well as address the heroin and opioid epidemic. "This bill is gr… Continue Reading
09.28.16
Senate Overrides President Obama’s Veto of 9/11 Lawsuit Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after she voted to override President Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). "This bill, long demanded by families of 9/11 victims, provides victims of terror attacks with an avenue to justice by giving them an opportunity to have their case heard in court. I'm pleased that my Senate colleagues and I were successfully able to override President Obama's veto. But it should… Continue Reading
09.26.16
Bill to Empower Native Communities, Boost Tourism Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, DC - A bill co-sponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) to enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in the United States, the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act, has been signed into law by President Obama. Congressman Don Young (R-AK) co-sponsored companion legislation in the House of Representatives. The NATIVE Act would require federal agencies w… Continue Reading
09.26.16
Murkowski Continues To Push For AMHT Land Exchange
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, last week held a legislative hearing to receive testimony on her bill to accelerate a land exchange between the Alaska Mental Health Trust (Trust) and the U.S. Forest Service. Legislation is needed to accelerate the exchange, which will protect important community viewsheds, local trails, and other conservation values while expediting much-needed timber for local operators. "This hearing brought good news for everyone, and brought us one st… Continue Reading
09.22.16
Sen. Murkowski Holds Hearing to Receive Testimony on Alaska Bills
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today received testimony on 21 measures that are broadly focused on public lands, natural hazards, conservation, and reforms to the monument designation process during a legislative hearing she called as Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In her opening statement, Murkowski highlighted six bills that she has introduced, each addressing issues of importance to Alaskans. "I am proud to speak on behalf of the vast major… Continue Reading
09.20.16
Murkowski Shares Alaskans’ Concerns Over Northern Edge with U.S. Navy
In response to hearing the concerns of coastal Alaskans about the timing and potential impacts of the Navy's involvement in the Northern Edge 2017 joint military exercise, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) wrote a letter (attached) to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus urging the Navy to connect with concerned Alaskan communities moving forward. Murkowski cited a recent lack of transparency from the Navy, such as not discussing proposed mitigation and avoidance techniques with stakeholder communit… Continue Reading
09.15.16
Murkowski Introduces Bill to Honor Recent Veterans of Second Division
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week introduced S. 3315, the "Second Division Memorial Modification Act". The legislation would authorize the modification of the existing Second Division Memorial in Washington, D.C., by allowing the Second Indianhead Division Association Scholarship and Memorials Foundation (Foundation) to add three small benches honoring those who have fallen in service of our country at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), in Iraq, and in Afghanist… Continue Reading
09.15.16
Water Infrastructure Development Bill Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), legislation that addresses infrastructure priorities on America's coasts and rivers. The bill authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to improve navigation and flood management, construct projects to mitigate storm damage, and to assist state and local governments with safety programs. The legislation also supports a wide range of water quality projects and programs through pr… Continue Reading
09.14.16
Delegation Introduces Bill Returning Healthcare Options to Alaskans
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Don Young introduced the Ensuring Health Care Opportunities Act of 2016 which will help Alaskans struggling with the high cost of health insurance, and strive to attract more insurance companies to Alaska. President Obama, and many of those who voted for the Affordable Care Act, promised that those who liked their healthcare coverage could keep it under Obamacare, and that the act would lower costs and increa… Continue Reading
09.14.16
Murkowski: 51 Medevacs and Counting from King Cove
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday spoke about an amendment she introduced to S. 2848, the Water Resources Development Act, that would facilitate a life-saving road for the isolated community of King Cove, Alaska. The amendment in identical to legislation she introduced in July and is cosponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). "What the people of King Cove are asking for is reliable… Continue Reading
09.14.16
Murkowski: Park Service Decision is a Victory for Small Business in Alaska
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the National Park Service's announcement that it will cancel the current contract solicitation, issue temporary contracts for mountaineering guides in Denali National Park and reissue a prospectus for these services in the coming months. The decision reflects the concerns of Alaska-owned mountaineering businesses with operations in the Park whose contracts may have been threatened due to ongoing issues with the solicitation p… Continue Reading
