Press Releases

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10.02.21

Murkowski’s Plea for Americans to Show Kindness and Appreciation to Healthcare Workers

As Alaska leads the nation in positive COVID-19 cases, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) spoke on the Senate floor to discuss Alaska's record breaking COVID cases. In her remarks, she encouraged Americans to show kindness, respect, and appreciation to our nation's healthcare workers on the frontlines of this pandemic. Click here for video. Senator Murkowski's full remarks: "Mr. President, I have come to the floor this afternoon unexpectedly. I had anticipated that I was going to be takin… Continue Reading


04.12.21

Senators Murkowski, Manchin, Burr, Murray, Sinema Send Letter to Education Secretary Cardona on Homeless Youth and Children Funding

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Richard Burr (R-NC), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), sent a letter to Department of Education (ED) Secretary Miguel Cardona detailing priorities on the implementation of $800 million in K-12 funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. The $800 million was included in the ARP through an amendment offered by Senator Murkowski and cosponsored by Senators Manchin and Sinema specifically to support children and youth who ar… Continue Reading


02.25.21

Murkowski, Hassan, Tonko, Turner Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Broaden Access to Addiction Treatment

U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Representatives Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and Michael Turner (R-OH) announced the reintroduction of their Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, legislation that would vastly increase access to life-saving addiction medicine by eliminating a duplicative bureaucratic hurdle-colloquially known as the "x-waiver"-currently blocking millions of highly trained health professionals from prescribing buprenorphine to their patients. "Subs… Continue Reading


02.01.21

Group of 10 Republican Senators Issues Statement on Meeting with President Biden to Discuss COVID-19 Relief

Following their more than two-hour meeting with President Biden and Vice President Harris to discuss their recently released COVID-19 relief proposal, a group of 10 Republican Senators released this statement: "It was an excellent meeting, and we are very appreciative that in his first official meeting in the Oval Office, President Biden chose to spend so much time with us discussing the response to the COVID crisis. We presented our proposal to the President, and we had a very productive excha… Continue Reading


12.28.20

Year-End Omnibus Appropriations Package Signed Into Law

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded a year-end omnibus bill being signed into law, which includes a 12-bill appropriations package to fund the government through the end of Fiscal Year 2021, including Senator Murkowski's Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. This historic funding package also provides nearly $900 billion for COVID-19 relief; Senator Murkowski's bipartisan, bicameral Energy Act of 2020; a bipartisan compromise to address the issue of Surprise M… Continue Reading


12.23.20

Murkowski Outlines COVID-19 Emergency Relief Bill in Year-End Omnibus Package

The U.S. Senate passed a year-end omnibus bill, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which includes nearly $900 billion in targeted COVID-19 emergency relief for vulnerable Americans. The final COVID-19 emergency relief package was based on the Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, legislation which Senator Murkowski recently unveiled alongside U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I… Continue Reading


12.22.20

Critical Year-End Bill Package Passes U.S. Senate

Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded Senate passage of a year-end omnibus bill, which includes 12 appropriations bills to fund the government through the end of Fiscal Year 2021, among which is Senator Murkowski's Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. This historic funding package also includes a nearly $900 billion COVID-19 relief package; Senator Murkowski's bipartisan, bicameral Energy Act of 2020; a bipartisan compromise to address the issue of Surpr… Continue Reading


12.20.20

FINAL COVID-19 EMERGENCY RELIEF PACKAGE BASED ON ORIGINAL BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL LEGISLATION

Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) and Tom Reed (R-NY-23) applauded the final COVID-19 emergency relief package. "Following months of deadlock in Congress while millions of Americans were at risk of lo… Continue Reading


12.18.20

Murkowski Statement on FDA Approval of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an emergency use authorization for Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine, the second to receive such approval in the U.S. "The FDA approval of a second highly effective and safe vaccine option is welcomed news, as it will not only substantially increase America's vaccine supply, but will also provide additional shipping options for hard to reach areas-particularly important for a sta… Continue Reading


12.18.20

BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL GROUP: FINISH WHAT WE STARTED

Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) and Tom Reed (R-NY-23) called on Congress to deliver immediate COVID-19 relief to the American people. Earlier this week, the Senators and the Problem Solvers Caucus sh… Continue Reading


12.04.20

Murkowski Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Group In Calling For Permanent Expansion Of Telehealth Coverage In End Of Year Legislation

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in calling for the expansion of access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic to be made permanent. Provisions from the Schatz-authored CONNECT for Health Act that have allowed Medicare beneficiaries in all areas of the country, and in their homes, to utilize telehealth services, as well as more types of health care providers to provide telehealth, were included in… Continue Reading


11.19.20

Alaska Congressional Delegation Files Amicus Brief in Support of Alaska Native Corporations

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, filed an amicus curiae brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to grant the petition for a writ of certiorari in support of Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) eligibility for tribal assistance appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The amicus brief states that the indigenous peoples of Alaska will suffer severe negative consequences as a result of the D.C. Circuit Court… Continue Reading


11.05.20

ICYMI: Vaccine Discussion with Senator Murkowski and Alaska Chief Medical Officer Dr. Zink in Light of COVID-19 and Flu Season

In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) held a virtual discussion with Alaska's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anne Zink, last week to discuss vaccines and the important role of seasonal influenza vaccinations as Alaskans continue to face the health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. They covered everything from efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the need for preventing a bad flu season, Alaskan concerns regarding vaccines, and efforts to prepare for a COVID-19 vaccine. … Continue Reading


10.23.20

ICYMI: TIME Op-Ed by Senators Hassan, Murkowski on Their Bipartisan Efforts to Ensure a Future COVID-19 Vaccine is Safe and Effective

In case you missed it, U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) wrote a piece for TIME on the importance of a transparent vaccine review process that maintains key oversight measures to ensure that a future COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective and to boost public confidence. The Senators recently introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention follow well-established measures so that COVID-… Continue Reading


10.07.20

Amidst a Pandemic & Ahead of Flu Season, Murkowski and Colleagues Send Bipartisan Letter Calling for Americans to Receive Critical Immunizations

Amidst a pandemic and ahead of flu season, U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Tina Smith (D-MN), called on the Administration - in partnership with state and local governments - to ensure all Americans continue receiving necessary immunizations to prevent additional illness and outbreaks. In a letter to the leaders of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the bipartisan lawmakers… Continue Reading


09.30.20

Duckworth, Murkowski Urge Senate Leadership to Include Head Start Funding in a Future COVID Relief Package

U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) sent a bipartisan letter to Senate leadership requesting that any future COVID-19 relief package include emergency funding for Head Start programs that have experienced an uptick in operational costs due to expanded programming and services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Head Start programs deliver high-quality, evidence-based education and comprehensive services to children across the country. During this public health crisis, the or… Continue Reading


09.25.20

Alaska Delegation Criticizes Circuit Court Ruling Against Native Corporations

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today commented on a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit determining Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) are ineligible for tribal assistance appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The ruling overturns an earlier June 26 ruling by a U.S. District Court that concluded ANCs are eligible for the aid. "We strongly disagree with the D.C. Circuit Court'… Continue Reading


09.24.20

White House COVID-19 Task Force Provides an Update on the Federal Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

As communities in Alaska and across the country work to address the health and financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) participated in a Senate HELP Committee hearing focused on the COVID-19 federal response. The hearing included information on testing, data collection and vaccine development, and how the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has used funding provided by Congress to support state, territorial, tribal, and local public health capacit… Continue Reading


09.16.20

Manchin, Murkowski Request Information On Covid-19 Impact On Homeless Families And Youth

U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) requested information from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted families and children. The Senators also asked if the ACF had the resources needed to help those in need during the pandemic and if the Emergency Family Stabilization Act (EFSA), introduced by Senators Manchin and Murkowski, would provide the necessary resources. The Senators said in part, "As our nation continues to g… Continue Reading


09.10.20

Murkowski Votes to Advance Targeted Covid-19 Relief Bill

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today voted to advance a targeted COVID-19 Relief bill package, focused on addressing some of America's most urgent healthcare, education, and economic issues. The procedural vote failed by a vote of 52-47, shy of the 60 votes needed. "It's so important that we work to provide necessary relief to Americans in order to address the continued impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses, employees, families, and individuals. While this targeted relief packag… Continue Reading

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