The Associated Press: Murkowski urges passage of volcano warning bill
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) _ U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski says volcano eruptions in Iceland demonstrate that Congress needs to pass her bill to set up a volcano early warning and monitoring system.
The bill is awaiting action in the Senate.
Murkowski spoke Wednesday on volcano risks at a conference sponsored by the Congressional Hazards Caucus Alliance. She is co-chairwoman.
The Alaska Republican says passengers grounded by Iceland eruptions should consider themselves lucky.
A jet in 1989 flew through a Redoubt Volcano ash cloud and had all its engines stopped. The jet dropped more than two miles before they were restarted.
Murkowski says her bill would pay for monitoring instrumentation of 20 more of the nation's high priority volcanoes and establish 24-hour watch centers.
Source: By Maia Nolan. Originally published April 21, 2010
