Articles & Op-eds
The Alaska Current: Biden signs Murkowski-backed boost to Social Security into law
by Matt Acuña Buxton
One of the final bills President Joe Biden will have signed during his time in office is one that Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has been pursuing since she joined Congress more than two decades ago. On Sunday, Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act, repealing federal laws that dock Social Security payments to workers who pay into Social Security and receive public sector retirement benefits. The change will boost Social Security benefits for about 15,000 people in Alaska. “I have been… Continue Reading
11.20.24
The Cordova Times: Murkowski: My job is to make sure Alaska is successful
by Margaret Bauman
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, sees her job in the incoming presidential administration as making sure Alaska is successful, just as she did in the previous administration of the former and now incoming President Donald Trump - with whom she remains at odds. In a couple of decades in the U.S. Senate, Murkowski said, she has been able to work with all presidents and she has figured out areas where she can work and opportunities where one needs to push back. “At the end of the day it wil… Continue Reading
08.08.24
Your Alaska Link: Governor Dunleavy, Senator Murkowski Survey Juneau Flood Aftermath, Pledge Support
Governor Mike Dunleavy and Senator Lisa Murkowski joined local leaders in Juneau to survey the aftermath of this week's outburst flood. The Governor notes that hundreds of Alaskans are hurting right now, calling the damage he saw "significant." "I'm grateful that there were no deaths or severe injuries reported, and I want to recognize the local, state, and federal officials along with several non-profits that have stepped up to the plate to support those Alaskans affected by this flooding eve… Continue Reading
06.04.24
KTVF: Senator Murkowski introduces legislation to protect tribal land in Alaska
by Leah Thom
On Monday, Senator Lisa Murkowski, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced the Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA) Amendments Act of 2024, aimed at expanding tribal forest protections. According to a press release from Murkowski, this piece of legislation, S.4370, promotes greater indigenous management of Federal Indian forest and rangelands. The purpose of this new legislation is to correct previous oversights. For example, the 2004 TFPA law was set forth to protec… Continue Reading
05.21.24
KTVF: Senator Lisa Murkowski introduces bill to combat rabies in rural areas, including much of Alaska
by Alex Benge
On Tuesday, Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced a bill aimed at giving Tribes in Alaska and around the country tools to fight rabies and other zoonotic diseases. Rural communities in the state of Alaska are vulnerable to high rates of rabies transmission due to having comparatively large numbers of dog bite injuries and the highest rate of hospitalizations from these bites in the U.S. That’s according to a press release from Murkowski’s office announcing the introduction of the bill to combat di… Continue Reading
05.13.24
Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman: Murkowski celebrates wins for Alaska in FAA reauthorization
by Katie Stavick
Senator Lisa Murkowski last week voted in favor of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, legislation that will improve traveler safety while addressing the unique needs of the FAA Alaska Region. The legislation reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) through Fiscal Year 2028, providing policy direction, certainty, and authority to hire and train air traffic controllers, establish protections for passenge… Continue Reading
04.15.24
KTVF: Senator Murkowski updates WIC food packages with Alaskan salmon for children and mothers in America
by Leah Thom
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) praises USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for including Alaskan salmon into the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages, according to a press release. When the process to update WIC food packages began, Murkowski advocated for healthy, nutritious food items such as Alaska salmon to be included in the food packages. “It is great news for America’s mothers and their children who r… Continue Reading
02.15.24
Alaska Beacon: In annual address to Alaska Legislature, Murkowski points to ‘hope on the horizon’
by James Brooks
Alaska is behind the rest of the country on housing, education and child care, Alaska’s senior senator told the Alaska Legislature on Thursday. “But when you step back, you step back and look at things, there’s a lot going well in our state right now,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Murkowski’s annual address to the Legislature “was a downer in some places,” the senator told reporters afterward, but sought to emphasize good things that have been overlooked as the state focuses on its prob… Continue Reading
02.12.24
MURKOWSKI OPINION: The Senate failed on the border. We can’t follow up by failing our allies.
by Lisa Murkowski
For months, Republicans in Congress have rightfully been sounding the alarm: The world is on fire, and the fire has reached our doorsteps. From Israel’s multi-front war and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to China’s provocations against Taiwan and especially the migrant crisis at our southern border, America needs to lead on both domestic and global emergencies. Put simply, the situation at our southern border is a disaster. There have been more than 8.8 million illegal encounters there since Pr… Continue Reading
02.07.24
KINY: Murkowski, Gillibrand Call on HHS Secretary to Support Head Start Impacted by Workforce Shortages, Enrollment Challenges
by KINY
Recently, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra calling on him to waive the full enrollment initiative penalty for Head Start programs who have not met their enrollment numbers due to challenges recruiting and retaining staff amid workforce shortages. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Head Start programs across the country have faced unprecedented staffing challenges. In response, the O… Continue Reading
01.19.24
Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman: Murkowski, Padilla Introduce bipartisan legislation to reauthorize National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
by Katie Stavick
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Alex Padilla of California, introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) through Fiscal Year 2028, on Wednesday. If passed, the bill would authorize a total of $175.4 million per year from FY 2024-2028 across the four federal agencies responsible for long-term earthquake risk reduction under NEHRP: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST… Continue Reading
12.11.23
Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman: Senators Murkowski, Schatz lead Oversight Hearing on Federal Resources to address Fentanyl in Native communities
by Katie Stavick
Second Hearing Senator Lisa Murkowski, along with Senator Brian Schatz of Hawai‘i led an oversight hearing titled, “Fentanyl in Native Communities: Federal Perspectives on Addressing the Growing Crisis,” a continuation of the Committee’s oversight work on fentanyl. “Our hearing last month was important - not just for our work in this Committee and Congress, but also for the Executive Branch - to better understand the situation on the ground and inform our next steps. That’s why today’s hearing … Continue Reading
11.24.23
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: $150 million to Alaska Native villages for green energy, climate resilience
by Staff Report
Federally recognized Tribes in Alaska will receive $150 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for clean energy projects and climate resilience initiatives to address environmental and climate justice challenges. “I am glad to see this dedication of at least $150 million to address contaminated lands, pollution reduction and climate adaptation in Alaska,” U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola said in a press release. “This is an important step in improving the quality of life of many Alaska Nat… Continue Reading
11.02.23
KUCB: $43.3 million in federal funds to go towards Cold Bay dock replacement
by Theo Greenly
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan announced Tuesday that seven communities across the state will receive the funds as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The grant money is designated for projects ranging from Arctic port development in Nome to a breakwater replacement in Metlakatla. Cold Bay is slated to receive $43.3 million, the most money by far for any of these projects. The community of around 50 people used to be the home of Thornbrough Air Force Base, and p… Continue Reading
10.30.23
KYUK: Feds award $19M in grants for Alaskans facing high energy costs
by Sunni Bean
The federal Department of Health and Human Services has allocated just over $19 million to help Alaskans facing high energy costs. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said in a Wednesday statement that over $11 million is coming from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding. That money is intended to help low income households lower their energy bills this winter. The other $8 million is aimed at helping tribes in Alaska with high energy costs. LIHEAP is a congressionally funded pro… Continue Reading
10.15.23
Common Dreams: Factory Fish Farming Threatens Fishermen and Farmers - But New Legislation Could Change That
by Anthony Pahnke
Farmers neither milk cows with nets, nor harvest vegetables with rods. And fishermen neither scatter seeds in the oceans, nor catch fish with sickles. Despite our differences, something we do share is a common threat from the expansion of industrial fish farming and big agribusiness. More specifically, the expansion of industrial fish farming provides an increasingly profitable outlet for large-scale agriculture corporations to market surplus grains like soy and corn as “fish feed.” Such devel… Continue Reading
10.09.23
Alaska Public Media: Alaska leaders condemn attack on Israel
by Chris Klint
Alaska’s congressional delegation and governor have condemned Hamas militants’ weekend surprise attack on Israel, saying they support both Israel’s right to defend itself and U.S. aid to do so. Early Saturday morning, Hamas fired more than 3,000 rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip, then launched an air, land and sea assault that government officials said left more than 700 Israelis dead. The Associated Press reported that militants have also taken about 130 captives, with Palestinian official… Continue Reading
10.06.23
Cordova Times: Murkowski urges suspending federal funds for Canadian transboundary watershed projects
by Margaret Bauman
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is urging the Biden administration to suspend any U.S. assistance to Canadian mining projects until environmental protections are established for transboundary wild salmon rivers flowing into Southeast Alaska. In a letter to President Biden sent on Sept. 15, and released publicly on Sept. 26, Murkowski urged Biden “not to allocate any U.S. funding to Canadian projects in the transboundary watershed in general, and to withhold all U.S. support for [mining] project… Continue Reading
10.05.23
Alaska Public Media: Alaska’s U.S. senators pair help for Ukraine with border funds
by Liz Ruskin
One of the fault lines dividing Congress is whether to continue aid for Ukraine as it defends itself from Russia. A number of hard-right Republicans say no, and they say they’re willing to shut down the government over it. Alaska’s Republican senators aren’t among them. Sen. Dan Sullivan wants to reframe aid for Ukraine by deemphasizing the Ukraine part. “It’s not Ukraine. What I’ve been trying to do is make the case that it’s defeating authoritarian aggression,” he said Wednesday as he boarde… Continue Reading
10.02.23
