Articles & Op-eds
Anchorage Daily News: At symposium, Alaska communities pursue their share of ‘transformational’ infrastructure bill funding
by Iris Samuels
The federal infrastructure bill signed last year could transform Alaska similar to how the trans-Alaska pipeline did more than 40 years ago, Alaska leaders say. But that's possible only if local leaders capitalize on myriad funding opportunities available through the bill, Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Monday during a symposium organized by her office. Well over 1,000 people -- including state lawmakers, mayors, and tribal leaders -- attended a first-of-its-kind symposium that brought federal agency… Continue Reading
04.05.22
OPINION: A law that supports and protects women
by Senator Lisa Murkowski
In March, we celebrated Women's History Month and the many accomplishments of women across the board. But as we continue to recognize the remarkable achievements of women, we must also acknowledge the public safety threat that women continue to face in Alaska. In 2020, more than half of the women surveyed in the Alaska Victimization Survey reported experiencing intimate partner violence, sexual violence or both in their lifetime. Alaska Native women continue to suffer the highest rate of forcib… Continue Reading
03.29.22
OPINION: Kodiak Daily Mirror: $210M heading to Coast Guard Base Kodiak
by Senator Lisa Murkowski
Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard released a spending plan for the $429 million that Congress allocated to it through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In a welcome development for Alaska, Base Kodiak will receive nearly half of that total - $210 million - for key projects including a new fuel pier, housing, and a child development center. This is great news for Kodiak and one of the biggest victories Alaska has yet had under the new infrastructure law. But it didn't happen by accident.… Continue Reading
03.26.22
OPINION: CNN: The US Constitution does not guarantee women equality. We intend to change that.
by By Ben Cardin and Lisa Murkowski
The US Constitution does not guarantee women the same rights and protections as men. To the surprise of many, it contains no explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of sex. We intend to change that to ensure that "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." We represent Alaska and Maryland, states with vastly different constituencies and geographies, but we are working together to advance equality for… Continue Reading
03.16.22
Federal spending bill includes $2 million to link Wrangell’s water plant to upper reservoir
by Sage Smiley
This week, the president signed a $1.5 trillion federal spending bill into law. The bipartisan bill keeps the federal government running, and includes billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine. The spending package also includes hundreds of millions for lawmakers' pet projects. A little over $2 million from the bill will go towards funding a pipe on Wrangell Island. Listen to this story here. Wrangell's drinking water comes from two artificial lakes perched on a hill south of town. But the wa… Continue Reading
03.16.22
KINY: Murkowski offers reaction to Zelensky's speech, speaks to Biden about getting canned salmon to Ukraine
by KINY
Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - During an interview with News of the North, Alaska Senior United States Senator Lisa Murkowski offered her reaction to the speech by Ukrainian President Zelensky. "It was very clear to me he was not just addressing members of Congress. He was not just addressing President Biden. He was addressing the world. He was addressing every person who comes from a free and democratic country." Murkowski added that Zelensky was urging us to see that the people of Ukraine are f… Continue Reading
03.16.22
KINY: Murkowski hails signing of Violence against Women Act
by KINY
Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Alaska Senior United States Senator Lisa Murkowski celebrated at the White House Wednesday when President Biden signed her Violence Against Women Act into law. The senator says she's very proud of what they were able to do with the reauthorization of the act and what it means to ensure that women and children feel safe in their communities and in their homes and to reduce the levels of domestic violence in Alaska. She points out that Alaska's statistics are some of th… Continue Reading
02.23.22
Murkowski: Russian aggression shows importance of resource extraction in Alaska
by Iris Samuels
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski is using Russian aggression towards Ukraine to call for investment in resource extraction in Alaska to supplant oil and mineral imports from Russia and other foreign powers. "No administration should defend a Russian pipeline instead of refilling ours," the Republican senator, widely seen as a moderate, said in her annual address to the state Legislature on Tuesday. Murkowski said a full scale invasion of Russian forces in Ukraine could have "massive implications… Continue Reading
02.23.22
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Sen. Murkowski urges lawmakers to address military housing needs in the Interior
by Linda Hersey
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski urged the Alaska Legislature to find solutions to the housing shortage impacting military families in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. In her annual address to lawmakers, Murkowski underscored the immediate housing needs for service members and their families as the presence of the U.S. military grows in the Interior. She highlighted the importance of Eielson Air Force Base to Alaska and the nation's security. Murkowski noted that Eielson is expanding its fleet … Continue Reading
02.23.22
The Midnight Sun: ‘This is our time.’ Murkowski calls on legislators to maximize federal infrastructure bill
by Matt Buxton
Alaska's U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski delivered her annual address to the Alaska Legislature today, urging legislators to help the state maximize the benefit of the landmark infrastructure legislation that she helped negotiate. The more than $600 million that's already been allocated for Alaska on everything from the Alaska Marine Highway to other infrastructure investments featured as a the main theme for the day. "As we gain those benefits, we will be creating jobs, we will restore, we will gr… Continue Reading
02.22.22
Juneau Empire: Murkowski: Good things can come together with bipartisanship
by Peter Segall
Sen. Lisa Murkowski extolled the virtues of bipartisanship Tuesday in her annual speech to the Alaska State Legislature. During her remarks, Murkowski, a Republican who has held one of Alaska's U.S. Senate seats since 2002, touted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. "Good things can come together with bipartisanship, we can actually approach this from a common-sense approach," Murkowski told a joint session of the Legislature in the chambers of the Alaska House of Representatives. "I promise … Continue Reading
02.18.22
Wilson Quarterly: U.S. Engagement in the Arctic, Present and Future
by Senator Lisa Murkowski
Investing in the Arctic will strengthen U.S. security, our economy, and more. When I joined the U.S. Senate in 2002, conversations about the Arctic were rare. There was no comprehensive strategy to guide our actions. There were few Arctic-focused leadership positions within the federal government. Aside from the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, there were no think tanks with dedicated centers or institutes with scholars and experts. The Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum with eight Ar… Continue Reading
02.04.22
Juneau Empire: Delegation: Work together to plan, optimize infrastructure money
by Peter Segall
Alaska's congressional delegation urged state lawmakers to work together to capture as much funding as possible from last year's massive federal infrastructure bill. "I don't want to see any bickering," said U.S. Rep. Don. Young, R-Alaska, speaking to the House Labor and Commerce Committee Friday morning. All three members of the delegation emphasized that preparation would be necessary to capture funds and it would take members of the Legislature, the governor's administration and the delegat… Continue Reading
02.03.22
Alaska Fish Radio: Relief funds for fishery disasters can take years to receive: Sen. Murkowski aims to ease the process
by Laine Welch
Earlier this month, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce declared disasters for over a dozen fisheries in Alaska - more than the federal government usually approves at once. The designation is supposed to unlock funds to help the communities impacted by those fisheries failures, including communities around Cook Inlet. But it can take years for the money to reach fishermen's pockets. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said the timing is one of the problems with the process. "If you've had a disaster… Continue Reading
02.01.22
Kodiak Daily Mirror: Murkowski visits Coasties
by Staff Report
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, met recently with Coast Guard Rear Adm. Nathan Moore, commander in the 17th District in Homer. "The quality of work that the U.S. Coast Guard provides is exceptional," Murkowski is quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Coast Guard. "Their search-and-rescue operations, drug interdictions and maritime safety initiatives should be commended each and every day." As part of the visit, Murkowski and Moore spoke with Bryan Hawkins, Homer's port director an… Continue Reading
01.30.22
Peninsula Clarion: Murkowski weighs in on issues
by Camille Botello
Alaska's senior senator, Lisa Murkowski, stopped by the Clarion offices Thursday to speak about issues affecting the state - sustainable energy production, infrastructure development, the COVID-19 pandemic, voting rights reform and ongoing partisanship divides locally and nationally. Infrastructure and environment On the issue of climate change, Murkowski acknowledged the risks climate change poses to the people and land of Alaska. "We're seeing the impacts of climate change. We're seeing war… Continue Reading
01.20.22
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Moose Creek Dam to receive flood of federal funds
by Linda Hersey
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is undertaking its largest civil works project in Alaska in 30 years - reinforcing the eight-mile Moose Creek Dam in North Pole. More than a half-century old, Moose Creek Dam is about to receive a flood of federal money that will enable the corps to complete an estimated $148 million renovation project. The modernization will strengthen the berm and protect greater Fairbanks in extreme weather events, corps officials said. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Wed… Continue Reading
01.19.22
Peninsula Clarion: ‘A long time coming’
by Camille Botello
Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Wednesday that $28 million in federal funding will be granted to the Kenai bluff stabilization project as a result of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The project was one of four in Alaska that received additional federal funding through the infrastructure package, according to a press release from Murkowski's office. In addition to Kenai bluff stabilization, $250 million will be granted to the Port of Nome, $185 million will go toward the Lo… Continue Reading
12.30.21
Anchorage Daily News OPINION: 2021 was a tough year, but bipartisanship points the way
by Lisa Murkowski
In many ways, 2021, was a difficult year in Washington, D.C. It started with a deadly riot at the Capitol, which was soon followed by an impeachment trial. The Biden administration took office and began reversing many of the policies that are crucial for responsible resource development in Alaska. Then came policy and planning failures that contributed to the horribly botched withdrawal in Afghanistan, supply chain disruptions, and inflation at levels not seen for decades. Geopolitical threats … Continue Reading
12.08.21
Alaska Public Media: ‘Don’t tie our hands’: Proposal would give 30 Alaska tribes the power to prosecute violence in villages
by Liz Ruskin
Alaska tribes could gain the power to prosecute domestic violence and sexual assault in Native villages as part of a pilot program under consideration in the U.S. Senate. The program would have Alaska tribes fill some of the law enforcement gaps in remote communities where victims don't have ready access to a police force or State Troopers. Michelle Demmert, policy director of the Alaska Native Women's Resource Center, told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Wednesday in vivid terms what that… Continue Reading
