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.
Second Session of Summer Interns Arrive in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski welcomed her second session of summer interns to Washington, D.C. to assist in her office for three weeks. These recent high school graduates of the Class of 2016 will receive a behind-the-scenes look into the operations of a U.S. Senate office by shadowing Murkowski throughout the day, helping with administrative and clerical tasks, and assisting staff with research projects. "Each summer I look forward to having interns in my office, offering t… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Murkowski Supports Protecting Americans from Terrorists, Defending Second Amendment Rights and Civil Liberties
After the U.S. Senate voted on a series of legislative proposals this week in the wake of the Orlando tragedy, Murkowski issued the following statement: "I believe we can all agree that we want to keep Americans safe and keep guns out of the hands of terrorists, criminals, and the mentally unstable. However I also strongly believe that Americans should not be forced to prove their innocence before losing a basic right. If the government is going to deny a U.S. citizen the right to purchase a fi… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Murkowski: We Must Provide Firefighting Resources, End Fire Borrowing, and Improve Forest Management
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today received testimony on a bipartisan discussion draft entitled the "Wildfire Budgeting, Response and Forest Management Act", which would address the serious challenges of wildfire funding and forest management. Murkowski released the draft bill on May 25, 2016 with Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Jim Risch, R-Idaho; and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. Click to view video "People across the country are realizi… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Murkowski: Help on the Way for Many Alaska Communities Facing High Energy Costs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for announcing that nine grant applications to assist rural Alaska communities have made it to the final level of review under its High Energy Cost Grants Program, which is designed to assist families and individuals in areas with extremely high household energy costs. USDA is in the process of awarding $16 million through the program to upgrade local energy generation, transmission, and … Continue Reading
06.22.16
Interior Heeds Murkowski’s Demand to Act on Contaminated Lands
Washington, D.C. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will today release a report, which was required to be completed by a provision of law authored by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), that will help fulfill the agency's duty to identify sites throughout Alaska that were contaminated before they were conveyed to Alaska Native Corporations under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). BLM's report is a critical step in identifying a comprehensive list of contaminated sites and en… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Murkowski Welcomes PILT Payments to Alaskan Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced the Department of the Interior is distributing nearly $29 million to Alaskan communities to help offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable federal lands within their boundaries. As Chairman of the Senate Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murkowski ensured the PILT program was robustly funded for Fiscal Year 2016 and is fully funded for Fiscal Year 2017. The Payments in Lieu … Continue Reading
06.21.16
Murkowski: Administration’s Proposed Land Use Planning Rule Troublesome For Alaska
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, delivered the following opening statement at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Public Lands, Forests and Mining Subcommittee hearing held today to conduct oversight on the Bureau of Land Management's proposed land use planning rule known as "Planning 2.0." Click picture to view video of Murkowski's opening statement "As you know, Mr. Chairman, the focus of this hearing is to provide oversight on the BLM's proposed land use planning rul… Continue Reading
06.16.16
Murkowski’s Interior Bill Recognizes Unique Needs for Southeast Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced a series of provisions within her Fiscal Year 2017 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to provide resources and support programs with significant impacts in communities throughout Southeast Alaska. As Chairman of this subcommittee, Murkowski was able to give Alaskans a strong voice as she crafted the bill. The bill was approved by the full Appropriations Committee and now heads to the Senate floor for fin… Continue Reading
06.16.16
Murkowski’s Chairmanship Yields Results for Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced a series of provisions within her Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to provide resources and support programs with significant impacts in communities throughout Alaska. As Chairman of this subcommittee, Murkowski was able to give Alaskans a strong voice as she crafted the bill. The bill was approved by the full Appropriations Committee and now heads to the Senate floor for final consideration. "With ou… Continue Reading
06.16.16
Murkowski Leverages Chairmanship to Invest in Rural Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced a series of provisions within the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to provide resources and support programs with significant impacts in communities across rural Alaska. As Chairman of this subcommittee, Murkowski was able to give Alaskans a strong voice as she crafted the bill. Their input led to full funding for the Native healthcare system, support for subsistence, resources for rural health clinics… Continue Reading
06.15.16
Murkowski’s Interior Chairmanship Yields Health and Wellness Initiatives for Alaska
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski announced provisions in her Fiscal Year 2017 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act that will help combat domestic violence, substance abuse, and suicide through programs in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Indian Health Service (IHS). The Subcommittee approved the bill, which will be considered by the full Appropriations Committee on Thursday. "The heart-wrenching truth is that many Alaskans struggle with these issues and we simply cann… Continue Reading
06.15.16
Murkowski’s Work Boosts Wildfire Prevention, Suppression Efforts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Through her work as Chairman of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) worked to fully fund wildfire suppression needs to ensure the safety of Alaskans and our resources. The Fiscal Year 2017 Interior appropriations bill contains several provisions that directly meet Alaska's needs - providing the resources necessary to combat wildfires, funding to address preventative wildfire measures, and promoting res… Continue Reading
06.15.16
Murkowski Protects Alaskans from Overreaching Hunting and Fishing Regulations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Chairman of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) unveiled legislation with provisions to halt the implementation of multiple proposed federal rules, one of which would close areas for hunting and fishing, impeding on the State of Alaska's right to manage wildlife within the borders of the State. "This proposed rule is incredibly unsettling to the people of Alaska, as it contains provisions that woul… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Murkowski: We Must Boost Alaska Pipeline Throughput
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today examined our nation's energy infrastructure and highlighted the important role that oil and gas pipelines play in moving energy resources, creating jobs, and growing local economies. Murkowski reiterated that strong infrastructure is essential to keeping energy abundant, affordable, clean, diverse, and secure. Click picture to view video "Without infrastructure, we cannot move vital resources from Point A to Point B. And while some w… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Murkowski’s Work Bans Burdensome Federal Regulations, Fights Wasteful Spending, and Protects Lives in Remote Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Through her chairmanship of the Senate Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced multiple provisions within the subcommittee's appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2017 to ensure federal agencies, specifically the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), respect and understand Alaska's unique needs and priorities. "This bill strikes a critical balance - directing feder… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Murkowski Applauds Final Passage of Major Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today S.2943, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), was passed by the Senate in a vote of 85-13. This legislation outlines defense priorities to defend our homeland, and support our troops and their families around the world. "With the very real threats around the world, this is one of the most important bills the Senate will take up this year. Not only does it provide the resources to support those who serve, it also contains numerous Arctic and Alaska-specific prov… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Murkowski Presses Admin. on Misguided, Vague Mitigation Policy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday sent a letter to Dan Ashe, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), calling on the agency to withdraw its proposed policy on mitigation, which attempts to implement a Presidential Memorandum on mitigation released in November 2015. In her letter, Murkowski echoes concerns she raised during a hearing that she held on the Presidential Memorandum in March 2016, noting a paradigm shift from mitigation to net conserva… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Murkowski: Interior Bill will Bring Vast Benefits to Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released her Fiscal Year 2017 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which addresses a wide range of challenges, needs, and opportunities in Alaska. Among other advances, the bill makes significant strides in protecting our state from wildfires, improving access to Native healthcare, and reining in harmful federal regulations. "With our state in the midst of a fiscal crisis, my Interior bill will provide much… Continue Reading
06.10.16
Murkowski Commends U.S. Attorney General’s Public Safety Initiatives for Native Communities and Rural Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) thanked U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch for meeting with Alaska Native leaders in Anchorage to discuss public safety issues of concern to the Native community. The visit fulfills a commitment Attorney General Lynch made to Murkowski on May 7, 2015 during a Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee hearing during which Murkowski asked Attorney General Lynch to personally engage with Alaska Federation of Natives Presi… Continue Reading
06.09.16
Murkowski Appointed to Military Construction, VA, and Transportation Conference Committee
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was selected to serve on the Conference Committee tasked to reconcile the differences between the House of Representatives and Senate versions of the funding bills for military construction, Veterans Affairs, and transportation. The legislation provides resources to support military construction, veterans' benefits and programs, and transportation projects critical to Alaska. The legislation also includes funding to combat the Zika virus. Click here to view th… Continue Reading
