03.29.16

Murkowski Highlights Benefits of Alaska Resource Production

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, held a field hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Fairbanks to examine opportunities to create jobs and strengthen national security by increasing Alaska's resource production. The field hearing was held on Monday at the Pipeline Training Center and featured testimony from stakeholders in Alaska's oil, gas, mineral, and economic development sectors. Click picture to view archived video of the hearing "Alaska has what virtually no o… Continue Reading

---

03.29.16

Murkowski Slams Interior for Wasting Time, Money on King Cove Study

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today criticized the Department of the Interior for wasting more than $100,000 on a study of "non-road alternatives" that will not adequately provide emergency medical transportation for the residents of King Cove, Alaska. Murkowski posted the study after Interior, despite a recent public commitment from Secretary Sally Jewell, only provided it to a small handful of King Cove officials. "Interior has again made clear that help for King C… Continue Reading

---

03.22.16

Alaska Delegation: Supreme Court Delivers Setback to Federal Overreach

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion on Sturgeon v. Frost, remanding the case back to the lower courts. In an 8-0 opinion, the court overturned the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision that the National Park Service could ban the use of hovercraft in eastern Alaska's Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. The court found the 9th Circuit's decision "surprising" and "topsy-turvy." While not a decisive victory for John Sturgeon, the Alaska moose hunter who brought the case forw… Continue Reading

---

03.21.16

AK Congressional Delegation Applauds Army Decision to Keep 4-25 Brigade Combat Team Intact

Alaska's Congressional Delegation today responded to the news that the U.S. Army has officially announced that it is delaying its decision to remove 2,600 soldiers from the 4-25 Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. In July 2015, the U.S. Army announced the reduction at JBER as part of a larger force-structure reduction from 490,000 to 450,000 troops. Since that announcement, a unified Alaska Congressional Delegation has fought to retain the 4-25 a… Continue Reading

---

03.18.16

Murkowski to Hold Field Hearing in Fairbanks

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a field hearing on Monday, March 28 to examine opportunities to create jobs and strengthen national security from increased Alaska resource development. The hearing will be held in Fairbanks at the Pipeline Training Center and feature testimony from a dozen stakeholders from across Alaska. "Alaska is blessed with vast natural resources that we can use to fulfill the promises of s… Continue Reading

---

03.16.16

Murkowski Opposes Bill Allowing Voluntary Labeling of GE Salmon

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted against allowing S. 764, the Biotechnology Labeling Solutions Act, to proceed on the Senate floor, continuing her fight to mandate labeling of genetically engineered (GE) salmon. S.764 would block states from issuing mandatory labeling laws, such as what the State of Alaska passed in regards to GE salmon, for foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMO). This is in direct contradiction to Senator Murkowski's efforts to require mandatory la… Continue Reading

---

03.16.16

Murkowski Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Nominee

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement today after President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the United States Supreme Court: "Today the President exercised his constitutional authority to nominate an individual to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia. However, given the timing of this vacancy, in the middle of a Presidential election and in an increasingly toxic political environment, I had urged the President t… Continue Reading

---

03.15.16

Murkowski: Obama’s Reversal on Atlantic OCS is Ominous Warning to Alaska

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement in response to the Department of the Interior's 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Program. "The administration's decision to maintain a limited number of lease sales in the Alaskan offshore and recognition of the importance of consultation with Alaskans is welcome news. However, the administration's decision to cancel a sale in the Atlantic offshore - the second time it has made such a reversal… Continue Reading

---

03.14.16

Murkowski Votes Against Education Secretary Nominee

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, voted against confirming Dr. John B. King to be the Secretary of Education. The Senate confirmed King in a vote of 49-40. "I respect that Dr. King has overcome many challenges in his life, which has led him to share my belief in the vital importance of education for all children. His leadership as Commissioner of Education for New York, however, was so marked by controversy … Continue Reading

---

03.11.16

Murkowski Doubles Down on VA Over Choice Card Failure in Alaska

This week, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) continued to press the leadership of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) over issues with the current VA healthcare system in Alaska. Following up on her discussion last week with Dr. David Shulkin, Undersecretary of Health for the VA, over the failings of the Choice Card Program in Alaska, Senator Murkowski questioned Robert McDonald, the Secretary of the VA, on the lessons learned from his August 2015 visit to the state, whether or not he unde… Continue Reading

---

03.10.16

Murkowski Reacts to Joint U.S. - Canada Arctic Announcements

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement in the wake of the joint announcements made by President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: "I join my fellow Americans in welcoming Canada's new prime minister to our nation's capital. At the same time, as an Alaskan, the announcements made today fall far short of the holistic vision needed for the Arctic and its people. "My long-standing criticism of the Obama Administration is that it sees th… Continue Reading

---

03.10.16

Murkowski Votes to Fight Devastating Opioid Abuse Epidemic

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), a bill she co-sponsored, that supports community-based drug treatment programs and provides critical resources for those battling opioid addiction. U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) is a co-sponsor of the legislation. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 94-1. Senator Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor about the need for drug abuse treatment and prevention progra… Continue Reading

---

03.09.16

Murkowski Questions IHS Officials on Health Initiatives for Alaska Natives

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) chaired an Interior Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the FY17 budget for the Indian Health Service (IHS). Senator Murkowski took this opportunity to question IHS officials on critical health issues facing Alaska Natives, including how the agency plans to address the current maintenance backlog for rural health care facilities and initiatives in the budget to combat substance abuse, suicide, and domestic violence. (Click image to watch video of S… Continue Reading

---

03.08.16

Sen. Murkowski: Priorities in Forest Service Budget are Troubling

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today questioned Chief Tom Tidwell of the U.S. Forest Service (Service) on the priorities in the agency's $4.9 billion FY 2017 budget request. At Tuesday's hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Murkowski emphasized that the Service continues to stand in the way of a sustainable timber industry in Southeast Alaska. Murkowski also committed to working on a long-term solution for active forest management that would end the practice of fire… Continue Reading

---

03.04.16

Murkowski Co-Sponsors Legislation To Combat Eating Disorders

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) co-sponsored S. 1865, the Anna Westin Act, legislation focused on treating and preventing eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. This bipartisan bill creates training programs for healthcare professionals, school personnel, and the general public to promote the treatment and prevention of eating disorders. "Only 1 in 10 people with an eating disorder get any help and that needs to change. Early detection, and getting these individuals th… Continue Reading

---

03.03.16

Murkowski Introduces Updated Legislation to Require Labeling of GE Salmon

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) continued her fight against "Frankenfish" by introducing legislation to mandate labeling of genetically engineered (GE) salmon. The Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act, co-sponsored by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), changes the acceptable market name for any salmon that is genetically engineered to include the words "genetically engineered" or "GE." The bill also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to ensure… Continue Reading

---

03.03.16

Murkowski to VA: Fix Veterans’ Healthcare in Alaska

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) blasted the current leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for dismantling a healthcare system in Alaska that worked to deliver care to veterans no matter where in the state they may live. During a Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Senator Murkowski addressed Dr. David J. Shulkin, Undersecretary of Health for the VA, laying out the many issues Alaska's veterans now face that they didn't struggle with before the Choice Ac… Continue Reading

---

03.02.16

Murkowski Stresses Need for Deep Water Port in the Arctic

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) pressed Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, on the need for a deep water port in the Arctic region. During an Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee hearing focusing on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budget request, Murkowski challenged officials for not funding the proposed port project in Nome, Alaska. Murkowski asked, "When the President was up in Alaska in September, he announced the need for a deep wa… Continue Reading

---

03.02.16

Murkowski Presses Secretary Jewell on Proposed Hunting and Fishing Regulations

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) questioned Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on proposed regulations by the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to govern hunting, trapping, and land access in Alaska's national wildlife refuges. Murkowski called the proposed rule unsettling to the people of Alaska as it contains provisions to close areas that are currently open to hunting and fishing. Senator Murkowski raised the issue with Secretary Jewell, asking: "Of course these … Continue Reading

---

03.02.16

Murkowski: Innovative Technologies Transforming Rural Communities

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, welcomed an up to $1.54 million grant that the Department of Energy awarded to promote the development of a marine hydrokinetic project in Igiugig, Alaska. The development of the technology associated with the project could ultimately help lower energy costs in rural communities across the state. "This is great news for Igiugig. The Igiugig project is so important since the marine power device being developed there could be utilized in dozens of river village… Continue Reading