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.
AK Delegation Concerned Over Omission of Alaskans at Earthquake Resilience Summit
Today the Alaska Congressional Delegation spoke out about the Administration's omission of Alaskan stakeholders at a recent national discussion on earthquake resiliency, sending a letter (attached) to the Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell that reads: "We write to you in regards to the interest of the Administration in improving the safety and resiliency of some of the Nation's communities in earthquake-prone regions. We welcome the Administration's proactive stance, but are concerne… Continue Reading
02.29.16
Murkowski Responds to Designation of Polar Bear Habitat
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision in Alaska Oil and Gas Association v. Jewell. Today's decision reverses a 2013 decision by the U.S. District Court for Alaska which set aside the Fish and Wildlife Service's designation of 187,000-square miles of Alaska's North Slope as critical habitat for polar bears as unlawful: "I am enraged by today's Ninth Circuit decision allowing the Fish and Wildlife Service to desi… Continue Reading
02.26.16
AK Delegation: F-35 Decision Will Trigger Economic Boom for Interior Alaska
The Alaska Congressional Delegation applauded the Air Force's publication of the final Environmental Impact Study (EIS) regarding the beddown of two squadrons of F-35s to be based at Eielson Air Force Base. Publication of the EIS is a necessary step toward a final Air Force decision on where to base the first F-35As in the Pacific Theatre. The study assesses whether the Air Force can locate the F-35 squadrons at Eielson, and a final "Record of Decision" will be announced in approximately 30 days… Continue Reading
02.25.16
Murkowski Presses for Increased Coast Guard Assets in the Arctic
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson in an Appropriations Committee hearing on his department's commitment to increase Coast Guard assets in the Arctic, given the rise in activity throughout the region. Due to the Coast Guard's need for expanded presence in the Arctic, Murkowski also tasked Secretary Johnson to look critically at the benefits of homeporting a National Security Cutter in Alaska. (Senator Murkowski questions Secreta… Continue Reading
02.25.16
Murkowski Applauds Efforts to Ensure Rural Alaskans Have Voice in Proposed Federal Wildlife Management Rule
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced that it would extend the comment period on a proposed rule on hunting, trapping, and land access in Alaska's national wildlife refuges by an additional 30 days. The Service's announcement comes after the entire Alaska congressional delegation sent a letter to the Service calling on the agency to extend the comment period. "This extension is welcome news and will h… Continue Reading
02.24.16
Army Chief to Murkowski on JBER Cuts: “It Would be Contrary to Strategic National Security Interest”
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) received assurances from the Army that the 4-25 Army Brigade at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson remains strategically vital to our nation's security and should not be cut at this time. General Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army, traveled to Alaska earlier in February for the specific purpose of observing the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) of the 25th Infantry Division. Today in a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Senator Murkowski… Continue Reading
02.23.16
Murkowski: Interior’s Budget Troubling for Alaska, Nation
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today pressed Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on her department's $13.4 billion budget request, noting that it would further restrict resource production in federal areas and ignore budget realities by increasing mandatory spending. Click picture to view video "I am very troubled by the approach that Interior is trying to take for Alaska and the rest of our nation," Murkowski said. "The Administration claims that this budget '…invests in Alas… Continue Reading
02.23.16
Murkowski Releases Second CRS Analysis of Admin.’s Oil Tax
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released a new analysis by the Congressional Research Service of the administration's revised proposed tax on oil, demonstrating that the slight increase in the rate actually costs an additional $8 billion over the next decade - for a total of $319 billion. The White House, which describes the tax as a "fee," originally announced the proposal would charge oil companies $10.00 per barrel of oil. An earlier CRS analysis of that proposal concluded the plan… Continue Reading
02.17.16
Murkowski Applauds Energy Efficiency Leadership of Rural Communities in Alaska
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded 64 rural communities for being recognized as "Community Efficiency Champions" by the Department of Energy's Remote Alaska Communities Energy Efficiency Competition (RACEE Competition). "This is great news and further confirms that Alaska is leading the way for the rest of the world when it comes to energy innovation," Murkowski said. "We have some of the highest energy prices in the country which is why it's so important to promote energy inno… Continue Reading
02.16.16
Murkowski Highlights Energy Innovation in Rural Alaska
Bethel, AK - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, held a field hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Bethel to examine the advancements that rural Alaska is making in energy innovation. Murkowski was joined by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and five of her Senate colleagues to hear how Alaska is a leader for the nation in energy innovation. Energy Secretary Moniz and Sens. Murkowski, Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Cantwell, D-Wash., listen to witness testimony at Monday's he… Continue Reading
02.12.16
Murkowski Introduces Bill to Provide Relief to Aviators
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced S.2530, the Small Aircraft Tax Modification Act of 2016, a bill providing relief from regulatory burdens for small charter flight operators. The bill fixes current IRS policy regarding passenger excise taxes on charter flight operations, providing tax relief for Alaska's aviation industry. "This bill provides a much-needed fix for small air carriers in Alaska by removing an onerous tax burden that's been put upon them," said Senator Murkowski. "Simplifying… Continue Reading
02.11.16
Alaska Senators Work to Put American Seafood in School Lunches
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski introduced S. 2529, legislation that would strengthen the Buy American provisions within the National School Lunch program to require that fish and fish products served through the program have to be caught in U.S. waters, or in the case of tuna, caught by a U.S. flagged vessel. "This is a commonsense bill that not only helps our fishermen, but also ensures that our children nationwide are getting the freshest and most nutritious fish products avail… Continue Reading
02.11.16
Murkowski Votes to Permanently Ban Internet Taxes
Today Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted for H.R. 644, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, a bill that makes improvements to U.S. Customs and Border Protection activities and policies to help enforce our trade laws, remove barriers to trade, and help small businesses thrive. The bill also contains language from legislation she co-sponsored that would permanently ban the implementation of new taxes on internet access. The bill passed in a vote of 75-20. "Alaskans already face high… Continue Reading
02.11.16
Murkowski Lifts Hold on FDA Commissioner Nominee
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced that she is lifting her hold on the confirmation of Dr. Robert Califf, the nominee to be Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Murkowski announced she intended to block his nomination in November of 2015 after the FDA's approval of genetically engineered (GE) salmon for human consumption. "I placed my hold on Dr. Califf's nomination until my concerns regarding labeling guidelines for GE salmon had been resolved. Since then, I … Continue Reading
02.11.16
Murkowski Votes to Impose Tougher Sanctions on North Korea
Today Senator Lisa Murkowski voted in favor of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016, a bill to impose more stringent sanctions on North Korea. The bill passed overwhelmingly in the Senate with a vote of 96-0. Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor prior to the final vote, saying: "Alaskans take great interest in this legislation, and it's not simply an intellectual interest. Our geography requires it. "North Korea is committed to advancing its nuclear capabilities, and it… Continue Reading
02.10.16
Murkowski Receives F-35 Update from Air Force
Today Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) questioned Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III on the status of the F-35s arriving in Alaska. Murkowski began her line of questioning in a Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the FY17 budget request and funding justification for the U.S. Air Force by asking Secretary Deborah James: "We know that there are some naysayers out there that believe that the plane will not be capable of meet… Continue Reading
02.09.16
Murkowski Welcomes Supreme Court’s Decision to Block Costly, Overreaching Regulation
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay to block the Obama administration's rule to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants: "Today, the U.S. Supreme Court took an unusual step in a series of related cases - including one brought by 29 states and state agencies - by blocking the Obama administration's most controversial climate regulation. "This major rule would increase costs for consumers, put … Continue Reading
02.09.16
Murkowski Responds to President Obama’s Budget Request
Today Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) responded to President Obama's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2017, which serves as a suggestion for Congress' appropriations process: "This summer we saw Alaska be used as the backdrop for President Obama's climate change agenda. And that's still the case today, quite literally-the cover of the President's $4 trillion budget request shows a picture of Denali. While the President's budget may be massive like Denali, that's not necessarily a good thing. "The… Continue Reading
02.09.16
Bill to Spur Point Spencer Development Signed Into Law
Today U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after President Obama signed into law the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, which contains a provision to convey approximately 2,500 acres of federal land at Point Spencer, Alaska to local, state, and federal stakeholders: "This is a great step towards future investment in Alaska's Arctic, giving Alaskans the ability to speed up the timetable for economic investment in the Arctic region. The bill empowers Alaskans to be a mor… Continue Reading
02.04.16
Murkowski Comments on President Obama’s Latest Proposed Tax Hike
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement on President Obama's proposal to put a new $10 per barrel tax on oil. The tax will reportedly be part of the President's budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. "After years of imposing new restrictions on access in federal areas in Alaska and throughout the country, the President is now apparently proposing yet another way to damage our nation's oil production," Murkowski said. "This is disappointing, but not surp… Continue Reading
