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.
Murkowski Defends Opportunities for Aspiring Native Teachers
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has introduced a Senate Resolution calling on the Council for the Accreditation of Education Programs (CAEP) to amend a recently adopted standard for accrediting teacher education programs that will have a disproportionately negative impact on Native Americans and Alaska Natives who aspire to become teachers. The Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) is the sole accrediting body for teacher preparation programs across the nation. CAEP a… Continue Reading
10.31.15
Murkowski Announces Winner of U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Contest
Today Senator Murkowski announced Anna Kathleen DeVolld, a 5th grade student from Soldotna, as the winner of the 2015 Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Essay Contest. Anna will travel to Washington D.C., where she will have the honor of turning on the tree lights at the conclusion of a ceremony with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on December 2nd. Transportation and lodging will be provided through the non-profit organization Choose Outdoors, with the generous support of private donors. Murkowski … Continue Reading
10.30.15
Murkowski Responds to Change in Federal Regulations to Determine Subsistence Practices
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski released the following statement after the Department of the Interior updated regulations defining which parts of Alaska are designated as "rural" and qualify for the subsistence preferences afforded by Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The new regulations redesignate Saxman as "rural" and establish a new process for reviewing whether communities designated as "rural" should be redesignated as "non-rural." "I am pleased that th… Continue Reading
10.30.15
Murkowski Releases Statement Ahead of Defense Secretary’s Visit to Alaska
Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan were scheduled to join Secretary of Defense Ash Carter as he visits Alaska today, but are unable to attend the events at Fort Wainwright due to mechanical difficulties with their assigned military aircraft. Senator Murkowski released the following statement on the Secretary's visit to Fort Wainwright: "Whether due to our strategic location, unique training opportunities, or quality of life, Alaska is the best place in the entire United States for our tr… Continue Reading
10.30.15
Murkowski Ensures Alaska Receives Entire 2015 PILT Funds
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the announcement that Alaska municipalities will receive an additional $2.2 million from the Department of the Interior as compensation for federal lands within their jurisdictions. Today's payment is in addition to the $26.2 million disbursed to Alaska communities in June 2015. "PILT payments are essential to local communities with federal lands within their jurisdictions. In Alaska, over 60 percent of land in Alaska managed by the federal … Continue Reading
10.30.15
Murkowski Votes to Provide Greater Economic Certainty, Removes Threat of Default
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski released the following statement after her vote for H.R. 1314, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, which passed in a vote of 64-35: "While the Budget Act is an imperfect plan, it does prevent a government shutdown and the very real impact that would have on Alaskans. I reluctantly voted in favor of this bill because it provides relief from the financial brinkmanship that Alaskans have, unfortunately, become all too used to seeing from Washington. In less than a … Continue Reading
10.27.15
Senate Passes Cybersecurity Bill
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski released the following statement after her vote for the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, S. 754 which passed in a vote of 74-21: "Cyberattacks aren't just a threat to Alaskans and the rest of the nation, unfortunately they are a reality. The status quo is just not acceptable. Every day we learn of new cyberattacks on our personal information and company's technology." "This is an important bill that will help protect our personal information and assist i… Continue Reading
10.23.15
Murkowski Welcomes $15 Million to Address Alaska’s Energy Cost Challenges
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski welcomed the announcement that over $15 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are headed to the state to help Alaskans with their home heating bills. Starting today, $9,179,392 will be distributed through the DHHS Division of Public Assistance, as well as $6,535,606 to Native tribes or tribal associations, listed below. "Winter is rapidly approaching and in some parts of Alaska… Continue Reading
10.22.15
Murkowski Condemns President’s Veto of National Defense Bill
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski denounced President Obama's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), legislation that would protect our homeland and support our troops and their families. "The President's veto today of this bipartisan bill is deeply disappointing. Our servicemembers and their families deserve our unqualified support and they should never be used as a pawn in the President's political game," said Senator Murkowski. "This major defense bill not only was designed … Continue Reading
10.22.15
Murkowski, Gates Highlight Importance of Energy Innovation
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today convened a meeting with Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, philanthropist, and investor, to discuss the importance of energy innovation. The two were joined by Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski meets with Mr. Bill Gates "Mr. Gates has both the stature and the vision to explain why energy innovation must be more of a na… Continue Reading
10.22.15
Murkowski Brings Together Alaskans to Address Harmful Impacts of Marine Debris
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Co-Chair of the Senate Oceans Caucus, hosted a Marine Debris Briefing to highlight Alaska's growing challenges when it comes to the massive amount of debris washing up on Alaska's shores. The Senator brought experts on the issue together, including Alaskan panelists, to find solutions to this threat to Alaskans' environment and livelihoods. "Marine debris is an ever increasing issue in our state, from land-based runoff, shipping waste, boating debris, and the 2011 J… Continue Reading
10.22.15
Senate Passes Legislation to Combat Pirate Fishing
The Senate last night unanimously passed the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015. In May, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced legislation to combat the multi-billion dollar threat posed by illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities. The legislation is the House companion to the Senate bill, which passed the House of Representatives in July. The bill now heads to the President's desk to be signe… Continue Reading
10.21.15
Alaska Delegation Continues to Promote Strategic Buildup of Interior Alaska
The Alaska Congressional Delegation today welcomed news from the Missile Defense Agency that they have awarded a $784,289,883 contract to Lockheed Martin to build the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR). The contract specifies that the work is to be done at Clear Air Force Station, Alaska as well as Lockheed Martin's facility in New Jersey. The LRDR is a critical MDA project which will substantially improve our nation's Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) capabilities. The LRDR will provide … Continue Reading
10.21.15
Murkowski Praises Approval of Major Native Employment and Training Bill by Senate Indian Affairs Committee
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski applauded her colleagues on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs for unanimously passing her legislation to strengthen and reform Public Law 102-477 (also known as the 477 program), a comprehensive Native employment and training program. The bill, which she introduced with Senator Dan Sullivan last May, surmounts bureaucratic obstacles to effective implementation of the program. The 477 program is unique because it allows tribes to pool money from different fe… Continue Reading
10.20.15
Murkowski Condemns UAF Negligence in Sexual Assault Cases
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski reacted to the University of Alaska Fairbanks' announcement that it failed to follow the U.S. Department of Education's (USED) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Title IX guidance in how to handle sexual assault allegations. "The failure of UAF to follow the federal guidelines regarding allegations of sexual assault has risked students' security and undermined students' confidence that very serious accusations will be addressed as they have a right to expect. I am gr… Continue Reading
10.20.15
Murkowski Commends Approval of Alaska Railroad to Transport LNG
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski responded to the news that the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) became the first railroad in the nation permitted to transport liquefied natural gas by rail, saying: "I am pleased the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently approved the Alaska Railroad's request to move liquefied natural gas via rail to Fairbanks. The Interior of Alaska is in need of an affordable energy source and natural… Continue Reading
10.16.15
Murkowski: Interior Attempting to Shut Down Arctic Development for Decades
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski today issued the following statement after the Department of the Interior announced its rejection of Shell Alaska's request to extend its leases off of Alaska's northern coast and the cancellation of future leases in the region. "This is a stunning, short-sighted move that betrays the Interior Department's commitments to Alaska and the best interests of our nation's long-term energy security. Today's decision is the latest in a destructive pattern of hostility toward en… Continue Reading
10.09.15
Murkowski Praises Court Decision to Delay Implementation of WOTUS
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today released the following statement after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a nationwide stay against the enforcement of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) rule: "Today's decision to put a national hold on the controversial WOTUS rule is further good news for opponents of the EPA's culture of overreach. I've been fighting to reign in the EPA and the harmful impacts the WOTUS rule could have on alm… Continue Reading
10.09.15
Another Fix to the Affordable Care Act Signed into Law
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski released the following statement on the President signing the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees (PACE) Act into law. Senator Murkowski is a co-sponsor of the bill, which halts a change of what is considered "small employer" within the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Currently, a "small employer" is defined having less than 50 employees. However, a provision in the law was set to redefine a small employer as having up to 100 employees, beginning on Januar… Continue Reading
10.08.15
Senate Energy Panel Considers Legislation Promoting Alaska Native Land Ownership
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today heard testimony on legislation designed to rectify an injustice done to the Alaska Native residents of five Southeast communities 44 years ago. (Click image to watch video.) Thursday's hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining considered a number of public lands bills, including Murkowski's Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act, S. 872. The bill would p… Continue Reading
