05.19.23

Delegation Welcomes Over $200 Million in Fishery Disasters Funding for Alaska

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) welcomed allocations of nearly $216 million in fishery disaster funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce. In December, the Secretary of Commerce announced that a number of Alaska's crab and salmon fisheries met the requirements for disaster determinations in the past few years, allowing this funding to be distributed to fishermen and their crews, seafood processors, and research… Continue Reading

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05.17.23

ICYMI: Murkowski-Led Bill to Provide Transparent and Safe Access to Treatment Passes HELP Committee

In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), joined advocates from Alaska and across the U.S. in welcoming the news that her amendment, the Safe Step Act of 2023, was reported favorably out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee - of which Senator Murkowski serves as a Senior Member. The Safe Step Act, which was included by amendment into the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act, now heads to the full Senate for consideration. The Safe Step Act places … Continue Reading

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05.15.23

Coons, Murkowski, Whitehouse, Rounds reintroduce legislation to support spouses of veterans who died from ALS

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), founding members of the Senate Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Caucus, reintroduced the Justice for ALS Veterans Act alongside Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). This bipartisan measure would guarantee that surviving spouses of veterans receive all benefits due to them. This bill was previously introduced in January 2022 in the 117th Congress by Senators Coons and Murkowski. "AL… Continue Reading

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05.12.23

Murkowski Supports Comprehensive Permitting and Environmental Review Reform Legislation

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), former chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), joined Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Ranking Member of the ENR Committee in introducing legislation to substantively reform the nation's broken permitting and environmental review processes, which are currently delaying key energy, infrastructure, and transportation projects across America. The Spur Permitting of Underdeveloped Resources (SPUR) Act, covers key reforms in ENR's… Continue Reading

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05.12.23

Murkowski Announces New Staff Hires, Promotions

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced new staff members in her Soldotna and Anchorage offices, and a staff promotion within her Washington, D.C. office. "Tanya and Nancy are great new additions to my Alaska team. They each come with unique backgrounds and experiences that make them well-suited to serve Alaskans in their respective communities. Brian has been a dedicated member of my team and has proven himself as an ambitious, hard-working part of the office. I lo… Continue Reading

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05.11.23

Murkowski Congratulates Norway on Assumption of Chairship of Arctic Council

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today released the following statement as the Chairship of the Arctic Council, the world's leading forum for intergovernmental cooperation and collaboration among the nations of the Far North, passed from Russia to Norway. "I congratulate Norway on the start of its Chairship, which arrives not a moment too soon, and look forward to a productive two-year period for the Arctic Council. We are at a critical juncture for the future of the Ar… Continue Reading

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05.10.23

Murkowski Hosts SCPAR Conference, Emphasizes U.S. Role as an Arctic Nation

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) recently hosted leaders from five Arctic nations in Washington, DC, as part of a conference of the Standing Committee of Arctic Parliamentarians (SCPAR). Murkowski, who serves as Vice Chair of SCPAR, helped lead discussions on Arctic policy and the future of the Arctic Council-whose Chairship will transition from Russia to Norway this week. Senator Murkowski and parliamentary representatives from Canada, Denmark/Greenland, Iceland, Norway,… Continue Reading

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05.08.23

Tester, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Push to Protect Critical Services, Essential Resources for Veterans

To ensure continuous support for the nation's veterans, caregivers, and their families, Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are introducing bipartisan legislation to extend essential Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and authorities currently set to expire May 11th. The Senators' Critical Health Access Resource and Grant Extensions (CHARGE) Act of 2023 would protect measures currently being implemented by VA to curb veteran homelessness, support caregivers, an… Continue Reading

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05.05.23

Delegation Helps Convince USDA to Approve Major Purchase of Alaska Seafood

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, and U.S. Representative Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) announcement that it has approved the purchase of up to $119.5 million worth of Alaskan Sockeye and Pacific Groundfish, which will be distributed across the country through federal food assistance programs. "USDA's purchase of Alaska seafood is great news for our fishing industry and all who depend on federal food assistance," … Continue Reading

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05.05.23

Murkowski Recognizes MMIW Day of Awareness

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement recognizing National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: "Today, on May 5th, my heart is with the many families who have lost a loved one to violence and all those who have been affected by the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and people. We honor the memory of your loved ones who are no longer with you in your communities. I join in raising awareness about an inju… Continue Reading

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05.04.23

Alaska Delegation Condemns Court Ruling Against Southeast Troll Fishermen

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska), condemned a ruling by the U.S. District Court in Seattle, Washington in favor of a lawsuit filed by Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) that will effectively shut down a Southeast Alaska small boat troll salmon fishery. WFC argued that the Southeast Alaska salmon harvest is a primary contributor to the population decline of Southern resident killer whales hundreds of miles to the… Continue Reading

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05.02.23

Murkowski Joins Merkley and Daines in Introduction of SAFE Banking Act to Improve Community Safety and Banking Access for Legal Cannabis Businesses

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT), along with U.S. Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH-14) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-03) in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2023. This bill would ensure that legal cannabis businesses would have access to critical banking and financial services. Most state legal medicinal or recreational cannabis businesses are denied access to trad… Continue Reading

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04.27.23

Murkowski Expresses Disappointment over Failed Resolution to Remove Deadline to Ratify the ERA

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today released the following statement after S.J.Res. 4, a bicameral, joint resolution to affirm the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), failed to pass the U.S. Senate. The resolution would have removed the arbitrary deadline for ratification of the ERA. It would also have recognized the amendment as a valid part of the Constitution, with the 38-state threshold needed for ratification of the ERA having been met. "I am disappointed that our resolu… Continue Reading

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04.27.23

Cantwell, Murkowski Introduce ‘Recreation for All Act’ to Boost Outdoor Rec on Public Lands

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Recreation for All Act which directs the four primary land management agencies - the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish & Wildlife Service, and National Park Service - to increase outdoor recreational opportunities for youth, including underserved youth, pilot new technologies to better track the number and type of recreational visitors to federal land, and require land ma… Continue Reading

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04.27.23

Schatz, Murkowski Introduce Bill To Expand Tribal Lease Authority, Support Infrastructure And Economic Development

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, introduced the Unlocking Native Lands and Opportunities for Commerce and Key Economic Developments Act (UNLOCKED Act). The bill would authorize all federally recognized Tribes to issue leases of up to 99 years and affirm Tribal authority to issue rights-of-way to eliminate barriers to Tribal infrastructure and economic… Continue Reading

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04.26.23

King, Murkowski Introduce Bill Requiring Supreme Court to Create A Code of Conduct

U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today introduced bipartisan legislation requiring the Supreme Court to create its own code of conduct, and appoint an official to review potential conflicts and public complaints. Justices of the Supreme Court are currently the only federal judges that are not explicitly bound by a code of conduct which provides guidance on performance of their official duties and engagement in outside activities; the Executive and Legislative bran… Continue Reading

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04.25.23

Murkowski Helps Reintroduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill to Reunite Filipino World War II Veterans with Their Children

Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Representatives Ed Case (D-HI) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA) reintroduced the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, legislation that would speed up the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans. "Filipino soldiers served our country with honor and bravery during World War II. But for too long, they've been denied many of the rights and benefits they deserve, including the ability to reunify with their fam… Continue Reading

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04.21.23

Murkowski Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Federal Support for Local Fire Departments

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), co-chair of the U.S. Senate Fire Caucus, today announced that bipartisan legislation, of which she was an original co-sponsor, passed the U.S. Senate by a 95-2 vote. The legislation, the Fire Grants and Safety Act, would reauthorize the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program and the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, which ha… Continue Reading

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04.20.23

Murkowski Reintroduces Bruce’s Law in Effort to Combat Fentanyl Crisis

Washington, DC-U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) today reintroduced Bruce's Law to bolster federal prevention and education efforts surrounding fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid that is increasingly being incorporated into illicit street drugs. The measure is named after an Alaskan, Robert "Bruce" Snodgrass, who tragically passed away in 2021 at the age of 22 from fentanyl poisoning. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) ar… Continue Reading

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04.20.23

Sullivan, Murkowski, and Colleagues Introduce FISH Act to Combat Illegal Foreign Seafood Harvest

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today introduced S.1227, the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act, legislation to combat foreign illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by blacklisting offending vessels from U.S. ports and waters, bolstering the U.S. Coast Guard's enforcement capabilities, and advancing international and bilateral negotiations to… Continue Reading