04.29.15

Murkowski Blasts EPA on Harmful Budget and Policy Priorities

Senator Lisa Murkowski today pressed Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy about what she and Alaskans consider clear examples of federal government overreach the EPA is engaged in - from its power plant guidelines to the economic "show stopper" presented by the Waters of the United States policy. Towards the close of the lengthy Interior Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Murkowski blasted the EPA on the sheer lack of common sense and understanding of the harmful impact… Continue Reading

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04.29.15

Murkowski: DHS Must “Step It Up” on Arctic Commitment

Senator Lisa Murkowski today questioned Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson on his department's commitment to the Arctic - saying the U.S. is "woefully behind" in Arctic investments. In a Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the DHS budget request for Fiscal Year 2016, Senator Murkowski noted that only $4 million out of a total $41 billion requested was designated for "initial acquisition activities" for a new polar icebreaker. Senator Murkows… Continue Reading

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04.29.15

Nat’l Guard to Murkowski: Military Code “Needed to be Beefed Up” in Alaska

Senator Lisa Murkowski today sought answers from the National Guard Bureau about its investigation into military sexual assault and misbehavior in the Alaska National Guard, asking the official in charge where things stand in terms of policy changes and the guards' readiness levels. At a hearing of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Murkowski leveraged the appearance of National Guard Bureau Chief General Frank Grass to follow up on the investigation done by the Office of Complex I… Continue Reading

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04.28.15

Sen. Murkowski Announces $11.7 Million in Secure Rural Schools Payments

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today welcomed the announcement by the U.S. Forest Service that Alaskan communities will receive nearly $11.7 million to support local schools and roads as part of Congress' two-year reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS). "Until we agree to return to actively managing our national forests to support jobs and economic activity, we owe the effected communities a way to pay for public services that are typically pai… Continue Reading

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04.23.15

Murkowski: ALS Fight Gets Win for Those Battling Disease

Senator Lisa Murkowski today expressed heartfelt gratitude for her Senate colleagues' support in unanimously passing the Steve Gleason Act of 2015 that will improve access to speech generating devices (SGDs) for Americans living with Lou Gehrig's Disease. Since many suffering from the disease lose the ability to talk - a devastating impact for patients and their loved ones - SGDs are a tool to communicate and help maintain more independent lives. "We must use every tool in our toolbox to help … Continue Reading

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04.23.15

Murkowski Votes Against AG Nominee Loretta Lynch

Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against advancing the nomination of Attorney General candidate Loretta Lynch, and detailed her reasoning for Alaskans afterwards: "I voted against advancing Loretta Lynch's nomination through the cloture vote this morning, and I will oppose it in the final vote this afternoon. "When considering a nominee for Attorney General I'm looking for someone who will champion our civil liberties against government infringement, vigorously defend the Second Amendment ri… Continue Reading

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04.23.15

163 Members of Congress Urge Admin. to Increase Energy Production in Outer Continental Shelf

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, along with Sens. Tim Scott, R-S.C., Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, today led 159 of their Senate and House colleagues in urging Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to increase access to the energy resources on our nation's outer continental shelf (OCS). The bicameral letter comes in response to the administration's draft 2017-2022 f… Continue Reading

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04.22.15

Murkowski: “Sex Trafficking is 21st Century Slavery,” Must Be Abolished

Senator Lisa Murkowski today cast her vote for the bipartisan Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act that would enhance protections for victims of sexual trafficking. The bill - which passed 99-0 - contains provisions that will crack down equally on both buyers and sellers of prostitution, as well as allocate criminal fines and penalties towards victim rehabilitation programs to restore the lives of those caught in the middle. "In Alaska, the sex trafficking trade leaves seen and unseen scars… Continue Reading

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04.21.15

Sen. Murkowski Applauds House Action to Approve Energy Efficiency Legislation

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded action taken by the House to approve, by voice vote, energy efficiency legislation authored by Sens. Portman, R-Ohio, and Shaheen, D-N.H. The Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 would promote increased energy efficiency for grid enabled water heaters and in buildings and is now on its way to President Obama for his signature. "The House's action today sends a strong signal that increasing energy efficiency is a bipartisan issue that ena… Continue Reading

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04.21.15

Murkowski: Veterans Are People, not Numbers

Senator Lisa Murkowski today reminded U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald that while he works to cut the backlog of cases and make the care system more efficient, not to lose sight of the impact of personal care with patients. Given the VA's nationwide goal of fixing its difficulties in retaining staff, she told McDonald that such a human focus would improve the overall work environment at VA centers nationwide. That exchange was part of a conversation in the Senate M… Continue Reading

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04.20.15

Sen. Murkowski Calls for Lifting Prohibition on Crude Oil Exports

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced plans to introduce legislation this year to end the 40-year-old ban on exporting domestic crude oil production. In her keynote address to national and international energy leaders at the 34th annual CERAWeek, Murkowski also underscored her efforts to increase access to America's natural energy resources, including those in her home state of Alaska, and to secure America's place in "Energy's New World." "America has entered an era of energy … Continue Reading

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04.20.15

Closure, At Last – Murkowski Applauds DoD Decision to Identify Remains of WWII Pearl Harbor Victims

Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the news that the Department of Defense has decided that remains of 388 unaccounted-for victims of the USS OKLAHOMA at Pearl Harbor will be exhumed for identification where possible, in order for families to give their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers a proper burial. Now that 21st century technology exists that can determine the identity of many of these fallen sailors and Marines, the remains will be transferred to the Defense POW/MIA Accounti… Continue Reading

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04.17.15

Murkowski Educational Efforts Empower Teachers, Students Through Major Legislation

Senator Lisa Murkowski successfully worked with her Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee colleagues this week to finalize and unanimously pass (22-0) the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 out of committee and send it to the Senate floor for debate. The bill - an attempt to undo the many harmful impacts of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) bill - restores major decisions and oversight of the educational system back to the state and local level and allows greater flexibility … Continue Reading

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04.15.15

Murkowski Presses Military on North Korea Nuclear Threat

Though recent Congressional debate has been focused on the future nuclear ambitions of Iran, Senator Lisa Murkowski reminded her Senate colleagues today of the clear and present danger posed by North Korea - which is now capable of mounting a nuclear warhead on a missile with potential range to hit the U.S. In a hearing of the Defense Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, Murkowski questioned top military officials on the current status of this threat and whether Alaska - and Ameri… Continue Reading

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04.14.15

Murkowski: Medicare Fix, Secure Rural Schools Extension a “Win-Win” for Alaska

Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted for H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act that would reform how doctors are paid under Medicare and provide a two-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools program. The bill passed the U.S. Senate 92-8. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2 by an overwhelming vote of 392 to 37, so it now heads to the President's desk. The legislation avoids a potential 21 percent reimbursement rate reduction to Medicare providers, by replacing the pr… Continue Reading

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04.14.15

Sen. Murkowski Applauds House Efforts to Highlight Importance of Crude Oil Exports

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the House Foreign Affairs Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee's decision to hold a hearing on the importance of ending the 40-year-old prohibition on exporting crude oil from the United States. "I applaud House members for continuing to shine a spotlight on the security and economic benefits that will accrue to America by allowing crude oil to be freely traded on the world market," Murkowski said. "Today's hearing marks the eigh… Continue Reading

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04.14.15

AK Delegation: F-16s to Stay Put Because “America Needs Eielson”

Alaska's Congressional Delegation received good news today, as U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah James called each of them to announce that the F-16 Aggressor Squadron will remain at Eielson Air Force Base for the long-term future. When the U.S. Air Force announced that Eielson was the preferred location for two squadrons of F-35s, it began a nationwide review of whether the F-16s should stay there after the arrival of the F-35s or be considered for moves to either Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardso… Continue Reading

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04.02.15

Murkowski Responds to Tentative Iran Nuclear Deal

Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the news that the United States and Iran have reached a tentative nuclear agreement, saying: "Regardless of whether this proves to be a good deal or a bad one, today's agreement must be presented to Congress for consideration. My support for Senator Corker's bipartisan legislation that requires the President do just that before relieving sanctions remains rock solid. The President must acknowledge Congress' legitimate role in this process and resist the… Continue Reading

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04.01.15

Sen. Murkowski: Alaska Must Have a Say in Federal Offshore Leasing Program

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, criticized the Obama administration's lack of consultation with Alaska in developing its draft 2017-2022 outer continental shelf (OCS) oil and natural gas leasing program (DPP) for Alaska in comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). "The fact that the president's moratorium withdrawing some 9.8 million acres of waters off Alaska's coast, including the Hanna Shoal, identified in the draft program as a potential deferral, was released to the pub… Continue Reading

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03.27.15

Murkowski: Senate Budget Gets U.S. “Back on Track”

Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted for the Senate Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 11) that will balance the budget within ten years without raising taxes, while also boosting the nation's economic growth by $500 billion over the next decade, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. She explained her vote afterwards, saying: "Today the Senate passed an important budget resolution that represents a turning point in our nation's fiscal path. The President's budget request for … Continue Reading