03.26.15

Sens. Murkowski, Sullivan Legislation Honors Former Alaska Gov. Jay Hammond

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today introduced legislation to honor former Alaska Gov. Jay Hammond. The Jay S. Hammond Wilderness Bill would name 2.6 million acres of wilderness in the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve after the former governor. The wilderness area represents 60 percent of the Lake Clark's 4 million acres. "Jay Hammond was one of Alaska's truly great statesmen and a real individual. During his time as governor, Hammond balanced the need to deve… Continue Reading

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03.26.15

Sen. Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Strengthen America’s Mineral Security

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced the American Mineral Security Act of 2015, to prevent future mineral supply shocks and boost the competitiveness of our energy, defense, electronics, medical, and manufacturing industries. "Minerals are critical to every aspect of our daily lives. We rely on them for everything we do and everything we make - from our smallest computer chips to our newest energy technologies to our most advanced defense systems," Murkowski said. "Despite this… Continue Reading

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03.25.15

Murkowski Wins Commitment from Energy Secretary to Attend Arctic Energy Conference in Fairbanks

U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz today committed to Senator Lisa Murkowski that a high-level Department of Energy (DOE) official would travel to Alaska to participate in the Arctic Energy Summit in Fairbanks at the end of September. "It's important for those who set the policy priorities to see for themselves both the opportunity and the need for economic development in the Arctic," Murkowski said. "The region holds great potential but we have to remember that it is also home to tens of t… Continue Reading

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03.25.15

Murkowski: Military Must Receive Consistent Medical Care Amid Potential Changes

Senator Lisa Murkowski today pressed the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Surgeons General for certainty about the medical care available to Alaskan soldiers, airmen and their families as the Pentagon considers various reductions and additions. Given the unique and efficient interconnectedness of the Army and Air Force communities in Interior Alaska and Anchorage - with Army doctors treating airmen and vice versa - Murkowski sought answers about whether any changes in troop levels would diminish the… Continue Reading

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03.24.15

Sen. Murkowski: Federal Government Failing to Manage America’s National Forests

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today criticized the Forest Service and Department of Agriculture for failing to actively manage federal forest lands in Alaska and across the West. Murkowski said the Forest Service's reluctance to issue timber sales has harmed local communities that depend on jobs in the industry and revenue from timber harvests to pay for schools and emergency services. Click to view video "The federal government's failure to manage our nation's federal forests has resu… Continue Reading

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03.24.15

Bipartisan Senate Coalition Introduces Comprehensive Nuclear Waste Legislation

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), today introduced bipartisan legislation to safeguard and permanently dispose of the nation's stockpiles of spent nuclear fuel, which are currently accumulating at separate sites across the country. "Nuclear energy is a vital part of America's energy portfolio and for far too long, the American taxpayer has been on the hook for the federal government's failure to implement… Continue Reading

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03.24.15

Murkowski Congratulates Alaska’s 2015 Cherry Blossom Princess

Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced that she has selected Mimi Troxel of Anchorage to serve as Alaska's representative in the 2015 Cherry Blossom Princess Program. Murkowski is serving as honorary Co-Chair of this year's Congressional Reception with Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), both of whom were state representatives in the past. Mimi is a graduate of West Anchorage High School and is currently a second year student at Georgetown University, majoring in psychology. She volunteers he… Continue Reading

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03.23.15

Sen. Murkowski Urges Action After 60 Minutes Report on Rare Earths

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after 60 Minutes reported on the United States' dependence on China for rare earth elements - and the consequences that could hold for our nation. "I'm grateful that 60 Minutes investigated the depth of America's dependence on China for rare earths, and has now shared that story with its millions of viewers," Murkowski said. "From my perspective, this is not just a matter of what China has done to pull ahead, but what our … Continue Reading

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03.19.15

Sen. Murkowski: Ending Oil Export Ban holds Economic, Geopolitical Benefits for U.S.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today stressed the economic and national security benefits of ending the 1975 federal ban on exporting domestically produced crude oil at a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Click to view video "It's time to reexamine the decades-old ban on crude oil exports and modernize our energy policies," Murkowski said. "Our nation's energy landscape has changed dramatically in the last decade alone. Lifting the export ban and allowing … Continue Reading

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03.18.15

Missile Defense to Murkowski: Long Range Radar a “Must Have”

As the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee conducts its annual reviews of federal agency spending and priorities, Senator Lisa Murkowski today used the appearance of Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Director Admiral James Syring on Capitol Hill to get clarity about Alaska's pre-eminent role in the nation's defense. At a hearing of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, the importance of Alaska's missile fields at Fort Greely were a focal point, along with the Long Range Discrimination Rad… Continue Reading

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03.18.15

Murkowski: Forest Service Failing Alaska Communities

Senator Lisa Murkowski today pressed U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell on the agency's failure to address the needs of Southeast Alaska communities affected by federal forested lands in its 2016 budget request. Click photo for video Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Interior Subcommittee, criticized the Forest Service's commitment to rural communities who depend on revenues from timber activities on federal forested lands. "The Forest Service should manage our forests for… Continue Reading

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03.18.15

Murkowski Has “Dallas Déjà Vu” After Iditarod Repeat

Senator Lisa Murkowski today congratulated Dallas Seavey for his impressive repeat performance in winning his 2nd straight Iditarod Sled Dog Race - and 3rd win in 4 years. Beyond that, today's victory marks the fourth straight win for the Seavey family, and his father Mitch is still on track to be a top finisher, currently placed 2nd. "I want to congratulate Dallas Seavey on demonstrating a wisdom beyond his years out there on the trail, which surely is something he learned from his father, g… Continue Reading

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03.17.15

Murkowski: Premera Blue Cross Cyberattack Raises Wider Issue of Cybersecurity

Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the news that the Premera Blue Cross IT system was hacked into, putting the security of millions of personal records at risk, saying: "Today's news that Premera Blue Cross' information technology system was the target of a cyberattack is a clear indication that the protections for our private information must not only be sophisticated, they must be constantly improving to meet the ever-evolving nature of cyberattacks. "As the Chairman of the Energy Com… Continue Reading

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03.17.15

Sen. Murkowski: Concerns About Electric Reliability Must be taken Seriously as Grid Modernizes

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today said reliability and affordability must remain core considerations as innovation, the deployment of new technologies, and the impact of public policy choices begin to transform the U.S. power system. Advances in technologies, including smart grid and storage, must be carefully integrated as the grid is modernized in order to maintain reliability and avoid unintended consequences, Murkowski, the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committe… Continue Reading

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03.16.15

Murkowski Fighting Federal Government For Fish, Tourism Jobs

Senator Lisa Murkowski and 13 of her U.S. Senate colleagues are urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor to resume accepting and processing H-2B visas for seasonal jobs across Alaska in the fishing, resource and visitor industries. The federal H-2B program allows businesses to hire workers from foreign countries for positions and jobs they have not succeeded at filling with local workers after a given amount of time, as well as workers crucial to Alaska's seafood… Continue Reading

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03.13.15

Murkowski Waging Frankenfish Fight in Senate with New Bill

Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced she is introducing bipartisan legislation cracking down on the potential introduction of Genetically Engineered Salmon, or "Frankenfish." Murkowski's bill is being co-sponsored by Senators Maria Cantwell, Martin Heinrich and Jeff Merkley, and would add two conditions: compulsory labeling of the product if it proceeds to market, and a stringent Environmental Impact Study be done beforehand assessing the potential risks and threats posed by the synthetically… Continue Reading

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03.12.15

Landlocked: Murkowski Explains Alaskans’ Access Frustrations

Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released a video to help broadcast the Alaska #ThisIsOurAlaska movement's agenda to a wider national audience. With Alaskans reeling from the Obama administration's ongoing efforts to block off millions of onshore and offshore acres from energy development, Murkowski produced the two-minute film to speak plainly to Americans who may be unaware of the federal government's costly, ever-growing overreach in Alaska. (Click to view) In the video, Murkowski … Continue Reading

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03.12.15

Sens. Murkowski, Heinrich Stand Together in Advancing the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., today urged their colleagues to support bipartisan legislation that would greatly improve opportunities for hunters, anglers, and outdoors enthusiasts on federal lands. The Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2015 (S. 556) was the subject of a hearing Thursday before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Click picture to view video "For many of us, outdoor activities, including hunting and fishing, are traditions that h… Continue Reading

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03.12.15

Murkowski Works to Protect Alaskans from Flight Fee Hikes

Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced she has joined Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) to introduce legislation to exempt Hawaii, Alaska, and communities that rely on essential air service from a costly increase in air travel fees. The legislation would protect intrastate flights in Alaska and interisland flights in Hawaii from increased air travel fees, which have more than doubled from $2.50 to $5.60 per enplanement. "The aviation fee hike has a disproportionate impact on… Continue Reading

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03.11.15

Murkowski to Army Chief of Staff: “What’s Putin Up to” in Arctic?

Senator Lisa Murkowski today questioned United States Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno about the recent surge in Russian military activity in the Arctic region. In light of the regional volatility and the Pentagon's heightened focus on the Asia-Pacific region, Murkowski questioned the reasoning behind the proposal to potentially draw down troop levels in Alaska - asking Odierno a straightforward question: "What is Mr. Putin up to here?" General Odierno informed Senator Murkowski tha… Continue Reading