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 Votes to End Overreaching NSA Surveillance Tactics
Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted to consider the bipartisan USA Freedom Act that she co-sponsored to end bulk collection of phone records without probable cause and require greater oversight, transparency, and accountability with respect to domestic surveillance authorities. She shared her reasoning afterwards: "The government's surveillance efforts need to be seriously rethought. While I understand the new reality we face against a complicated terrorist network, I believe American lives a… Continue Reading
05.22.15
Murkowski, Sullivan Bill Would Ensure Tribal Funding Program Stays Streamlined
Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan have introduced legislation to strengthen Public Law 102-477 (referred to as the 477 program) by making its beneficial, streamlined process permanent - while also expanding its reach to more participating federal agencies. Almost $110 million is funded through 477 plans on an annual basis in 18 states throughout the nation. In Alaska, eleven regional tribal organizations participate in the tribal 477 program. 477 programs were created in 1992 to allow t… Continue Reading
05.22.15
Alaska Delegation Welcomes News of Long Range Discrimination Radar Siting at Clear Air Force Station
Alaska's Congressional Delegation today welcomed a major benchmark in Alaska's military infrastructure presence, as the Pentagon informed them that Clear Air Force Station in Anderson has been proposed to be the future site of the Missile Defense Agency's long range discrimination radar system (LRDR). The system - which is reported to be valued at $940 million worth of technology, hardware and on-site construction - will utilize cutting edge and proven 21st century technology to identify and tr… Continue Reading
05.22.15
Murkowski Announces Public Schedule for Memorial Day State Work Period
Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced that she is traveling to Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley and Fairbanks during the Memorial Day work period and will be available for media opportunities at a number of events. Among her public events will be a public roundtable session in Anchorage on Thursday, bringing together federal officials from the Department of Interior and Department of Energy to walk through the permitting process for Alaska LNG projects. Following are the details of Senator Murkow… Continue Reading
05.22.15
Murkowski Hosting Federal Roundtable on LNG Path Forward
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, will host a roundtable discussion in Anchorage on Thursday on the federal processes for permitting an Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project. The event will include a public discussion between senior energy officials from the relevant federal agencies about key federal permits, processes and opportunities related to an LNG export project in Alaska. Attendees will include Deputy Secretary of Ene… Continue Reading
05.21.15
Murkowski Efforts Promote Alaska Ports, Harbors and Roads
Senator Lisa Murkowski today succeeded in leveraging her position on the Energy and Waters Appropriations Subcommittee to deliver resources in the 2016 funding bill that will initiate or maintain infrastructure projects in Alaska. The appropriations bill, which passed the full Senate Appropriations Committee today, will fund studies, research, port projects and energy innovations that will boost Alaska's economy. "Infrastructure is the circulatory system of our state, and it sustains our com… Continue Reading
05.21.15
Murkowski: Military Construction, VA Approps Bill Spotlights Alaskan Prominence, Priorities
Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted for the 2016 Military Construction/Veterans Affairs appropriations bill as it successfully passed out of the full Appropriations Committee. The bill, which allocates federal resources to construction and upkeep efforts at military installations across the country as well as the nationwide VA system, contains a number of priorities advocated by Murkowski for Alaska in the subcommittee negotiations. "Alaska is the tip of the spear as we face troubling behavior… Continue Reading
05.20.15
Murkowski Lauds Commerce Committee Passage of Anti-Pirate Fishing Bill
Senator Lisa Murkowski today commended the Senate Commerce Committee for unanimously passing the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) Enforcement Act out of committee. The bill was introduced by Senator Murkowski Lisa and Senator Dan Sullivan last week to step up the crackdown of IUU fishing, and she had the following remarks afterwards: "I thank my Senate colleagues in the Commerce Committee for recognizing the importance of this legislation and expeditiously passing it out of … Continue Reading
05.19.15
Murkowski, Cantwell Bill Authorizes Construction of Six Heavy Icebreakers
Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced the bipartisan Icebreaker Recapitalization Act with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) that would authorize the U.S. Navy to construct up to 6 heavy icebreakers. The new icebreakers would be designed and operated by the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is the sole service responsible for icebreaking missions. "As an Arctic nation, America must be a global leader towards an Arctic future as this dynamic region opens up to new opportunities; by contrast, countries… Continue Reading
05.19.15
Sen. Murkowski Highlights Alaska’s Diverse Energy Supplies
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today stressed the importance of developing Alaska's diverse energy resources - from traditional fossil fuel production to hydropower, biomass, ocean and river energy, wind, and other renewable resources - while ensuring that Alaskans share in the economic benefits of offshore oil and natural gas production. Click to view video "It is in our national interest to make energy abundant, affordable, clean, diverse and secure. Today's hearing - like the bill we… Continue Reading
05.15.15
Murkowski, Sullivan Fighting Pirate Fishing
Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan have introduced legislation to combat the multi-billion dollar threat posed by illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities harming U.S. fisheries and fishermen's livelihoods. This legislation will increase enforcement capabilities for a number of international fishery agreements that combat IUU fishing, protecting Alaskan fisheries and fisheries across the entire United States. "Our bill is a critical next step toward implementing the IU… Continue Reading
05.15.15
Murkowski, in Seattle, Stands Up for Arctic Development
Senator Lisa Murkowski today highlighted the close economic ties between Alaska and Puget Sound during a speech to the Alaska Business Forum at the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. The Seattle Chamber has estimated that Alaska contributes billions of dollars in economic activity and supports thousands of jobs in Washington's Puget Sound region. "When Alaska does well, so does Puget Sound. That's no secret, but it underscores why we should be rooting for each other and looking for places where we ca… Continue Reading
05.15.15
Murkowski: Hmong “Stealth Heroes” Deserve Final Resting Place They Earned
Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced bipartisan legislation this week to honor America's dedicated Vietnam War-era allies: the Hmong Veterans' Service Recognition Act. The bill would allow members of the Hmong Special Guerilla Unit (SGU) who conducted support missions for American forces during Vietnam to be buried in national cemeteries. 6,000 Hmong-Americans - including a sizeable number living in Alaska - are veterans who put their lives on the line alongside Americans, and Murkowski has adv… Continue Reading
05.14.15
Murkowski Touts UAF’s Leadership in Unmanned Aerial Systems
Senator Lisa Murkowski today congratulated the University of Alaska Fairbanks for being selected as a partner in the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) - a national coalition of universities pioneering unmanned aerial systems (UAS's). At a ceremony held in on Capitol Hill, Murkowski spoke of the "game changing" opportunities that UAS's present for Arctic research and development. Joined by UAF officials, Federal Aviation Administration head Michael Huerta an… Continue Reading
05.13.15
Murkowski Rails Against New BLM Land Blocks in Alaska
Senator Lisa Murkowski today told the head of the Bureau of Land Management that Alaskans are "feeling burned" by his agency steadily withdrawing more and more land from Alaskans for potential development. The far-reaching impacts of the Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) designation - like the BLM proposing to block nearly 700,000 acres to mining within Interior Alaska's Fortymile District - and the recently-introduced Bering Sea-Western Interior Area Plan are in defiance of the "No… Continue Reading
05.13.15
Young, Murkowski Propose Bicameral Legislation to Spur Future Development of Point Spencer
Alaskan Congressman Don Young and Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced bicameral legislation to streamline future infrastructure development and potential uses of Point Spencer, Alaska by calling for the conveyance of approximately 2,500 acres of federal lands to local, state and federal stakeholders. The bill, the Point Spencer Land Conveyance Act, would establish a public-private partnership in an effort to bring timely development to Alaska's Seward Peninsula. Among stakeholders, the U.S.… Continue Reading
05.13.15
Bipartisan Senate Coalition Introduces Bill to End Ban on Crude Oil Exports
U.S. Sens Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., along with 11 of their Senate colleagues today introduced the Energy Supply and Distribution Act of 2015 (S.1312). This bipartisan legislation would modernize federal energy policy by ending the outdated ban on crude oil exports. Murkowski and Heitkamp were joined by Sens. Hoeven, R-N.D., Barrasso, R-Wyo., McCain, R-Ariz., Corker, R-Tenn., Alexander, R-Tenn., Risch, R-Idaho, Flake, R-Ariz., Capito, R-W.Va., Inhofe, R-Okla., Rubio,… Continue Reading
05.12.15
Murkowski Defending Alaska-Caught Pollock Against Inferior Russian Product
Senator Lisa Murkowski today reached out to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reasserting her push to change the legal market name of Alaska-caught pollock simply to "pollock." The change would allow Alaskan-caught pollock to be differentiated by region and better distinguish the fish harvested in Alaskan waters from inferior Russian pollock passing itself off as "Alaskan pollock" in stores nationwide. Currently, Russian-caught pollock is capitalizing on Alaska's world-famous reputation fo… Continue Reading
05.12.15
Sen. Murkowski Introduces Bill to Increase Alaska’s Share of Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Revenues
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, took an aggressive step today to ensure that Alaska receives its fair share of revenue from oil and natural gas production on Alaska's outer continental shelf (OCS) by introducing the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Lease Sale Act (S. 1278). "Alaska's natural resources are vital to our prosperity" Murkowski said. "With exploration proceeding in the Chukchi, and the Alaska offshore emerging as a key part of our national energy security, it is critical that we e… Continue Reading
05.12.15
Murkowski: Mineral Security Must Be a National Priority
U.S. Sen Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, stressed the importance of strengthening our nation's mineral security at today's Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's hearing on S. 883, the American Mineral Security Act of 2015. The legislation, authored by Murkowski, would revitalize the United States' minerals supply chain and help reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers. Click to view video "We have a real problem on our hands, as a result of our nation's borderline-insidious reliance on … Continue Reading
