08.26.14

Alaska Delegation: U.S. Should Push Back Against Russian Seafood Boycott

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska's Congressional Delegation today reached out to the White House, encouraging strong and immediate action from the administration to respond to Russia's boycott of American food imports, including seafood. In a letter (attached) to the White House, Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich and Congressman Don Young suggest America increase the intensity of its negotiations with Russia, and if needed, that the nation respond with a ban on Russian seafood imports They writ… Continue Reading

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08.21.14

Murkowski: Obama Administration’s Bergdahl Transfer Broke Law, According to Independent Report

ANCHORAGE, AK - Senator Lisa Murkowski today shared the findings of a U.S. Government Accountability Office legal opinion into the administration's controversial negotiations with the Taliban for the release of Bowe Bergdahl. The GAO inquiry - done at her and a number of her U.S. Senate colleagues' request - found that the Obama Administration broke federal law when the Pentagon swapped five high-risk Taliban members from Guantanamo Bay for the release of Bergdahl without providing advance noti… Continue Reading

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08.07.14

Murkowski Lauds F-35 Preliminary Basing Decision for Eielson

Senator Lisa Murkowski today greeted the news from the United States Air Force that Eielson Air Force Base has been judged to be a "Preferred" base for two squadrons of F-35 II Lightning aircraft. During a conversation with the Alaska Delegation, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said that an environmental impact analysis process would now begin, that will result in an Environmental Impact Statement -- with a Record of Decision expected to be made publicly in the fall of 2015. (Mu… Continue Reading

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08.01.14

Murkowski Announces Results of Interior Funding Negotiations, Funding Bill to Strengthen Alaska’s Tribes, Lands and Parks

Senator Lisa Murkowski is proud to share the results of her negotiations with Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) through the release of today's draft fiscal year 2015 Senate Interior Appropriations bill. With the Department of the Interior managing a majority of Alaska's lands, forests and waters - in addition to providing oversight of many services and programs for Alaska Natives and tribes - this bill has a significant impact to Alaska. (Click image to vi… Continue Reading

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08.01.14

Murkowski Votes for VA Reform Bill, Calls it a “First Step”

Senator Lisa Murkowski today cast her vote in favor of the Veterans Access to Care Act, saying: The Veterans Administration's mission is a promise to the men and women who put their lives on the line around the world for our defense, and it's a simple promise that we will look after them in their times of medical need. Red tape and systemic failures cannot stand between our veterans and the care they have earned. I am voting for this bill because it represents a critical beginning to reform… Continue Reading

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07.31.14

Murkowski Votes Against Advancing Emergency Supplemental Bill

Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against advancing to a final vote on S.2648, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill that would sent $2.7 billion to address the complicated surge at the southern border of unaccompanied minors: "This emergency supplemental bill to address the border crisis had no opportunity for amendments. While not quite a blank check, it mostly throws money at a problem without addressing the root causes or dealing with any real reforms when thoughtful proposals fr… Continue Reading

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07.31.14

Sen. Murkowski Applauds Shell Offer to ASRC of Equity Stake in Chukchi Sea

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the joint-venture agreement between Shell Oil and Arctic Inupiat Offshore (AIO) - a new company formed by Arctic Slope Regional Corporation with several North Slope native village corporations - which gives native-owned AIO the option to acquire a working interest in Chukchi Sea oil and gas development. "Shell's decision to invest in the future of the region and its people should be applauded," Murkowski said. "This announcement ensures that … Continue Reading

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07.31.14

Murkowski to McDonald’s: Alaska’s Fisheries Are Protected, Sustainable

Senator Lisa Murkowski today reached out to the President and CEO of McDonald's, urging him to ignore an anti-fishing campaign from Greenpeace that is attempting to shut down one of the most sustainably managed fisheries in the world. Murkowski cites McDonald's own website and promotional materials touting the company's support for Alaska Pollock sourced from a "wild-caught and sustainable fishery." (McDonald's own website stresses the superiority of the Bering Sea fishery.) For years, G… Continue Reading

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07.31.14

Murkowski Votes Against “Déjà Vu Messaging” Bill

Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against proceeding to S.2569, the Bring Jobs Back to America bill, which is identical to legislation introduced by Democrats and that also failed in 2012. Murkowski shared her reasoning with Alaskans: "If you want to have a productive and responsible conversation about creating jobs and simplifying our tax code, you can count me in. But to cut-and-paste a failed bill without making any changes or without considering Republican amendments to improve it and mak… Continue Reading

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07.30.14

Murkowski: Lessons of Galena Need to Be Learned Nationwide

Senator Lisa Murkowski today used the example of the devastating Galena flood last year to illustrate the dysfunction within the federal government when it comes to addressing natural disasters in Native communities. A Federal Emergency Management Agency official who testified before Murkowski acknowledged that the agency "hasn't been the best at learning our lessons," though the Senator remained unconvinced they were tapping into local knowledge in an effective way to handle rural responses. … Continue Reading

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07.30.14

Murkowski Stresses Urgency in Support of Native Languages Immersion

Senator Lisa Murkowski today spoke before the National Indian Education Association - pledging her support for native language immersion programs across the country. Murkowski committed to work with her colleagues to advance two bills currently before the United States Senate: S.1948, the Native Language Immersion Student Achievement Act, and S.2299, a bill to amend the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to reauthorize a provision to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native Americ… Continue Reading

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07.29.14

Murkowski Votes to Confirm New VA Secretary

Senator Lisa Murkowski today cast her vote for former Proctor & Gamble CEO and West Point graduate Robert McDonald to be the new Secretary of the Veterans Administration, saying: "The Veterans Administration is at a critical juncture in its mission to deliver the needed care that men and women have earned through serving our nation, in some of the most dangerous parts of the world. Red tape and systemic failures should not come between our veterans and care. "I voted to confirm Robert McD… Continue Reading

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07.29.14

Murkowski Meets with Admiral Robert J. Papp, Discusses His Rise from Adak Service to Arctic Representative

Senator Lisa Murkowski today met with the United States' first Special Representative to the Arctic, Admiral Robert J. Papp. Papp, who was named to the position less than two weeks ago, sat down with Senator Murkowski in one of his first official visits in his new capacity. Murkowski and Papp talked about his initial priorities as he begins guiding Arctic policy, as well as next steps as he broadens his knowledge base beyond what he learned during his extensive career in the Coast Guard. Afte… Continue Reading

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07.25.14

Alaska’s Congressional Delegation Wishes Success to This Year’s Service Academy Appointees

ANCHORAGE, AK - Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Mark Begich and Representative Don Young issued the following statement of appreciation today for the young Alaskans who have been nominated for and accepted to the nation's top military academies. "We commend this outstanding group of young Alaskans for their patriotism and commitment to service to this great nation. Although Alaska is a young state, we have a tradition of producing outstanding leaders. We are confident that this group of remar… Continue Reading

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07.24.14

Murkowski Continues Fight for Access to Alaska’s History

Senator Lisa Murkowski's request to include language in the Fiscal Year 2015 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill has been accepted by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee. The language requires the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to provide details within 90 days of the bill's passage on its plans to digitize Alaska's archival records. It also requires NARA to seriously consider any requests to transfer records to the Alaska State Archives or other… Continue Reading

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07.23.14

Murkowski Urges Relief from FEMA Red Tape for Juneau Development

Senator Lisa Murkowski today reminded the Federal Emergency Management Agency of Alaska's concerns with the "illogical" and "incorrect" methods being used to determine the flood risk of private homes. During a Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Murkowski also stressed how one-size-fits-all FEMA regulations are chilling economic development in Juneau, by including protected shoreline in a category meant to apply to at-risk coastal cities. Juneau Mapping and Developmen… Continue Reading

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07.22.14

Murkowski Applauds Signing of Jobs Bill

Senator Lisa Murkowski issued the following statement in response to President Obama's signing of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a measure that she co-sponsored: "The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is a step in the right direction in terms of getting our economy back on track and improving job prospects for those who have been deterred by this stagnant economy. By supporting more employment training programs nationwide, we are investing in America's future. T… Continue Reading

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07.21.14

Murkowski’s 10,000th Book Donation Honors Longtime Anchorage Librarian

Senator Lisa Murkowski is proud to announce that she has now donated over 10,000 books to Alaskan schools, libraries, tribes and other non-profit agencies through a partnership with the Library of Congress. The program donates excess unused books nationwide to non-profit entities, and Murkowski has leveraged it to deliver books statewide - including to replace books stolen or damaged in Togiak in 2011. Aesop's Fables was the 10,000th book and part of a larger donation to Chester Valley Element… Continue Reading

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07.21.14

Murkowski Comments on EPA Restrictions on Bristol Bay Watershed

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed restrictions on possible economic development activity on state-owned lands in Alaska's Bristol Bay region: "The EPA is being disingenuous in saying that this decision is only going to impact mining in a particular area of Alaska," Murkowski said. "The EPA is setting a precedent that strips Alaska and all Alaskans of the ability to make decisions on how to develop a health… Continue Reading

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07.18.14

Murkowski Criticizes Latest Health Care Move

In response to the Health and Human Services letter dated 7/16, that United States territories can opt out of many provisions of the Affordable Care Act, Senator Lisa Murkowski issued the following statement: "Here they go again -- after continuing to selectively push the pieces of the flawed health care law to suit their agenda, and offer waivers when convenient, this administration has once again unilaterally changed the law when politically convenient. After years of Territory leaders plea… Continue Reading