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 Nominates Alaska Libraries and Museums for National Honor
Senator Lisa Murkowski announced her nominations for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, a prestigious award for institutions that make significant contributions to their communities. The six Alaskan libraries and museums nominated are: The Anchorage Museum's Dena'inaq' Huch'ulyeshi (The Dena'ina Way of Living) exhibit Haines Library Bethel's Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center Museum Dorothy Page Museum and Historic Town Site (Wasilla) Fairbanks Children's Museum Kenai Com… Continue Reading
07.18.14
Murkowski Locks in Funding to Combat Military ALS
Through her position on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Lisa Murkowski today put the Senate on record that the Defense Department must continue to fund research into causes, treatments, and therapies of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or "Lou Gehrig's Disease." Prior to today, resources to fund ALS research were contained within the multi-million dollar Peer Reviewed Medical Program at the insistence of the House of Representatives. But in negotiations within the Committee he… Continue Reading
07.17.14
Murkowski Works for Alaska Military Pay, Priorities in Committee
Senator Lisa Murkowski today successfully added a number of critical provisions into the 2015 Defense funding bill to improve the Alaska military's ability to save lives and protect the nation, while also lifting troop morale through improvements to their quality of life. Her additional support of military through less tangible means - whether fighting for critical ALS research, keeping commissaries open or delivering high quality nutrition - are reflected in the results of the bill that passed… Continue Reading
07.17.14
Murkowski Introduces Legislation Requiring Congressional Approval of National Monuments
Senator Lisa Murkowski has introduced legislation requiring congressional approval of any new national monument designation considered by the President. The bill, the Improved National Monument Designation Process Act (S. 2608), would block the Obama Administration from unilaterally using the Antiquities Act to lock up millions of acres of public lands and waters. "Alaskans know what happens when the President unilaterally closes millions of acres of public lands - it means a loss of jobs and … Continue Reading
07.16.14
Murkowski Heading to U.S./Mexico Border to Get Questions Answered
Less than a week after she questioned a number of Cabinet officials about the crisis at the U.S./Mexico border, Senator Lisa Murkowski is joining a number of her Congressional colleagues on a trip to the border to see how the situation is unfolding, how federal authorities are responding, and to discuss what federal options should be considered to address the crisis. On Friday, Senator Murkowski and a bipartisan group of members of Congress will travel to the border town of McAllen, Texas, join… Continue Reading
07.16.14
Murkowski: Papp’s Arctic Knowledge “Vast as the Region Itself”
Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the news that Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr - who retired as Commandant of the United States Coast Guard on May 30th - has been named the United States' first Special Representative to the Arctic. The new position will be charged with coordinating and prioritizing America's advancing progress in the Arctic, as well as interacting and cooperating with other Arctic nations in developing a sound strategy for the region. "With a dynamic region like the Arctic, yo… Continue Reading
07.15.14
Murkowski Committee Work Boosts Alaska’s Military Efforts
Senator Lisa Murkowski today spoke at the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee 'markup' of the fiscal year 2015 defense spending bill about a number of critical provisions into the 2015 Defense funding bill she played a role in including to improve the Alaska military's ability to save lives and protect the nation. "We ask a lot of our men and women in uniform, and they deliver day in and day out, so I wanted to see their work respected through big efforts like continuing the Combat Rescue Heli… Continue Reading
07.14.14
Murkowski: “Luck Is No Substitute for National Policy” on Arctic Security
Senator Lisa Murkowski today thanked the United States Coast Guard and the crew of the cutter Healy for their rescue mission of a stranded mariner attempting to sail through the Arctic region, saying: "While I realize that an icebreaker is a high cost item, America needs to step up its investment in the Arctic as the waters there open up to possible travel, economic and military activity. I continue to raise the need for a new icebreaker and the Senate is beginning to understand the importance … Continue Reading
07.10.14
Murkowski Critical of Administration Governing By Crisis
Senator Lisa Murkowski today questioned a number of Cabinet officials about the crisis at the U.S./Mexico border - as tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors are entering the U.S. from Central America - asking why they waited for the slow-motion migration to reach "emergency" status to seek a $3.7 billion increase in funding to combat the problems. At the outset of her questioning, Murkowski noted the gradual rise of the numbers of youth entering the country illegally over the years indicati… Continue Reading
07.10.14
Murkowski “In Awe” of Silver Star Medal Recipient’s Heroism
With his honor ceremony scheduled to be held tomorrow, Senator Lisa Murkowski praised Alaska Air National Guardsman Master Sergeant Roger Sparks for receiving the Silver Star Medal. Sergeant Sparks earned the military's third highest decoration for valor and gallantry while in action against enemy forces in Afghanistan in 2010 during a lifesaving rescue in the face of a fierce and coordinated Taliban assault. Sergeant Sparks will receive his medal on Friday, July 11, 2014 at Joint Base Elmendor… Continue Reading
07.10.14
Sen. Murkowski Applauds Senate Passage of Gull Egg Use Bill
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the unanimous passage in the Senate of the Huna Tlingit Traditional Gull Egg Use Act, a bill championed by Murkowski and Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska. The bill was one of apackage of 16 public lands bills approved Wednesday by the Senate. "Today's passage of the Huna Tlingit Traditional Gull Egg Use Act completes the legislative process we started over three years ago when I first introduced a version of this bill in the Senate," Murkowski said. "… Continue Reading
07.09.14
Murkowski: Open, Fair Amendment Process Essential in Considering Sportsmen’s Package
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today called on Senate Democratic leaders to allow for an open and fair amendment process that permits all members to participate in shaping the Murkowski-Hagan Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act. (Click for video of Sen. Murkowski's comments) "We have to return to regular order. We have to have a fair and healthy debate on legislation, especially legislation that has not gone through the committee process," Murkowski said. "A lot of hard work has gone into … Continue Reading
07.03.14
Murkowski Shares Independence Day Message with Alaskans
Senator Lisa Murkowski today commemorated the 4th of July by sharing her thoughts on the importance of the date with Alaskans: "238 years ago, a group of courageous and brilliant men put their names and fates on the line to ensure that their children and grandchildren - and us, two centuries later - could live in a nation that values the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These were truly revolutionary concepts at the time, and are ideas that we must defend and p… Continue Reading
07.02.14
Murkowski Committee Work Leads to Over 150 Alaskan NPS Jobs
Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the news that 157 Alaskans have gotten National Park Service jobs this year because of the ANILCA Local Hire provision she restored in the 2012 Department of Interior funding bill through her position as top Republican on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. The National Park Service recently informed Murkowski that they are making the best use of her legislative fix to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) - resulting in the hir… Continue Reading
07.02.14
Murkowski’s HAARP Fight Keeps Wrecking Ball Away for a Year
Senator Lisa Murkowski today received official word from the Secretary of the Air Force that the Pentagon is delaying its plans to demolish the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program facility site in Gakona - or 'HAARP' -for another year so that a possible transfer to a university or scientific institution can be explored. This news comes as a result of Murkowski's recent attempts to communicate the important work done by the facility among Pentagon brass, including sharing the favorab… Continue Reading
07.01.14
Murkowski Welcomes Karina Petersen to Communications Team
Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced that Karina Petersen has joined her Anchorage office as the new Communications Director for Alaska. "I am tremendously excited for Karina to join my Communications Team," Murkowski said, "With her deep Alaskan roots, Karina will be a perfect fit in my Anchorage office and bring the information about my work within the federal government with the Alaskans who are impacted. It's clear that Karina sees communications as a vocation, not just a profession. Ala… Continue Reading
07.01.14
Murkowski Gets FedEx to Rethink its Rural P.O. Box Policies
Waiting for days to get prescription drugs. Trips to the post office to find an empty box where your business-critical supplies should be. After hearing these and other rural Alaskans' frustrations about FedEx delivery problems that occur when FedEx hands packages over to the United States Postal Service in Anchorage for the final miles of delivery, Senator Lisa Murkowski's efforts led FedEx CEO to reconsider its protocols. For years, Alaskans who live in post office box only communities have… Continue Reading
06.26.14
Murkowski Works to Improve Summer Nutrition for Thousands of Young Alaskans
Senator Lisa Murkowski joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to introduce S.2527, the Summer Meals Act, to help ensure that fewer young Alaskans in financial need go hungry over the summer. This bipartisan legislation would make it easier for community organizations to feed children through the Summer Food Service Program, which provides free, nutritious meals to children age 18 or younger at approved sites located in areas where at least 50% of the children are low-income. "Each year, too… Continue Reading
06.26.14
Murkowski: World is Expecting Us to “Step it Up” on the Arctic
Senator Murkowski today continued her fierce advocacy for U.S. Arctic awareness and investment in the Senate Appropriations Committee while they considered the 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations Funding Bill. To press her points, Murkowski cited the Coast Guard's 2011 High Latitude Story, which concluded that the U.S. needs three heavy and three medium icebreakers to meet its statutory requirements - and pointed out how far behind the nation is behind other Arctic nations. During the hearin… Continue Reading
06.26.14
Murkowski: Supreme Court Ruling "Slams the Door" on Obama's Unconstitutional Recess Appointments
The United States Supreme Court today unanimously ruled that President Barack Obama's controversial recess appointments are unconstitutional - in what was being called a "a major constitutional test of executive power." Senator Murkowski responded to the ruling, saying: "The President's unilateral, "pen and phone" approach to governing does not work and - in the case of recess appointments - is unconstitutional. This issue is not about partisanship or ideology or even the nominees qualificatio… Continue Reading
