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 Joins Congressional Delegation to Europe Ahead of July NATO Summit in Lithuania
Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), senior member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Chris Coons (D-DE), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) yesterday embarked on a congressional delegation (CODEL) to Lithuania, Norway, and Belgium. The Senators’ visit comes just before Lithuania is set to host a NATO Summit in Vilnius from July 11-12. The Senators’ CODELwill take place from June 22 to June … Continue Reading
06.22.23
Wild USA Seafood: Murkowski Bill Would Label American-Caught Seafood, Support American Fishermen
Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, along with Senator Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) introduced the Wild USA Seafood Act of 2023, which would establish a "Wild USA Seafood" label for wild-harvested seafood caught in U.S. waters. The bill would allow the U.S. seafood industry to promote wild-harvested seafood, including fish, crustaceans, and aquatic plants harvested in U.S. waters. "Alaska's seafood is the best in the world-and I'm proud to lead on this effort that would ensure consumers know th… Continue Reading
06.21.23
Murkowski, Shaheen Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Impose Sanctions on Perpetrators of Global Violence against LGBTI Communities
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in reintroducing the Global Respect Act. This legislation would impose sanctions on foreign individuals responsible for human rights violations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex (LGBTQI) individuals abroad. Companion legislation is led in the House of Representatives by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51). &#… Continue Reading
06.20.23
Murkowski, Sinema & Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Bill Protecting Health & Environment
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) introduced bipartisan legislation with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) supporting the development of innovative technologies that ensure cleaner, healthier, and safer air and environment. The bipartisan Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise (CREATE) Act boosts research and development of carbon removal technologies that advance global sustainability by removing harmful greenho… Continue Reading
06.19.23
Murkowski, Schatz Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Health Care to Veterans Living in Freely Associated States
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) reintroduced legislation to expand health care to veterans living in the freely associated states (FAS), three sovereign nations that have a special and unique relationship with the United States, and whose citizens serve in the U.S. military at some of the highest volunteer rates per capita. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and John Boozman (R-Ark.). “I’ve made it a prio… Continue Reading
06.16.23
Murkowski, Sullivan Applaud $88M Grant to Invest in Broadband Infrastructure for Rural Alaska
Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) applauded the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announcement of a $88.896 million infrastructure grant for Quintillion to build a multi-year subsea broadband project from Nome to Homer, Alaska. Once constructed and online, the Nome to Homer project will provide redundant middle mile backhaul capability for Alaska, creating redundancy and reliability for Alaska's broadband network infrastructure that is … Continue Reading
06.16.23
Alaska Delegation Seeks to Close Loopholes Allowing Russian Access to U.S. Seafood Market
Washington, DC—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) this week introduced the U.S-Russian Federation Seafood Reciprocity Act of 2023, legislation that would impose a comprehensive ban on the import of all Russian-origin seafood products into the United States. Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Representatives Garret Graves (R-La.) and Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska). In March of 2022, President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14068, which p… Continue Reading
06.15.23
Murkowski Welcomes PILT Payments, Over $35 Million to Alaska
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced today that the Department of the Interior is distributing $35.4 million to eligible local governments across Alaska through the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. To help offset the cost of maintaining a variety of community services, the PILT program provides annual payments to local governments in the state that contain federal lands that are not subject to state or local taxation. This revenue supports local governments by providing essential s… Continue Reading
06.15.23
Murkowski Lauds SCOTUS Decision Upholding The Indian Child Welfare Act
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), issued a statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). “In a victory for Native people, the Supreme Court has fully upheld the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act. I applaud the decision and am proud to have co-led the Congressional amicus brief to the Court. I also want to thank those … Continue Reading
06.14.23
DoD Implements Murkowski-Led ‘Free Flight Home’ Program for Alaska Servicemembers
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today applauded the Department of Defense (DoD) implementing the free flight home provision she spearheaded in her Don Young Arctic Warrior Act, which was included in last year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The provision reimburses servicemembers for the cost of one flight to their home of record during a three-year tour to alleviate hardships faced by serving in Alaska. "Servicemembers stationed in Alaska face unique hardships, and the adju… Continue Reading
06.13.23
Murkowski, Sullivan: Alaska to Receive $100 Million More in Infrastructure Funding for High-Speed Internet
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $100.5 million to facilitate and improve access to high-speed internet for Alaskans in rural communities. These awards are possible thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)—and specifically through USDA’s ReConnect Program, which aims to ensure high-speed internet for all communities across the Un… Continue Reading
06.13.23
Murkowski, Senators Reintroduce Legislation To Combat 'Smash-And-Grab'
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined 22 of her colleagues to reintroduce the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act of 2023 to address the unacceptably high number of “smash-and-grab” thefts targeted at federally licensed gun dealers by enhancing penalties for criminals who steal firearms from federally licensed firearms and ammunition dealers. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reported that from 20… Continue Reading
06.12.23
Murkowski, Welch to Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Rural Energy Savings Program, Help Rural Communities Access Energy Upgrades
Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced legislation to reauthorize the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative providing no-interest loans to rural utilities to help communities access cost-effective energy upgrades for homes and businesses. With support from RESP, rural utilities can finance projects to electrify household heating and cooling, increase energy efficiency, and transition to renewable energy. The bil… Continue Reading
06.12.23
Murkowski Statement on DOJ Indictment of Former President Trump
Washington, DC –U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) issued the following statement on the 37-count federal indictment unsealed today against former President Donald Trump: “As I’ve stated before, no one is above the law but every American is innocent until proven guilty. Still, the charges in this case are quite serious and cannot be casually dismissed. Mishandling classified documents is a federal crime because it can expose national secrets, as well as the sources and met… Continue Reading
06.12.23
Senators Murkowski, Warnock, Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Affordable Military Housing Options
.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced a bipartisan bill that will help servicemembers across Georgia, Alaska and the entire country obtain sufficient and affordable housing. The bipartisan Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Restoration Act will help servicemembers and their families make ends meet by restoring the full BAH benefit. In FY2015, Congress changed BAH so that the Department could impose cost-sharing … Continue Reading
06.09.23
Murkowski, Whitehouse Introduce Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act in Honor of Former Congressman
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), co-chairs of the Senate Oceans caucus, with Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joining as original co-sponsors, introduced the Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act (DY VACA), legislation which aims to help support veterans' mental health by giving them the opportunity to reinvest their talent, training, and potential to benefit America's marine environments. Specifically, this legislation creates a new… Continue Reading
06.08.23
Ending an Injustice: Delegation Reintroduces Landless Legislation to Right a Half-Century Wrong
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), today issued statements on legislation that would allow the Alaska Native communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, and Tenakee to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). The delegation's bill, entitled the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation… Continue Reading
06.08.23
Schatz, Murkowski Lead Committee Passage Of Federal Indian Boarding Schools Bill
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, led Committee passage of S.1723, a bill to establish the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States, and for other purposes. The Committee held a legislative hearing on an identical bill last year. “For over a century, the federal government knowingly perpetu… Continue Reading
06.08.23
Murkowski, Klobuchar Reintroduce Bill to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders While Supporting Individuals Living with FASD
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) today reintroduced the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Respect Act of 2023, legislation which reauthorizes programs and funding to aid individuals and families impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. “We must do everything we can to educate on prenatal alcohol exposure and prevent FASD. Too many families in Alaska are impacted by FASD and lack support and interventions services&#… Continue Reading
06.07.23
Senators Murkowski, Coons, Cramer introduce legislation to study global emissions intensity and hold countries with dirty production accountable
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today joined Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) in introducing the bipartisan Providing Reliable, Objective, Verifiable Emissions Intensity and Transparency (PROVE IT) Act which would direct the Department of Energy to conduct a comprehensive study comparing the emissions intensity of certain goods produced in the United States to the emissions of those same goods produced in the other countries. U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Mart… Continue Reading
