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 Welcomes Jenna Mason to Communications Team
Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced Jenna Mason has joined her Washington, DC office as her new Press Assistant. "Jenna will be a tremendous asset to my communications team," Murkowski said, "As an Alaskan transplanted to the East Coast, she brings a unique perspective to my D.C. staff, and will help keep Alaskans up-to-date on the political issues that affect our state. The federal government has an oversized presence in our state, and Alaskans' interest in the federal government is unders… Continue Reading
06.09.14
Murkowski Responds to Tribal Voting Access Plan
Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the Department of Justice plan to increase voting access for Alaska Natives and American Indians, saying: "I welcome the commitment of the Department of Justice to engage with tribal governments to improve voting access in our Nation's tribal communities. Through better communication, obstacles to casting a ballot can be identified and addressed. The right to vote is fundamental, and all Americans must be able to exercise this right."… Continue Reading
06.06.14
Murkowski Commemorates America’s D-Day Success, Recalls Alaska’s Largely Unwritten WWII Past
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today reflected on the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day military maneuver, while reminding Alaskans of the attacks on American soil at Dutch Harbor that were also commemorated this week. (Click to watch Senator Murkowski's message for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day.) "Earlier this week, Alaska remembered the 72nd anniversary of our state being attacked by Japanese planes. On June third and fourth of 1942, Japanese bombers took aim at Dutch Harbor and the Ma… Continue Reading
06.05.14
Sen. Murkowski: EPA Power Plant Rule Threatens Reliability of Electricity Grid
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today said the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) unilateral effort to bypass Congress and impose climate regulations on the economy threatens the reliability and affordability of the U.S. power system. (Click for video of Murkowski floor speech) Murkowski, the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, made her comments Thursday afternoon on the floor of the U.S. Senate. The full text of her speech is be… Continue Reading
06.05.14
Murkowski’s Work Bolstering Alaska Fisheries Sustainability and Alaska, Arctic Nautical Needs Passes Appropriations Committee
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate Appropriations Committee today passed the Commerce, Justice and Science 2015 funding bill containing several provisions written by Senator Lisa Murkowski - and included by her in the final funding legislation released Monday - to improve and maintain Alaska's world class fisheries, Arctic navigation, tsunami debris and other priorities for the state's federal waters. The legislation passed today now heads to the United States Senate for final approval. "It is critic… Continue Reading
06.02.14
Murkowski Secures Funds for Alaska Fisheries Sustainability through Approps Efforts
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science has finalized its 2015 bill which includes the strong funding for fisheries management requested by Senator Lisa Murkowski. "It is critical that fisheries managers in Alaska have the resources necessary to conduct the stock assessments and surveys they need to set quotas that ensure our wild, abundant fisheries remain sustainably managed." The funding in this bill supports the North Pacific Council, the Pacific Salmon Comm… Continue Reading
06.02.14
Murkowski Seeking to Protect Safety Officers in Funding Bill
With Alaskans still coming to terms with the loss of two Alaska State Troopers in the line of duty, Senator Lisa Murkowski today inserted language in the 2015 Commerce, Justice and Science funding bill to have the Department of Justice evaluate a nationwide "Blue Alert" system to alert the public when law enforcement officers are killed or injured in the line of duty. "We owe our law enforcement our respect and support, including protection from potential harm," said Murkowski. "A 'Blue Alert'… Continue Reading
05.31.14
Murkowski Comments on Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl’s Release
Senator Lisa Murkowski today shared the following thought with the news that Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl - stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson - was released today after months of negotiations: "On behalf of the Alaskan community and a grateful nation, I am proud to welcome Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl back to his brothers and sisters in uniform - and also to his family and friends who have held out hope while dealing with sleepless nights for all these years. "With Sergeant Bergdahl stationed a… Continue Reading
05.30.14
Murkowski: Alaska to Keep Territorial Records
Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the news from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) that NARA will transfer approximately 92 percent of its Territorial Court Records holdings to the Alaska State Archives. These are records that pre-date statehood and include court proceedings; birth, death and marriage records; mining and other property records; and more. "Alaska's Territorial Court Records reveal part of the fabric of our state's history, and should not be ripped out o… Continue Reading
05.30.14
Murkowski Responds to Shinseki Resignation
Senator Lisa Murkowski today had the following response to the news that VA Secretary General Eric Shinseki offered his resignation to President Obama, and it was accepted: "No one can question General Eric Shinseki's service to our nation or his patriotism. However, it is fair to ask how entrenched the system-wide bureaucratic problems are that General Shinseki inherited and how best to push to the VA into a more transparent and effective era. "From our state's vantage point, Secretary Shins… Continue Reading
05.28.14
Murkowski Announces Public Schedule for Dillingham, Togiak and New Stuyahok
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced her public schedule for the remainder of the Memorial Day Senate work period. Following are details of public events: DILLINGHAM WHEN: Thursday, May 29th - 7:00pm WHAT: Town Hall Meeting WHERE: Dillingham Elementary School Gym 711 Seward Street TOGIAK WHEN: Friday, May 30th - 10:30am WHAT: Togiak Community Meeting (and Lunch Afterwards) WHERE: Togiak Seafood Plant NEW STUYAHOK WHEN: Friday, May 30th -- 4:00pm WHAT: Communit… Continue Reading
05.23.14
With Archives Digitizing, Alaskans to Get Say in Prioritizing
Senator Lisa Murkowski welcomes the news from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) that it will listen to Alaskans' opinions about which historical records should be digitized first after the physical documents are moved to the NARA facilities in Seattle. The deadline for Alaskans to offer their views is June 10th. Alaskans can see what records NARA currently has stored in Anchorage at http://blogs.archives.gov/online-public-access. "While I continue to have unanswered ques… Continue Reading
05.23.14
Navy Commander Reminds Alaskans of the Toll of Service
WASHINGTON, DC -On this Memorial Day weekend, Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 23rd Veteran Spotlight interview, focusing on the military service of Sterling resident Commander William Howell Jr., a veteran of the United States Navy. During his 20 year carrier, Howell served on submarines across the country and around the world during the Cold War, the First Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During his Veteran Spotlight interview, Bill Howell recalls following in his father… Continue Reading
05.22.14
Murkowski Committee Efforts Aid Alaska’s Veterans
The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved a number of Senator Murkowski's priorities for Alaska's more than 77,000 veterans passed through the Senate Appropriations Committee. The language she secured in the Fiscal Year 2015 Military Construction/Veterans Affairs funding bill would address both new concerns like the understaffing of the Mat-Su VA outpatient clinic and lingering concerns over delivering "Care Close to Home" for Alaska's military community. "Alaska embraces and apprecia… Continue Reading
05.22.14
Murkowski Deep Draft Arctic Port Amendment Passed by Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski's innovative provision to allow for development partnerships to finance an Arctic Deep Draft Port passed the Senate today and is headed to the President's desk for a signature. The port infrastructure language was a component of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill, which also includes Murkowski priorities to support rural and subsistence harbors throughout the state and transfer land from the federal government to the City of Seward that wi… Continue Reading
05.22.14
Happy Birthday, Senator! Murkowski’s Frankenfish Labeling Amendment Wins in Committee
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today received a memorable birthday present: Senate Appropriations Committee approval of her amendment requiring that genetically-engineered salmon be labeled if the Food and Drug Administration makes the "wrong-headed" decision to approve it. After Murkowski's lengthy defense and explanation of the need for her amendment and the risks posed by GE salmon, the Senate Committee approved it via voice vote and it will now be in the Senate version of the 2015 … Continue Reading
05.21.14
Murkowski Bill Steps Up Efforts to Protect Military Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski has introduced the DoD Suicide Tracking Act of 2014 to fully inform the Pentagon's strategy in responding to the high number of suicides among the military ranks and their family members as the nation attempts to wind down its efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. This comes on the heels of Murkowski's co-sponsorship of the Suicide Prevention for America's Veterans Act of 2014 (the SAV Act), an effort to increase access to care for veterans and eliminate red… Continue Reading
05.20.14
Murkowski Welcomes Funding to Elevate Galena Homes
Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the news that the Yukon River town of Galena - ravaged by floods last year - will be receiving over $2.65 million in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to elevate 16-17 homes to a safer height. These funds derive from FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, a pool of funds that are made available to all states following a Presidential major disaster declaration. Though Murkowski still has many questions remaining to be answered by F… Continue Reading
05.19.14
Murkowski: Government Report Says America’s Arctic Focus Lacking
With the Government Accountability Office (GAO) releasing a breakthrough 74 page study confirming Alaskans' suspicions of the nation's anemic engagement in the Arctic region, Senator Lisa Murkowski joined a number of her Congressional colleagues in calling attention to the need for more action at this juncture. Tied to America's impending role as Chair of the Arctic Council, the GAO report is entitled "Better Direction and Management of Voluntary Recommendations Could Enhance U.S. Arctic Counci… Continue Reading
05.16.14
Alaska Delegation Responds to News of NARA Closure
The Alaska delegation expressed disappointment today with the news that the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) intends to close the Anchorage facility on June 20. "I am incredibly disappointed by NARA's decision and still do not understand what their plan is or what the rush is," said Senator Lisa Murkowski. "They say they are closing the facility by September 30th, but shutting down the research room three months before that - denying interested Alaskans time to visit the bu… Continue Reading
