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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
07.18.14
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
