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.
AK Delegation to FCC: Fulfill Universal Service Obligations for Alaska
WASHINGTON, DC - Alaska's Congressional delegation raised concerns this week with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) about its lack of progress in fulfilling universal service goals established by Congress and crucial to expanding Alaska's telecommunications network. Universal service is the principle that all Americans should have access to communications services. In a letter sent to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich and Congressman Don Young emphasiz… Continue Reading
04.18.14
Murkowski Responds to GAO Arctic Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the Government Accountability Office's report on Maritime Infrastructure: Key Issues Related to Commercial Activity in the U.S. Arctic in the Next Decade, saying: "I appreciate the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for its focus on our nation's Arctic Maritime Infrastructure needs, though I disagree with the suggestion that our development and activity are not on the rise. Given the substantial lack of Arctic infrastructure, now … Continue Reading
04.18.14
Sen. Murkowski Blasts State Department Decision to Further Delay Keystone XL Approval
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today issued the following response to the U.S. State Department's decision to indefinitely delay the process for approving the Keystone XL pipeline project: "The administration's choice to delay indefinitely a decision on extending the Keystone XL pipeline is nothing short of a stunning act of political cowardice. And the timing of this announcement - waiting until a Friday afternoon during the holy Passover holiday in the hope that most A… Continue Reading
04.16.14
Murkowski Questions “Nickel and Diming” of Military Health Care Cost Increases
With military retirees and family members facing a surge in out-of-pocket costs for medical care co-pays due to new TRICARE policies within the Fiscal Year 2015 Pentagon budget, Senator Lisa Murkowski is pressing the military for the reasoning behind these fee hikes. In a recent Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Murkowski asked the Surgeon Generals of the military whether these increases were fully thought out in addressing the military's bottom line or strictly to hit a budge… Continue Reading
04.15.14
Murkowski Urges Agriculture Secretary to Alaskanize Food Assistance Policies
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski reached out to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to remind him of guidance she placed in the recently-enacted Farm Bill as he crafts rules for stores participating in the food stamp program, warning without such guidance, "proposed regulations may be drafted based on circumstances commonly found in the Lower 48, rather than the more unique and challenging environment of rural Alaska." The Agriculture Bill of 2014 (also known at the Far… Continue Reading
04.11.14
Alaska Senators Congratulate 2014 Cherry Blossom Princess
WASHINGTON, DC - Alaska's United States senators were thrilled this week to congratulate Anchorage born-and-raised Chelsea Marlow for being this year's Alaska representative in the Cherry Blossom Princess Program. Senator Mark Begich was pleased to nominate Marlow, who works in his Washington, DC office, to represent Alaska in this week's festivities. Senator Lisa Murkowski - a former Cherry Blossom Princess herself, served as an honorary Chair of the Cherry Blossom Congressional Reception thi… Continue Reading
04.11.14
Murkowski Co-Sponsors Legislation to Boost Alaska’s Tourism Industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski and 24 other Senators co-sponsored bipartisan legislation this week aimed at boosting international tourism to the United States. S.2250, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act, would reauthorize Brand USA, a public-private partnership that promotes international travel to the United States, through 2020. "People around the world are drawn to our state's beauty and culture, and our tourism industry made a $3.9 billion impact last year … Continue Reading
04.10.14
Murkowski Continues Building Arctic Partnership with Iceland
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today met with Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson to continue advancing a thoughtful and productive conversation among Arctic nations. Sveinsson, whose position is comparable to the U.S. Secretary of State, came to Senator Murkowski's office to discuss diplomatic relations among Arctic countries and update her on Iceland's recent work and initiatives. Murkowski is committed to pushing the U.S. government to demonstrate greater… Continue Reading
04.10.14
Sen. Murkowski Calls for Redoubling Efforts to Improve Grid Security, Reliability
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today called for greater focus on the potential impacts of a range of threats facing the nation's electric grid, including physical and cyber security dangers, and risks posed by an expanding list of federal environmental regulations. (Click here for video of Sen. Murkowski's opening statement.) "It has been apparent for some time that we may need to empower the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to protect the grid from our own fede… Continue Reading
04.09.14
Murkowski: “Those Susceptible to This Horrible Disease Need More”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today pushed the Department of Defense for answers on its research and progress in fighting ALS, or "Lou Gehrig's" disease - reminding Pentagon leadership that the military and veteran population are two-times as likely to be affected with this devastating disease. Senator Murkowski asked U.S. Army Surgeon General Patricia Horoho how Congress could help them research ALS, making the point that costs are going to rise as more military members are diagnos… Continue Reading
04.09.14
Murkowski to EPA: Alaskans Concerned by “Regulatory Onslaught”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today questioned Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy about the potential economic impact of several proposed rules, including a recent rulemaking to "clarify" a statutory definition that appears to significantly expand the agency's control over lands and waters in Alaska. (Click to play video) "I am concerned that EPA continues to regulate without appropriate coordination with other agencies and impacted industries. I think th… Continue Reading
04.08.14
Murkowski Co-Sponsors Effort to Hire Veterans, Help Alaskan Businesses Deal With Employer Mandate
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski is co-sponsoring S.2190, The Hire More Heroes Act - a bill incentivizing companies to hire more American veterans by exempting those employees with health coverage through TRICARE or the VA from being counted as part of the 50 employee requirement under the Affordable Care Act's employer mandate. "This legislation is a positive step forward in assuring that onerous burdens are not placed on employers to provide health care coverage for those who already … Continue Reading
04.07.14
Murkowski: “U.S. Can’t Afford to Sit on the Sideline” with Arctic Opportunities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski - seen as the leader on Arctic issues in Congress - today spoke on the Senate floor, urging the White House and federal government to seize the opportunities opening up in the Arctic and invest in an Arctic future like the international community is. After months of seeking answers and action from the administration, Murkowski laid out her frustrations with its "National Strategy" - which she called a "glorified memo" - and its "Implementation Plan" - w… Continue Reading
04.07.14
Murkowski Votes for Bipartisan Bill to Reform Unemployment, Extend Long-Term Benefits
Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted in favor of H.R.3979 that would make structural changes to the unemployment benefits process to aid long-term jobless Americans suffering in the nation's weak economic recovery, and provide benefits through next month, saying: "We don't truly address our long-term unemployment problems by merely extending the ineffective program - what we need is structural reforms that get people back to work. This bill is a first step that represents a rational, reasonable … Continue Reading
04.03.14
Murkowski Brings Alaska’s “Devastating” Synthetic Drug Problem to Attorney General’s Attention
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski today discussed rural Alaska's battle against synthetic drug abuse and trafficking with Attorney General Eric Holder -spotlighting the fact that these drugs are increasingly being delivered through the United States Postal Service. Though the Postal Service's role in disseminating illegal drugs has received scant national attention, Murkowski has already initiated efforts to crack down on distribution in high-risk Alaska regions. In a Senate Appropriati… Continue Reading
04.03.14
Murkowski Facilitates Senate Approval of Treaties that Help Alaska’s Fisheries
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In the first U.S. Senate approval of international treaties since December of 2010, Senator Lisa Murkowski today lauded two much-needed nautical treaties being approved weeks after she testified on the nation's need for them before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs: the Port State Measures Agreement and the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean. Both of these treaties will protect Alaska's fishing… Continue Reading
04.03.14
Murkowski to AG Holder: “Is this Really Harsh Discipline?”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On the heels of Senator Lisa Murkowski's questioning of FBI Director Comey last week on the punishment meted out to an agent who broke the law during the Ted Stevens investigation, she picked up this line of questioning again today with Attorney General Eric Holder. In a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Murkowski asked Holder what disciplinary actions have been taken against the FBI agent or the Justice Department prosecutors involved in the "miserable prosecut… Continue Reading
04.03.14
Senator Murkowski: Coast Guard Cost Estimate is Further Proof Road is Only Viable Option
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) yesterday wrote her fourth letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell since the rejection of a lifesaving road for the people of King Cove, Alaska. This new letter was in response to a suggestion from Jewell that the U.S. Coast Guard could establish a permanent air station on the Alaska Peninsula to satisfy the emergency medical access needs of King Cove. Murkowski sent the letter to Jewell after receiving cost estimates for such an air station from the Coast … Continue Reading
04.02.14
Murkowski Calls for “Action Plan” from Bureau of Indian Affairs to Fund Tribal Courts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today strenuously advocated that the Bureau of Indian Affairs properly fund tribal courts in Alaska to support their development and advancement - seeking firm estimates and information from tribes and BIA officials to determine what funding levels should be requested. She reminded the BIA that tribal courts exist in Alaska and they are operating, but not every village in Alaska operates tribal courts and the BIA needs to formally invest in training and… Continue Reading
04.02.14
Murkowski Stresses “Ideal” Alaska Air Force Position, Advocates for F-35s
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski today questioned U.S. Air Force officials about the state's increasingly-vital role in the nation's defense, as well as the potential placement of F-35s in Alaska - as Alaska's two Air Force Bases are still in the running to house the planes. Murkowski also took the opportunity with several members of Air Force leadership appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee to inquire how the Air Force and National Guard are addressing the military sexual… Continue Reading
