03.20.18

Murkowski: DOE Must Focus on Maintaining U.S. Global Leadership in Science and Innovation

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired an oversight hearing to examine the U.S. Department of Energy's $30.6 billion budget request for Fiscal Year 2019. Murkowski opened the hearing by welcoming Secretary of Energy Rick Perry back to the committee and noted that she looks forward to hosting him in Alaska in the near future. In her opening remarks, she focused on the importance of energy innovation. "While we should always be looking for places to cut the budget, we should also reco… Continue Reading

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03.13.18

Murkowski: Interior Budget Proposal Will Increase Access, Protect Lands, Boost Resource Production

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine the U.S. Department of the Interior's $11.7 billion budget request for Fiscal Year 2019. Murkowski opened the hearing by welcoming Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke back to the committee and highlighting the good work he has done for Alaska, other western states, and the nation during his first year leading the department. "You and I have worked closely to chart a path to greater energy security, which runs right throu… Continue Reading

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03.08.18

Bipartisan Advanced Nuclear Research and Energy Bill Passes Senate

Bipartisan legislation led by Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) cleared the Senate today by voice vote. The measure, S.97, known as the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act, (NEICA), would create partnerships between private-sector innovators in nuclear energy with government researchers to create the next generation of clean, advanced nuclear power. The measure, cosponsored by Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), … Continue Reading

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03.08.18

Energy and Natural Resources Committee Advances 24 Measures

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today held a business meeting to approve 24 energy, lands, and territories bills. After the meeting, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, thanked her colleagues for their work to develop and report the measures for consideration by the full Senate. The bipartisan measures reported today include bills to: address Northern Mariana Islands workforce needs; expedite the approval of small-scale LNG exports; boost research efforts at the Departmen… Continue Reading

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03.06.18

USGS Nominee Will Prioritize America’s Mineral Security

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to consider the nomination of Dr. James Reilly to be director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS surveys and inventories our nation's mineral base, provides real-time data for natural hazards, and deploys thousands of stream gauges across the country to monitor groundwater and river levels. Murkowski opened the hearing by thanking Dr. Reilly for his willingness to serve our coun… Continue Reading

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03.01.18

Murkowski: Common Sense Solutions and Cooperation Necessary to Protect Energy Infrastructure Against Cyber Threats

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine opportunities to promote the cybersecurity and resiliency of our nation's critical energy infrastructure. "Protecting our nation's energy infrastructure is critical to maintaining so much of the American way of life," Murkowski said. "We have repeatedly heard how protection of our nation's critical assets is a shared responsibility, with federal, state, and private sector partners working together to improve cyber defenses a… Continue Reading

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02.23.18

Murkowski Calls on Oil and Gas Industry to Share Hiring Data, Seeks Input to Increase Hiring of Alaskans

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week sent a letter to the five largest oil and gas producers in Alaska, raising concerns about the rising percentage of workers from outside of the state and requesting ideas to increase the number and share of Alaskans who work in the industry. "Consistent with my previous requests over the past years, I ask that you provide up-to-date information on your companies' employment of Alaska residents, including data for your contractors and subcontract… Continue Reading

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02.16.18

Murkowski Welcomes Critical Mineral List

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's release of a draft list of critical minerals, which are important to the U.S. economy and national security but increasingly imported from foreign nations. "I thank Secretary Zinke for his recognition of the dangers of our foreign mineral dependence and his continued efforts to strengthen our nation's mineral security," Murkowski said. "This list provides a good starting point as we seek to develop more of the m… Continue Reading

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02.09.18

Murkowski: ANCSA Improvement Act Fulfills Federal Promises to Alaska Natives

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week spoke at a legislative hearing held by the Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining to highlight the importance of S. 1481, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Improvement Act. The bill, sponsored by Murkowski and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, will help ensure that ANCSA continues to serve and benefit Alaska Natives as Congress intended. "Back in 1971, Congress passed ANCSA to settle the aboriginal land claims of Alaska Natives,… Continue Reading

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01.26.18

Delegation Urges Interior to Keep Chukchi, Beaufort, and Cook Inlet in New Offshore Program

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to provide comment on the Alaska-specific offshore areas in the Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing for 2019-2024 that should be included in its Final Proposed Program. "We commend you for taking an inclusive approach that allows for meaningful public input as you determine where responsible development should occur on o… Continue Reading

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01.25.18

Auto Show Hearing Highlights U.S. Innovation, Emerging Technologies

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a full committee field hearing at the Washington Auto Show to discuss the innovation, research, and development of advanced vehicle technologies and their impacts on our energy security and infrastructure. "This truly is an exciting time for the automotive sector, with a host of new technologies emerging in recent years," Murkowski said. "Lightweight materials like carbon fiber, titanium, aluminum, and composites are increasing vehicle efficienc… Continue Reading

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01.22.18

Delegation Hails Landmark Agreement for Life-Saving Road

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today released the following statements after the Department of the Interior and the King Cove Corp. signed an agreement authorizing a small land exchange needed to construct a short, gravel, life-saving road that will connect King Cove, Alaska to the all-weather airport in nearby Cold Bay. "Common sense and compassion have finally prevailed," Murkowski said. "For decades, the people of King Cove have asked for what virt… Continue Reading

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01.17.18

IEA: Technology, Policy Position U.S. As Global Energy Leader

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired an oversight hearing focused on the domestic and global energy outlook, featuring testimony from the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Dr. Fatih Birol. During the hearing, Murkowski and Birol discussed the significant improvements taking place in energy technologies and energy policy, ranging from the increased production of oil and natural gas to cost reductions in renewable energy and the continuing potential of nuclear ene… Continue Reading

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01.10.18

Murkowski and Cantwell Welcome Capito and Smith

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the committee's ranking member, today welcomed two new members to the committee: Sens. Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Tina Smith, D-Minn. "We welcome Sens. Capito and Smith to our committee and look forward to working with them on a wide range of energy, lands, water, and resource issues throughout the remainder of this Congress," Murkowski and Cantwell said. "Together w… Continue Reading

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01.03.18

After Several Long Years, Reason for Hope in King Cove

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement to mark the fourth anniversary of the Obama administration's callous rejection of a life-saving road for the people of King Cove, Alaska. An 11-mile road segment is needed to connect King Cove with nearby Cold Bay, which is home to an all-weather airport. "For years, the Department of the Interior has ignored King Cove's need for reliable transportation, particularly during medical emergencies," Murkowski said. "Today, h… Continue Reading

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12.15.17

Murkowski: Conference Report Opens the 1002 Area, Reforms Tax Code

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after she, along with all of the Republican conferees for H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed and unveiled the final conference committee report for the bill. The conference report includes two titles: the first to provide tax relief to American families and businesses, and a second, authored by Murkowski, to open a small portion of the non-wilderness 1002 Area in northeast Alaska to responsible energy development. … Continue Reading

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12.14.17

Murkowski: Reconciliation Bill is a Great Opportunity for Alaska, America

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today participated in a public meeting of Senate and House conferees on H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. During the meeting, Murkowski reiterated her strong support for this pro-jobs, pro-growth, and pro-energy bill that will benefit American families and businesses. The energy title of the bill, authored by Murkowski, opens a small portion of the non-wilderness 1002 Area in northeast Alaska to responsible energy development. "This legislation will be good … Continue Reading

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12.12.17

Murkowski: Streamlining the Federal Permitting Process is Essential to Modernizing U.S. Energy Infrastructure

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired an oversight hearing to examine the permitting processes for energy and resource infrastructure projects at the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The hearing focused on permitting challenges and opportunities to improve the responsiveness, transparency, and predictability of permit reviews. "We all recognize that we need to make investments to upgrade and modernize our aging infrastructure," Mu… Continue Reading

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12.07.17

Congressional Delegation Congratulates Alaskan Joe Balash on Confirmation as Assistant Secretary of the Interior

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Senate voted 61-38 to confirm Alaskan Joe Balash to be the next U.S. Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the Department of the Interior Click image or here to view Senator Sullivan's floor statement "Today I'm pleased to see that after weeks of partisan gridlock, Joe Balash was finally confirmed as a U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for L… Continue Reading

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12.07.17

Murkowski Statement on New FERC Chairman

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the swearing-in of Kevin McIntyre to begin a five-year term on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), starting today as the Commission's chairman. "I'm pleased to learn that Mr. McIntyre was sworn in this morning, bringing FERC to a full complement of Commissioners for the first time since 2015. For more than two years, I have been working toward the day when FERC would once again have a full bench. We work… Continue Reading