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: Resolution of Helium Reserve Provides Funding for Alaska Priorities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded Senate passage of the Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act to end the federal government's role in the sale of helium, a product essential to everything from medical imaging equipment and semiconductor manufacturing to rocket engines and precision welding. "Passage of this bipartisan legislation provides a commonsense and market-based approach to managing the helium reserve as the federal government's role i… Continue Reading
09.19.13
Sen. Murkowski: Subsistence Must Remain a Viable Lifestyle for Alaska Natives
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today hosted a hearing on the impact of the Alaska National Interest Lands Act (ANILCA) and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) on wildlife management and traditional and customary activities in Alaska. "Today's hearing marks the beginning of a new dialog on subsistence; one that recognizes the changes that have occurred over the last 20 years," Murkowski said. "My hope is that we can engage all Alaskans in a civil and productiv… Continue Reading
09.18.13
Murkowski Fights Health Care Bill’s Potential Security Breaches
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined 25 of her Senate colleagues to co-sponsor the Trust But Verify Act, to ensure that personal and private information divulged under the Affordable Care Act - such as Social Security numbers and household incomes - are fully protected from breaches and glitches on data networks before millions of Americans are compelled to disclose personal information on unproven networks. "The NSA, FBI and IRS have demonstrated a startling inability to protec… Continue Reading
09.18.13
Murkowski Introduces Bill to Defend Sustainable Alaska Seafood from Federal Regulations
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced legislation to combat the influence of outside certification parties on Alaska's sustainable seafood industry. Her Responsible Seafood Certification and Labeling Act would prohibit any federal agencies from using third party non-governmental certification schemes when considering or labeling any domestic catch as 'sustainable.' Recently, Senator Murkowski was able to encourage the National Park Service to reverse course when its guidelin… Continue Reading
09.17.13
Murkowski, Young Express Concerns Over New EPA Regulations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, wrote to President Obama to express their concerns over new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants. The EPA is reportedly scheduled to release the new regulations by Friday. Such rules would disproportionately affect fossil fuel-based electricity plants, which have been and remain the foundation for stable and low-cost power generation in America. "… Continue Reading
09.17.13
Sen. Murkowski Comments on Nominee to Lead FERC
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today said she could not support the nomination of Ron Binz to lead the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission (FERC). Murkowski, at a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said Binz' views on the role of FERC are incompatible with the independent agency's mission to ensure Americans have access to affordable, abundant, and reliable energy. (Click to play video) "Based on my meeting last week with Mr. Binz and m… Continue Reading
09.16.13
Murkowski: Obama Administration “Rewriting History,” Shortchanging Native Health Funding Needs
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today criticized the Obama Administration's proposal to short-fund the operation costs of tribally run hospitals, despite last year's historic Supreme Court ruling requiring full funding of contract support costs, saying: "I am deeply troubled by the Indian Health Service's continued resistance to the Supreme Court's ruling last Summer that the federal government must pay the full amount of contract support costs to our tribes' tireless and, oftentimes, t… Continue Reading
09.16.13
Sen. Murkowski Comments on Anglo American Decision on Pebble Project
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement regarding Anglo American's decision to pull out of the Pebble Limited Partnership, which was formed to develop a gold and copper mine in Southwest Alaska: "Anglo American's choice to withdraw from development of the Pebble mine was a private business decision driven by a variety of economic factors. The company has stated its reasons and I have no reason to question the decision," Murkowski said. "Mining… Continue Reading
09.11.13
Murkowski: Americans Weren’t Daunted or Divided By 9/11
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today shared her observations and reflections with Alaskans on the twelfth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks: (Click image to watch Senator Murkowski's 9/11 statement) "It has now been twelve years since the horrific attacks on 9/11 that took thousands of American lives in New York City, at the Pentagon and in an airplane crash that broke the stillness of a Pennsylvania farmland morning. Though Alaskans were thousands of miles away from those sites, we … Continue Reading
09.11.13
Murkowski Cuts Through Red Tape, Helps Alaska War Veterans Get to Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, DC - With Senator Lisa Murkowski's help in cutting through government bureaucracy, the Last Frontier Honor Flight will be able to make its inaugural trip to Washington, D.C. next month with 25 Alaskan veterans of World War II - ranging in age from 87 to 94 years old - who will tour the monuments and memorials honoring their service at no cost to them. The Internal Revenue Service had originally given the non-profit a timetable extending into next year for reviewing its non-profit st… Continue Reading
09.10.13
Murkowski Responds to Proposal for Syria to Surrender Chemical Weapons
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski offered the following statement on the proposal to have Syria turn over its chemical weapons arsenal to the international community: "I remain concerned about the Syrian government's use of internationally-prohibited chemical weapons on its own citizens. The indiscriminate massacre of innocent people is a heinous act which must not be tolerated. Given the incredible stakes at play globally, I will look critically at the proposal to require Syria to turn … Continue Reading
09.10.13
Sen. Murkowski Announces Passage of Denali Park Improvement Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that her Denali Park Improvement Act is headed to President Obama's desk to be signed into law. The bill includes three separate measures to reduce the use of diesel fuel, improve energy access in Denali National Park and Preserve, and honor Athabascan climber Walter Harper. The bill, which was advance through the full Senate in June, was passed on the House floor today by voice vote. "I commend my colleagues - especially R… Continue Reading
09.06.13
Murkowski Welcomes Additional Funds for Alaska Tsunami Debris Relief
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the news that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is directing an additional $750,000 towards Alaska's efforts to clean up and address debris from the $5 million gift from the Japanese government help in the response to the impacts from the 2011 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami: "When it comes to dealing with the effects of tsunami debris, Alaska has more shoreline than the rest of the country combined and therefore is deali… Continue Reading
09.05.13
Murkowski Encouraged by Alaska, Wal-Mart Meeting
WASHINGTON, DC - At the close of a meeting between Alaskan and Wal-Mart officials to discuss the world's top retailer recognizing the sustainability of Alaska salmon, crab and other seafood and continuing to sell it, Senator Lisa Murkowski shared the following statement: "Alaska salmon is globally recognized as a delicious, sustainable brain food and our fisheries are the envy of many in the international industry when it comes to sustainability, regardless of whether we pay to have a London-ba… Continue Reading
09.01.13
Each Soldier's Life Has Its Own Story, Says Spotlighted Veteran
Murkowski Honors U.S. Air Force Veteran, Pioneer, Veteran Museum Director WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today is releasing her 15th Veteran Spotlight, featuring Colonel Suellyn Wright Novak of Eagle River, a United States Air Force veteran who served more than 32 years active duty. During her Veteran Spotlight interview, Novak recalls knowing she wanted to join the Air Force from a very young age. In the 3rd grade, she was asked to draw a picture of what she wanted to be when she gr… Continue Reading
08.30.13
Sen. Murkowski Receives NRECA’s Distinguished Service Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) on Thursday received the Distinguished Service Award of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The NRECA put out the following press release on the award. "Sen. Murkowski is a true friend of electric cooperatives and a leader on energy issues. Her bipartisan approach to solving some of our country's most difficult problems offers a bright spot in our Nation's Capital while her steadfast focus on Alaska and its economy… Continue Reading
08.29.13
Sen. Murkowski to Visit King Cove with Interior Secretary Jewell
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will travel to King Cove on Friday, Aug. 30, with Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell to talk with local residents about the need for a life-saving road to connect them to the state's longest airport runway in nearby Cold Bay. The day-long visit will include a tour of King Cove, a visit to the local health clinic to discuss its capabilities and limitations, and a meeting with residents to hear testimony regarding the access issues and t… Continue Reading
08.21.13
Murkowski Announces Public Schedule for Remainder of August Work Period
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced she will be visiting Barrow, Wainwright, Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer, King Cove and Cold Bay over the second half of the August state work period and will be available for media opportunities at several events. Following are details of Senator Murkowski's public schedule. BARROW: WHEN: Thursday, August 22, 2013; 10:45 - 11:45 a.m. WHAT: Remarks: Roundtable with Coast Guard Admiral Papp WHERE: Barrow, AK WHEN: Thursday, August 22, 20… Continue Reading
08.20.13
Murkowski Announces Agreement to Keep Glacier Bay Lodge Open
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced an agreement between the National Park Service (NPS) and Aramark to keep the Glacier Bay Lodge open for the next two summer seasons. "I'm pleased that both the National Park Service and Aramark were able to reach common ground to ensure that the Glacier Bay Lodge will remain open. I know how important the lodge and day boat tour operation are to the community of Gustavus," Murkowski said. "While today is a positive step, I e… Continue Reading
08.19.13
Murkowski: In Galena, “There Is a Lot More Work to Do”
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - With the end of summer drawing near and winter looming, Senator Lisa Murkowski toured the village of Galena on Saturday with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State of Alaska Emergency Management officials and surveyed the progress being made in helping Galena as it recovers. Following conversations with government officials, contractors and local governments it became evident that all were not on the same page when it came to deadlines for completing work; Senat… Continue Reading
