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.
Feds Backtrack Daycare Picnic Fine After Murkowski Involvement
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed a United States Forest Service decision to dismiss a citation issued to a Southeast Alaska daycare center for using a picnic table without a permit. The operator of Auntie's Day Care in Wrangell was facing a $350 fine (plus a $25 processing fee) for allowing youngsters to eat at a picnic table in the Tongass National Forest. Murkowski shared the anecdote during her comments at a Federal Overreach Summit in Anchorage on Tuesday, saying "Wh… Continue Reading
08.13.13
Murkowski Spells Out Alaska Overreach Frustration
ANCHORAGE, AK - Senator Lisa Murkowski today addressed the Citizens Advisory Commission on Federal Areas taking up the issue of federal overreach, and speaking about her commitment to pushing back through her daily work in Washington, DC. During her speech, Sen. Murkowski talked about a small daycare in Wrangell that was hit hard by federal overreach for simply using a picnic table located just outside of town in the Tongass National Forest. Click on the image for video of Sen. Murkowski spe… Continue Reading
08.12.13
Murkowski: Get Government Out of Alaska’s Way
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski will address the Citizens Advisory Commission on Federal Areas tomorrow morning - taking up the issue of federal overreach, and her commitment to pushing back through her daily work in Washington, DC. In order to advance the debate and create a better environment to develop solutions, Murkowski will define the problem in concrete terms and suggest new ways of dealing with the problem. During her speech, Senator Murkowski will speak to attendees about how… Continue Reading
08.08.13
Sen. Murkowski Welcomes Key Cosponsors of Sportsmen’s Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today welcomed Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and James Risch (R-Idaho), co-chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, as cosponsors of the Sportsmen's Act. The bill recognizes and ensures the rightful place of hunting and fishing on our nation's public lands. "I am very pleased that my colleagues, Sens. Thune and Risch, have joined me in this effort to move a comprehensive sportsmen's package through Congress," … Continue Reading
08.07.13
Murkowski Welcomes DOE Approval of Lake Charles Export License
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement on the Department of Energy's approval of a license to Lake Charles Exports to ship up to 2 billion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) a day to nations with which the United States does not have free trade agreements: "The approval of the Lake Charles export license is great news for the economy. I'm hopeful that it also shows a willingness by the Department of Energy and Secretary Moniz to make t… Continue Reading
08.06.13
Sen. Murkowski Issues Report Warning of Narrowing Window for LNG Exports
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released a white paper outlining the case for exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and urging swift action on permit approvals before the nation misses a historic opportunity. The paper, entitled The Narrowing Window: America's Opportunity to Join the Global Gas Trade, includes in-depth analysis that leads to a set of pro-growth policy recommendations. "We've carefully examined the issue of natural gas exports, weighing the evidence… Continue Reading
08.02.13
Murkowski Announces Public Schedule for Beginning of the August State Work Period
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced she will be visit Juneau, Angoon, Kake, Petersburg, Ketchikan, Anchorage, Soldotna, Napaskiak, and Galena over the first half of the upcoming state work period and will be available for media opportunities at several events. Following are details of public events: JUNEAU WHEN: Monday, August 05, 2013; 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. WHAT: Tour - United Human Services of Southeast WHERE: United Way of Southeast Alaska 3225 … Continue Reading
08.02.13
Sens. Murkowski, Wyden Applaud Passage of Two Hydropower Bills
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., commended their Senate colleagues for passing by unanimous consent two hydropower measures - the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act (H.R. 267) and the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act (H.R. 678). "I applaud my colleagues for finally giving hydropower the recognition it deserves," Murkowski said. "I consider hydropower to be our hardest working renewable resource and one … Continue Reading
08.01.13
Begich, Murkowski Bill Tackles Domestic Violence in Rural Alaska
U.S. Sens. Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski today introduced the Safe Families and Villages Act of 2013 to give Alaska tribes more power to combat drug and alcohol abuse in their communities and to address the rates of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect. "I introduced the Alaska Safe Families and Villages Act because the status quo just isn't working," said Sen. Begich. "Tribal leaders throughout Alaska desperately need more resources and local control to manage domestic violence, sub… Continue Reading
08.01.13
Murkowski Launches Congressional Inquiry into Stuart Creek 2 Blaze
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today leveraged her position on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to add language to the FY2014 Defense Appropriations committee report requiring the United States Army to explain why the live artillery exercise believed to have started the 85,000 acre Stuart Creek Fire was allowed to proceed despite warnings from the Alaska Fire Service and the Fort Wainwright Garrison that wildfire risks merited postponement of the exercise. The Stuart Creek… Continue Reading
08.01.13
Wyden, Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Encourage Marine Hydropower
Washington, D.C.- Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced legislation to remove regulatory obstacles and encourage research and development for the next generation of hydropower - renewable energy from waves, currents, ocean tides and free-flowing water in lakes and rivers The Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Act of 2013 (S. 1419) encourages private investment in marine hydrokinetic (MHK) pow… Continue Reading
08.01.13
Murkowski Releases Interior Bill, Addresses Alaska Needs
Ranking Republican Shares Results of FY2014 Senate Interior Appropriations Bill Negotiations WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski is proud to share the results of her negotiations with Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) through the release of today's draft FY 2014 Senate Interior Appropriations Bill. With the Department of the Interior managing a majority of Alaska's lands, forests and waters - in addition to providing oversight of many services and progra… Continue Reading
07.31.13
“My Point in Life Was Not to Go to War, It Was to Help Others Who Had”
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 14th Veteran Spotlight installment today, featuring Wasilla resident James Hastings - a U.S. Army veteran who served 22 years in the Infantry. After his time in the Infantry, Hastings went on to the U.S. Army Reserves and the Alaska National Guard before continuing his service to the nation by serving the battle wounded and battle weary in Alaska and beyond. During his Veteran Spotlight interview, Hastings recalls being only 17 when he k… Continue Reading
07.30.13
Murkowski Lauds Aviation Red Tape and Pirate Fishing Fights Passing Committee
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today commended the Senate Commerce Committee for passing two bipartisan bills out of committee that she advocated for as lead Republican co-sponsor: the Pirate Fishing Elimination Act and the Small Aircraft Revitalization Act. The Pirate Fishing bill would crack down on illegal fishing operations that are harming America's fisheries and Alaska's economy by creating harsh enforcement mechanisms against violators; the Small Aircraft bill would fight the FA… Continue Reading
07.30.13
Sen. Murkowski: Bipartisan Nuclear Bill Represents Real Progress
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today spoke on the merits of the Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2013 (S. 1240) during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the bill. Murkowski, along with Sens. Wyden (D-Ore.), Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Alexander (R-Tenn.) introduced the bipartisan legislation last month to address the back end of the nuclear energy fuel cycle. (Click to play video of Murkowski's opening statement.) "We know there are certain s… Continue Reading
07.30.13
Eielson F-16 Move Defunded, Prohibited in Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today thanked her Defense Appropriations Subcommittee colleagues for including language to prohibit the use of FY2014 funds to implement the transfer of the F-16 Aggressor Squadron, a move she requested in an April letter to the Subcommittee Chair and Ranking Republican and subsequently reinforced in a mid-July letter. As a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations subcommitee, Murkowski took the chance to once again lay out the wrongheaded proposal to … Continue Reading
07.26.13
Alaska Delegation Wins Two-Year Reprieve from FCC on Universal Service Fund Changes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - After unrelenting pressure by the Alaska Congressional Delegation, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today announced it will be suspending cuts to small rural Alaska telecommunication companies for nearly two years. This suspension will finally force the FCC to reexamine how its new Universal Service Fund (USF) reforms will impact residents of Alaska. For the last two years the Alaska Congressional Delegation has written nearly a dozen letters to the FCC critical o… Continue Reading
07.26.13
Murkowski Announces Alaska Mobile Office Stops
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced her staff will visit select communities throughout Interior, Southcentral, and Southeast Alaska during the month of August in an effort to advance her engagement efforts and expand constituent outreach and response across the state. During mobile office hours members of Senator Murkowski's staff will meet with constituents and community leaders to collect casework requests and listen to concerns about issues and policies related to the f… Continue Reading
07.26.13
Murkowski: Alaska Natives Deserve “More Action Than Rhetoric” from Administration
WASHINGTON, DC - As the Obama administration prepares to convene its new White House Council on Native Affairs next week, Senator Lisa Murkowski is calling for it to pursue policies that are consistent with tribal self-determination - especially allowing tribes to determine the best methods to implement integrated economic policies to promote opportunities for Alaska Natives, rather than top-down guidelines from Washington, D.C. In a letter to the White House (attached), Senator Murkowski urged… Continue Reading
07.26.13
Murkowski: “Get Out and Play” for Ted Stevens Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today shared the following message with Alaskans in anticipation of the third annual Ted Stevens Day tomorrow, as she prepares to join Alaskans at community gatherings in Anchorage and Fairbanks this weekend: (Click the image above to view Senator Murkowski's remarks) "Happy Ted Stevens Day, Alaska! "This fourth Saturday of July, marks the third time that Alaskans from across the state will join together to "get out and play" in memory of the life and l… Continue Reading
