06.06.13

Murkowski Presses Interior Secretary on Key Alaskan Concerns

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today pressed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on her department's handling of decades-old exploration wells drilled by the federal government in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), and on the slow pace of conveying land owed to the state of Alaska and Alaska Natives. (Click for video of Sen. Murkowski's opening statement.) NPR-A Legacy Wells "The department is presiding over an environmental disaster in the NPR-A that must be remedied,… Continue Reading

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06.06.13

AG to Murkowski: I Will Appeal Stevens Prosecutors “Given a Pass”

WASHINGTON, DC - Over a year after a team of Department of Justice prosecutors was found to have hidden evidence and other professional misconduct in the trial of Senator Ted Stevens and months after the punishment meted out to them was overturned, Senator Lisa Murkowski questioned Attorney General Eric Holder about the matter and asked if he planned to allow this dubious decision to stand, because she said it seems to Alaskans that while some inside the DoJ were found accountable, many higher-… Continue Reading

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06.06.13

Murkowski Co-Sponsoring Effort to Protect Military Sexual Assault Victims from Retaliation

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced her continued support to combat military sexual assault through every angle, co-sponsoring S. 1092, legislation aimed at increasing protections for victims, particularly from possible retaliation after reporting a violation. An outspoken advocate for the needed culture change within the military, Murkowski believes that the current rates of military sexual assault are a fraction of the actual occurrences - with victims frequently reluctant… Continue Reading

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06.05.13

Murkowski Changes TSA’s Mind on Knife Threat to Air Safety

WASHINGTON, DC-Senator Lisa Murkowski is welcoming the Transportation Security Administration reversing course on its plan to begin allowing knives back on passenger airplanes. Today's announcement from the TSA comes after passengers, pilots, and flight attendants nationwide spoke out against the policy change, with Murkowski leading the charge in a three-month campaign that included filing legislation, letters of pressure to department heads, and questioning Department of Homeland Security Secr… Continue Reading

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06.05.13

Murkowski Fighting to Bring “Veterans’ Claims into the Daylight”

WASHINGTON, DC - As part of her ongoing attempt to break the logjam of delays for veterans' benefits, Senator Lisa Murkowski is co-sponsoring a bill designed to improve the needlessly-bureaucratic process and cut some paperwork timelines in half. S. 674, the Accountability for Veterans Act would streamline the process while also demanding answers for any delays incurred along the way in records requests between the Veterans Administration and Department of Defense (DoD) or Social Security Admin… Continue Reading

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06.04.13

Alaska-Hawaii Delegations Continue Tradition of Working Together for Native Peoples

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Begich (D-AK), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) today continued the long legacy of two states working together and working for their native populations. The Senators were joined by roughly 100 Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian business, policy, and community leaders to discuss a range of topics including ways to improve education in Native communities, and how to stimulate Native owned businesses. The roundtable was hosted by the … Continue Reading

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06.04.13

Over 130 Alaskans Hired Due to Murkowski Local Hire Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski welcomed news from the Department of the Interior that more than 130 Alaskans are benefiting from a Department-wide local hire program she was able to restore in a recent Department of the Interior spending bill through her role as the top Republican on the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. "On the subcommittee, we worked extremely hard to improve the local-hire program that for years had been bogged down and misinterpreted by federal governm… Continue Reading

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06.03.13

Murkowski Welcomes 10 of Alaska’s Brightest to Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski this week is welcoming her first session of summer interns to observe and participate in the daily operations of the United States Senate and observe the legislative process firsthand. Senator Murkowski's D.C. office is the only U.S. Senate office on Capitol Hill to bring on newly-graduated high school students for full-time help. The young Alaskans from across the state will spend 4 weeks assisting in clerical and administrative tasks such as directin… Continue Reading

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06.03.13

Senator Lisa Murkowski Statement on the Passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today released the following statement regarding the death of Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) at age 89: "With my colleagues and Americans nationwide, I mourn the loss of Senator Frank Lautenberg. He truly was a humble self-made man who plunged himself into every effort he joined - whether through his lifelong commitment to the military he served in WWII, his tremendous success in the private sector, or his Senate career where he had a profound impac… Continue Reading

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05.31.13

Murkowski Statement on “Seriously Flawed” Eielson Draft EIS

Senator Lisa Murkowski today took issue with the United States Air Force's Draft Environmental Impact Statement, challenging its tone, timing and omissions: "If this fact-finding Air Force Draft Environmental Impact Statement is supposed to represent a fair and balanced opening look at the pro's and con's of relocating the F-16 Aggressor Squadron, somebody has a finger on the scale. In its initial findings, the U.S. Air Force seems to be telegraphing its intent through this DEIS, and the Backdo… Continue Reading

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05.31.13

Murkowski on Passing of Alaska Icon Katie John

ANCHORAGE, AK - Senator Lisa Murkowski today shared her thoughts upon hearing the news that Athabascan elder Katie John has died: "Katie John was an Alaska icon who devoted her life to ensuring that her Ahtna people had the opportunity to carry on traditional subsistence fishing in their ancestral homeland. She was unafraid to challenge any bureaucrat standing between her Native people and their opportunity to fish, whether that was a State of Alaska that didn't recognize that ANILCA's rural pr… Continue Reading

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05.29.13

Murkowski Leveling Playing Field for Alaska Brewers, Boosting Job Creation

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski will announce today that she is co-sponsoring S.917, the "Small Brewer Reinvestment and Expanding Workforce (BREW) Act" at a Kodiak Island Brewing Company event, in an effort to promote job growth, spur the $150 million industry in the state and level the playing field for Alaska's small brewery and microbrew economy against big international conglomerates. Murkowski discussed the bill with the owner of the Kodiak Island Brewing Company earlier this month… Continue Reading

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05.27.13

Our Nation is Ever Grateful - Senator Murkowski’s Memorial Day Message

Washington, D.C.- Senator Lisa Murkowski today offered the following statement in observance of Memorial Day: Click image to watch video "This Memorial Day, let us pause and take a moment to reflect on the brave men and women of our armed services who have chosen to serve our great country. I call upon Alaskans across the state to thank those who have served and to always remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our freedoms. "Memorial Day is a solemn occasion,… Continue Reading

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05.24.13

Murkowski Honors Vietnam Veteran, Alaskan Veteran Advocate

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 12th Veteran Spotlight installment today, featuring Ron Travis of Big Lake. Travis, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, has devoted his life to serving his fellow veterans. These days, Travis is working to start the Last Frontier Honor Flight, the first non-profit in Alaska dedicated to bringing veterans to Washington, DC to visit the memorials dedicated to their service. During his Veteran Spotlight interview, Travis talks about … Continue Reading

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05.24.13

Murkowski Rips Border Crossing Fee Proposal

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voiced her concerns over the wide range of harmful consequences Alaska and other border states would suffer if a proposed border-crossing fee becomes a reality for vehicle and even pedestrian traffic - from restricting tourism and trade to greatly limiting access to shopping, dining, and attending religious service. She shared these scenarios in a letter to both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as well as the ranking members of the Senate H… Continue Reading

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05.23.13

Murkowski Reducing Red Tape Dragging Down Alaska Aviation

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at modernizing outdated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification policies currently bogging down small aircraft manufacturers with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The Small Aircraft Revitalization Act of 2013 updates the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) archaic part certification processes to improve safety, decrease costs and encourage innovation. "As we mark the centennial of Alaska aviation,… Continue Reading

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05.23.13

Murkowski Working to Update “Eight Track Era” Chemical Protections for Alaskans

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today co-sponsored a major national toxic substance protection bill, in order to protect the health of Alaskans - as well as the state's wilderness, wildlife and waters. The Chemical Safety Improvement Act of 2013 is the first update of restrictions and guidelines of consumer products in over 35 years and protects Alaskans from new chemical risks that have arisen in the last generation while still creating an opportunity environment for manufacturers to i… Continue Reading

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05.22.13

Murkowski: Alaskans Have “Groundhog Day” Syndrome With U.S. Forest Service Frustrations

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today continued to criticize the agenda and bookkeeping of the United States Forest Service (USFS) on behalf of Alaskans in a hearing of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, where she serves as the top ("ranking") Republican in influencing the Department of Interior's funding priorities and policies. In a exchange with the Director of the USFS, Murkowski pointed out the wrongheadedness of attempting to seize money back from Southeast Alaska ti… Continue Reading

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05.21.13

Murkowski Fills Appropriations, Transportation Job Position

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski is welcoming Allison Nyholm to her legislative team in Washington, D.C, where Nyholm will focus on appropriations, transportation and aviation matters - particularly those unique to Alaska's skies. Raised in Soldotna, Nyholm joins Senator Murkowski's office after working on Alaska-specific policies for the better part of a decade, including 5 years for the State of Alaska as the Associate Director for the Office of the Governor in Washington, D.C. - where … Continue Reading

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05.20.13

Murkowski: NCLB Waiver is “Regulation Light”

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the news that the U.S. Department of Education has approved Alaska's waiver request from the one-size-fits-all No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law, a decision that brings new requirements from the federal government: "I appreciate the Secretary's openness to giving us an alternative to the punitive pessimism of the law, but worry this news amounts to little more than 'regulation light' for us to have new boxes to check off. Two years ago, … Continue Reading