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

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05.17.13

Murkowski Co-Sponsors “Reality Check” for Health Care Reform

WASHINGTON, DC - With over two million Americans potentially facing a cut in work hours as employers attempt to avoid the costly health care mandate, Senator Lisa Murkowski is co-sponsoring the Forty Hours is Full Time Act (S.701) to redefine full-time employee status within the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to the conventional 40 hour workweek. The law presently defines "full-time employee" as thirty hours, which could lead to dramatic decreases in take-home pay for Americans nationwide, especiall… Continue Reading

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05.17.13

Murkowski Comments on DOE Approval of Freeport LNG 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 Freeport LNG to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to nations that aren't party to U.S. free-trade agreements: "This decision is a victory for those who believe free trade is good for the American economy. It's my hope that Freeport is the first of many projects that will be approved in the coming weeks and months, not years. The shale gas revolut… Continue Reading

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05.17.13

Murkowski Recruits Military Bases to Improve Fitness and Help Youth “Shape Up”

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today co-sponsored legislation with her colleague Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) to address the alarming rate of military recruits falling short on basic fitness requirements - often making them unfit for service - by introducing the Fit to Serve Act. The bill would boost nutritional awareness for youth and help improve fitness and health among military age Americans by providing military leaders the ability to voluntarily open their base's sports fields, gyms … Continue Reading

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05.16.13

Murkowski on Senate Floor: The Arctic is the Place to Be

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today laid out her vision of an Arctic future for America as an Arctic nation on the floor of the United States Senate, citing the wide range of opportunities presented as sea ice recedes and opens up new tourism, resource development and shipping possibilities. Having just returned from the Arctic Council Ministerial Meetings in Kiruna, Sweden with the American delegation, Murkowski's speech carried an optimistic tone, but she shared her concerns that Am… Continue Reading

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05.15.13

Murkowski Statement on IRS Acting Commissioner Announcement

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski issued the following statement after the announcement from President Obama that the acting IRS commissioner was asked to resign on Wednesday. The announcement comes just days after the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Inspector General (IG) found that IRS officials singled out conservative nonprofit groups for review: "This is a first step at restoring trust, but it is the first step of a very long road - the administration has much further to go. The… Continue Reading

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05.15.13

Murkowski Working to Extend Sexual Assault Protections to Coast Guard

WASHINGTON, DC - After co-sponsoring two separate bills to crack down on military sexual assaults and enhance the protections allowed to victims, Senator Lisa Murkowski is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to help the men and women who wear the United States Coast Guard uniform: The Coast Guard STRONG Act. Presently, USCG members have been exempt from provisions under the National Defense Authorization Act that offer victims certain legal rights, since they serve within the Department of Home… Continue Reading

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05.15.13

Murkowski Holding Alaskan Tele-Conference on Arctic Council

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski will hold a media availability on Thursday, May 16th at 12 noon AKDT with the Alaska press corps to discuss her recent trip to the 2013 Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting in Kiruna, Sweden - where she worked to advance responsible Arctic policy and opportunities through discussions with international leaders from other Arctic nations. (Senator Lisa Murkowski, Secretary of State John Kerry and Assistant Secretary of State Kerri-Ann Jones) CLICK HERE … Continue Reading

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05.14.13

Murkowski: “North to the Future Means Now”

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today landed in Kiruna, Sweden for the biennial Arctic Council Ministerial meeting to sit down with international leaders from the seven other Arctic nations and determine intelligent and responsible Arctic policy, while sharing approaches to the opportunities and challenges arising with the emergence of the region. "The world is awakening to the fact that 'North to the Future' means now," said Murkowski. "As important as building infrastructure in Ameri… Continue Reading

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05.13.13

Murkowski Fighting for Arctic Ports, Alaska Priorities in Senate Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the U.S. Senate considering S.601 the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to address infrastructure priorities on America's coasts and rivers, Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced three separate amendments to boost Alaska's emerging Arctic opportunities and address the needs of other vital waterfront areas in Seward and Haines. "Port and harbor investment is essential to so many Alaskan communities in Alaska, and I'm glad the Senate has taken up this bill dealing w… Continue Reading

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05.10.13

Alaska Veterans Saluted by Library of Congress

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski's "Veteran Spotlight" was recognized this morning at a Library of Congress event as a model of the 'Best Practices' for its Veterans History Project - an effort to share the oral accounts of war from America's veteran community and inform future generations of their bravery and valor. Murkowski launched her "Veteran Spotlight" series last Memorial Day, and Alaskans from the Alaska Territorial Guard to veterans of our present military conflicts have shared… Continue Reading

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05.10.13

Murkowski Responds to National Arctic Strategy

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed the administration's Strategy for the Arctic Region, to set a tone for the Arctic Council's meeting next week in Sweden - where she has been invited to join Secretary of State John Kerry due to her leadership on Arctic issues on Capitol Hill. She offered the following response: "I welcome the release of the Administration's National Strategy for the Arctic Region, identifying strategic priorities for the United States in the Arctic Region … Continue Reading

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05.09.13

Murkowski Welcomes Review of Denali Commission Operations

WASHINGTON, DC - After a series of meetings with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) explaining why she requested "a top to bottom" review of the Denali Commission, Senator Lisa Murkowski has received word (letter attached) that the federal oversight watchdog will conduct the work she initiated earlier this year. The Commission - an important federal-state partnership directing grants to infrastructure projects - has been beset by concerns about its management and organizational structur… Continue Reading

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05.08.13

Corps of Engineers Pledges Engagement, Transparency on Fort Greely Biomass Plant

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today pushed the U.S. Corps of Engineers for progress and improved engagement with the Delta Junction community as the Corps proceeds with the Fort Greely biomass plant project - which could provide efficient, affordable electricity for the region within a few years. Having just met with several members of the Delta Junction community last week (picture below), she shared their frustrations at not having been engaged by the Corps of Engineers for their in… Continue Reading

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05.08.13

Sen. Murkowski Comments on Plan to Cleanup NPR-A Legacy Wells

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to calls from U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today released a draft plan for the cleanup of decades-old exploration wells drilled by the federal government in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). "After repeated requests, the BLM has finally released a plan to address the ongoing environmental pollution occurring within the NPR-A. That's a step in the right direction, but I'm concerned that the agency appears to h… Continue Reading

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05.08.13

Murkowski Co-Sponsors Crackdown Against Sexual Abuse in Military

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Kelly Ayotte (R- NH) in co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to expand and improve sexual assault prevention and response resources within the Department of Defense. The Combating Military Sexual Assault Act of 2013 would expand current effective policies used by some military branches to the entire Department of Defense (DOD) to care for and protect victims - and serves as an important legislative complement… Continue Reading

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05.08.13

Sen. Murkowski: Bipartisan Hydropower, Energy Efficiency Legislation Could be First Energy Public Laws this Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commended her Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee colleagues for working together to advance energy legislation. The committee voted to move five bills out of committee on hydropower and energy efficiency. "It's encouraging to see senators from both sides of the aisle coming together to work on bipartisan energy legislation. Sen. Wyden and I have made it a priority to focus on areas of broad consensus, where we can really ma… Continue Reading

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05.07.13

Murkowski Pushes Interior Department to Repair, Restore Trust Relationship for Contract Support Costs

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today took the opportunity of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell's first appearance before the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee to press the newly-confirmed Cabinet head for answers on the Obama Administration's proposal which would limit the rights of tribes to make claims for contract support costs from both the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service. During her questioning, she received firm pledges and commitments from both Se… Continue Reading

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05.07.13

Murkowski to Interior: Legacy Well Proposal “Dead On Arrival”

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski today criticized the Interior Department's budget proposal for attempting to make Alaska pay for the decades-old broken promises of the federal government. "There are two proposals in this request that are frankly an insult to the people of Alaska," Murkowski said. "I'm speaking particularly of the legislative proposals concerning future funding for the cleanup of 'legacy wells' in the National Petroleum Reserve and the completion of surveys necessary to… Continue Reading