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

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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