02.26.13

Murkowski Votes Against Defense Secretary Nominee Chuck Hagel

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel - who was confirmed on a 58-41 vote - and released the following statement: "While I greatly respect Chuck Hagel's public service, his military career and Vietnam experience do not automatically translate to leading the Pentagon - especially as it faces 21st Century conflicts and challenges. "Twelve days ago, I agreed to proceed to a final vote on Senator Hagel because it has been my general … Continue Reading

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02.26.13

Murkowski Calls for Review of Federal Energy Efficiency Authorities, Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski took her energy agenda to the other side of Capitol Hill this morning and testified before a House of Representatives Subcommittee, sharing her views on the federal government's potential role in advancing energy efficiency - a key policy component featured in her Energy 20/20 blueprint she unveiled earlier this month - while also seeking efficiencies within the Department of Energy. Murkowski stressed that as Congress seeks to put the nation on a fisca… Continue Reading

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02.25.13

Murkowski Honors U.S. Army Veteran, Alaskan Leader

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her ninth Veteran Spotlight installment today, showcasing the work of Hugh "Bud" Fate, a U.S. Army Veteran who was drafted during the Korean War and helped map the ALCAN Highway for military use. Born in 1929, Fate recalls his family being greatly impacted by the Great Depression when he was a child. As a young man, he moved to Alaska for better job opportunities and for the Frontier life style. Fate recalls working on a drill rig on the No… Continue Reading

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02.25.13

Murkowski Takes Case for Alaska Natural Gas Exports Directly to Japanese Prime Minister Abe

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski on Friday met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (AH-bey) and other top Japanese officials to discuss opportunities to send Alaskan natural gas to his country to meet Japan's growing energy needs. This came one day after Murkowski - the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee - shared her "Energy 20/20" blueprint with the Alaska State Legislature, which included a goal of expanded exports. "Alaska is the ideal sour… Continue Reading

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02.15.13

Murkowski Commemorates 24th Elizabeth Peratrovich Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today offered the following statement in advance of Elizabeth Peratrovich Day, which takes place in Alaska tomorrow: (Click HERE to watch video message) "This weekend, the State of Alaska will once again gather to celebrate one of our greatest civil rights activists and female leaders, Elizabeth Peratrovich. As many Alaskans know, there are few names in our history that exemplify timeless impact and progress more so than Elizabeth." "Elizabeth and h… Continue Reading

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02.15.13

Murkowski Announces President’s Day Work Week Schedule

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced that she will be visiting Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau over the Presidents Day week - and will be available for media opportunities at several events. Following are details of media availabilities: ANCHORAGE: WHEN: Friday, February 15, 2013; 7:00 p.m. WHAT: Armed Services YMCA of Alaska - 36th Annual Salute to the Military WHERE: Egan Civic & Convention Center 555 West 5th Avenue, Anchorage, AK WHEN: S… Continue Reading

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02.15.13

Murkowski Launches "Eielson Closing Argument" Initiative

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Though the Eielson F-16 public hearings around Alaska have concluded, Senator Lisa Murkowski wants every concerned Alaskan to know the comment period doesn't end until March 1st. Unfortunately, the Air Force has not set up any online system for collecting public comments. In an effort to give every concerned Alaskan a direct line to the Pentagon before the deadline, Senator Murkowski today is launching the "Eielson Closing Argument" project to compile viewpoints before deliv… Continue Reading

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02.15.13

Sen. Murkowski: Meeting with USFWS on King Cove Access Road “Unsatisfactory”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on Thursday met with top officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the agency's opposition to a land exchange that would provide emergency road access for the people of King Cove, Alaska. Murkowski, who met with USFWS Alaska Regional Director Geoff Haskett and USFWS Director Dan Ashe in her Washington, D.C. Senate office, called the meeting "unsatisfactory." "I am now even more concerned that the Fish and Wildlife Service simply… Continue Reading

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02.15.13

Murkowski Urges President Obama to Approve Keystone XL

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the top Republican on the United States Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Lisa Murkowski recently participated in a Senate floor conversation focused on energy and pressured President Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline - pointing out how projects like this are consistent with her recently-released national energy blueprint: Energy 20/20. The colloquy was led by Senator John Hoeven, R-ND and included a bipartisan group of eight senators. (Clic… Continue Reading

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02.15.13

Murkowski Fighting to Improve Alaska, National Housing Market

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski has introduced an important bill with a diverse, bipartisan group of Senate colleagues designed to help potential homebuyers get out of 'limbo' when considering a short sale property. Murkowski was joined by five Senators from both sides of the aisle in an effort to fix the lengthy closing process associated with short-sales - where banks are called on to approve offers on properties where sellers owe more on their mortgage than the selling price. "For … Continue Reading

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02.14.13

Murkowski Pushes Senate Panel on “Enormously Disruptive” Alaskan Impacts of Sequestration

WASHINGTON, DC - With $85 billion in across-the-board federal cuts set to begin on March 1st, Senator Lisa Murkowski today pressed administration officials about the rationale being used and attempted to get hard specifics about where those cuts will be made. In a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee - one which Murkowski had asked the Committee Chairs to hold - Murkowski used the opportunity to prod the witnesses to give more details or explain their process. Senator Murkowski opene… Continue Reading

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02.14.13

Murkowski Statement on Hagel Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today released the following statement after she voted to end debate and proceed to a final vote on Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel: "I recognize that many of my Republican colleagues have unanswered questions about Chuck Hagel and I understand their reasoning for not advancing this to a 'yes or no' vote. Given the fact he was moved out of committee just two days ago - and on a party line vote - I don't believe it was unreasonable … Continue Reading

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02.13.13

Murkowski Welcomes Extension of Frankenfish Comment Period

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed a Food and Drug Administration decision to extend the 60-day comment period on genetically engineered salmon through April 26th - ensuring that the concerns of countless Alaskans and hundreds of fish, consumer, environmental and religious groups will have a full chance to be heard. Murkowski, long an opponent of "Jurassic Park"-style DNA splicing of 'Frankenfish," has worked with a Coastal Coalition of Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Ocean S… Continue Reading

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02.13.13

Murkowski: State of the Union Speech a Disappointment

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski tonight responded to President Obama's State of the Union address in a thorough critique she shared with Alaskans, where she discussed the President's numerous suggestions and initiatives. (Senator Murkowski comments on State of the Union Address) Senator Murkowski on the President's lack of economic focus: (:28 -1:00) "I was disappointed. I have stated that the number one issue for us as a Congress and as a nation is to get our fiscal affairs in or… Continue Reading

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02.13.13

Sen. Murkowski Comments on President’s Energy Security Trust

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commented on the Energy Security Trust that President Obama proposed in last night's State of the Union: "There is an idea I may agree with in the president's State of the Union address - an Energy Security Trust. I proposed this idea in my Energy 20/20 blueprint that I released last week. Under my Advanced Energy Trust Fund proposal, new production on previously-closed federal lands could provide a substantial source of new revenue … Continue Reading

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02.12.13

Sen. Murkowski Comments on Executive Order on Cybersecurity

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement in response to President Obama's executive order on cybersecurity: "I understand that the executive order emphasizes a partnership with the owners and operators of critical infrastructure to improve cybersecurity protections. That's good but the details will define where we are headed. "Because information technology is changing at such a quick pace and cyber threats are also evolving at breakneck sp… Continue Reading

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02.12.13

Violence Against Women Act Bill Passes Senate

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted in support of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization bill that she co-sponsored, adding that the legislation is now at a critical juncture as it heads to the House of Representatives. The bill resoundingly passed on a bipartisan basis, 78-22. The bill reauthorizes the landmark Violence Against Women Act which was enacted nearly two decades ago, strengthens and improves existing programs that assist victims and survivors of dome… Continue Reading

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02.12.13

Murkowski Keeps Top Republican Position on Interior Appropriations Subcommittee

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced that she is retaining her Ranking Member status on the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee - where she will have a critical seat at the negotiating table to set the funding priorities for an enormous range of Alaskan-related policy areas. In her position of Ranking Member, she will work directly with both Senate and House Chairmen, as well as the Administration to craft each year's final bill. The Subcommittee holds responsibility for th… Continue Reading

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02.12.13

Sen. Murkowski: America’s Abundance of Natural Gas Holds Great Economic Promise

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today stressed the importance of a thoughtful approach to dealing with issues affecting natural gas during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing on the topic. (Click photo for full video of the opening statement.) "Without a doubt, the new technology that we're seeing has enabled a natural gas boom that has changed our energy landscape and the outlook for our economy," Murkowski said. "Natural gas is now an abundant, affordable, … Continue Reading

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02.12.13

Sen. Murkowski Calls on White House, Interior to Approve King Cove Access Road

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today sent letters to President Obama and Vice President Biden urging them to reverse a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision opposing a land exchange that would provide emergency road access for the people of King Cove, Alaska. "I could not feel more strongly that the Fish and Wildlife Service's recent decision was wrong, and that if allowed to stand it would have grave consequences for the people of King Cove," Murkowski wrote in the le… Continue Reading