12.06.12

Murkowski Praises Groundbreaking Indian Health Service/VA Agreement

WASHINGTON, D.C. - For years a champion of "Care Closer to Home" for Alaska's veteran population statewide, Senator Lisa Murkowski lauded the Department of Veterans Affairs and Indian Health Service agreement signed this morning where the VA will reimburse tribal health providers nationwide for direct health care services provided by clinics to American Indian and Alaska Native Vets. Rural Alaska Native veterans currently travel hundreds of miles away to the VA health clinics in Anchorage - whi… Continue Reading

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12.06.12

Murkowski Commends Cable Box Energy Efficiency Agreement

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today lauded the Set-Top Box Energy Conservation Agreement, which will make television cable boxes more energy efficient. The agreement, announced by the Consumer Electronics Association and the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, will take effect next month. "I commend the industry for proactively developing a consensus agreement that will save their customers money, and not waiting for a federal mandate that forces them to… Continue Reading

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12.06.12

Murkowski to Obama: No Double Standard for Debt Ceiling

Senator Lisa Murkowski has joined 43 of her Republican colleagues in responding to President Obama's demand to remove Congressional involvement in raising the debt ceiling - a clear abrogation of the check-and-balance role of the legislative branch spelled out by the U.S. Constitution - as negotiations proceed to avert the fiscal cliff. In a letter (attached) to the President, Senator Murkowski and her colleagues pointed out that every significant step towards bipartisan deficit reduction in th… Continue Reading

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12.05.12

Senator Murkowski Applauds Release of Administration's Report on LNG Exports

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following comment on the release by the Department of Energy of a study on the impacts of U.S. natural gas exports as liquefied natural gas (LNG). "The administration should be commended for commissioning such a comprehensive and transparent review of the potential impacts of exporting natural gas," Murkowski said. "It's clear from the study that exporting LNG would be beneficial to the U.S. economy, and the greater the level… Continue Reading

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12.04.12

Murkowski Eielson Delay Gets Final Passage in Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined 97 of her colleagues in passing S.3254, the Defense Authorization Bill, on a bipartisan and unanimous basis. A key amendment proposed by Senator Murkowski and included in the final bill would delay for a year any structure movement like the F-16 Aggressor Squadron transfer being considered by the U.S. Air Force. "I thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Service Committee for accepting my amendment to delay the proposed F… Continue Reading

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12.04.12

Murkowski Votes to Protect Disabled Worldwide with American Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski voted in favor of ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a treaty that would protect the rights of disabled veterans, the handicapped and blind when they travel abroad, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Despite receiving bipartisan support, the treaty failed to receive the 67 Senate votes needed for ratification. "This treaty's bottom line is the most American principle that 'All Men and Women Ar… Continue Reading

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11.30.12

Murkowski Urges Air Force Focus on Eielson's Future

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After months of Alaska congressional delegation sparring with the United States Air Force over the future of Eielson Air Force Base, Sen. Lisa Murkowski took to the Senate floor today to seek common ground with the military, by calling attention to the singular advantages presented by having a robust and diverse Air Force presence in Alaska positioned nearest to the Asia-Pacific Region where the Pentagon is now focusing its energy and attention. Senator Murkowski filed an ame… Continue Reading

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11.30.12

Alaska Delegation Echoes Call for Public Meetings on Eielson Proposal

Citing the importance of community engagement, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich and Congressman Don Young today wrote to the Air Force's top brass encouraging them to hold multiple public meetings and hearings in communities that would be impacted by a proposal to relocate F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks to Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage. The public meetings and hearings are part of a larger Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and housing-study process… Continue Reading

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11.29.12

Murkowski Gets Army Commitment on Tracked Vehicles

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the United States Senate debates the Defense Authorization Bill, an amendment filed by Senator Lisa Murkowski regarding the need for fully functional Small Unit Support Vehicles (SUSVs) - on the heels of her inquiry earlier this fall - has elicited a commitment to improve and overhaul the existing amphibious vehicles. Senator Murkowski received a response from U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Raymond T. Odierno today (attached) informing her the U.S. Army plans to retain… Continue Reading

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11.29.12

Murkowski Amendment Honors Hmong "Stealth Heroes"

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski filed an amendment that would allow Hmong covert operations volunteers during the Vietnam War to be buried in national cemeteries to honor them for their service to the United States. The action has been filed as an amendment (see below) to S.3254 the Defense Authorization Bill presently being considered by the U.S. Senate. "Hmong-Americans who fought and risked their lives in secret for America deserve the same public respect and honor we give the men… Continue Reading

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11.28.12

Murkowski: Protecting Women is “Key Measuring Stick” for Afghanistan Progress

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined forces with six U.S. Senate colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Afghan Women and Girls Security Support Act that would require the Pentagon to put specific processes into place protecting women and girls in Afghanistan - and make that a condition of American forces transitioning out of the country. "A country and a culture can be judged by how it treats the vulnerable within its borders, and the security of women is a serious concern … Continue Reading

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11.27.12

Murkowski: Knowledge, Research Key to Salmon Fisheries Future

WASHINGTON, DC-Senator Lisa Murkowski today thanked Governor Sean Parnell for the 5 year/$30 million Chinook Salmon Research Initiative he unveiled in Kenai, saying: "We were all deeply troubled by this summer's salmon runs, not only for the short-term struggles it caused, but also for the long-term unanswered questions itraised. We can't fully deal with the issues we may be facing without hard data and science to guide our thinking. I worked to restore millions in the 2013 Commerce, Justice … Continue Reading

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11.27.12

Murkowski Praises Edward Itta Pick for U.S. Arctic Research Commission

WASHINGTON, DC -Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to the White House intention to appoint Edward Itta of Barrow to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission with the following statement: "As the nation works towards its Arctic future, it is imperative that we advance well-considered policy to fully leverage our potential as an Arctic Nation. Edward Itta is an extremely intelligent choice for the United States Arctic Research Commission (USARC) as he has been considering Arctic policy and potent… Continue Reading

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11.27.12

Murkowski Applauds Loans for Disaster-Struck Fishery Businesses

Senator Lisa Murkowski welcomed news from the Small Business Administration that low-interest federal disaster loans are being made available to some Alaskan businesses hit hard by the 2012 Chinook Salmon Fishery disaster during this summer's fishing season. Though the Department of Commerce already declared a commercial fishery failure for the Kuskokwim, and Yukon Rivers, along with the Upper Cook Inlet, this decision allows Alaskan businesses impacted by the low king runs to begin recovering … Continue Reading

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11.24.12

Murkowski Encourages Alaskans to Shop Small and Locally

Senator Lisa Murkowski today encouraged Alaskans to support Small Business Saturday and support Alaska's small business community, offering the following remarks: "Thanksgiving weekend is an opportunity to catch up with family and friends, watch some football, eat some turkey - and is the official beginning of holiday shopping season. I want to encourage Alaskans to support our small businesses this weekend through Small Business Saturday. "Whether you're in or around Fairbanks, Anchorage, Ke… Continue Reading

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11.21.12

Murkowski Working to Simplify Port Workers ID Process

Senator Lisa Murkowski is urging the Department of Homeland Security streamline the process for Alaskans working in the maritime industry who need to renew their Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card, a security badge required for access to the state's ports and marinas. Presently, Alaskans suffer from a complicated process that means at least two separate visits to a handful of locations closed more than they are open. In her letter to the Secretary of Homeland Security (… Continue Reading

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11.20.12

Murkowski Honors Gulf War Veteran, Founder of Alaska Veterans Organization for Women

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski is releasing her 6th Veteran Spotlight installment today, featuring U.S. Army veteran Vanessa Meade - who served on the front lines during the Gulf War. Meade continued her service in the National Guard, then came to Alaska where she created the Alaska Veterans Organization for Women last year. During the First Gulf War, Vanessa Meade was a military police officer in Iraq, charged with transporting potentially-dangerous prisoners of war - frequently fin… Continue Reading

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11.19.12

Murkowski: Alaskan Federal Retirees Facing 6-9 Months Without Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With up to 10 percent of Alaska's federal employees estimated to be retiring by year's end, Senator Lisa Murkowski is pushing the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to fix its broken system for distributing and processing retirement benefits which currently are running at a 6 to 9 month backlog. Because of an expiring provision in how pension benefits are calculated, federal employees in Alaska are expected to retire at a higher rate than normal at the end of this year. Bu… Continue Reading

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11.18.12

Murkowski Honors Ted Stevens Legacy at Arlington Cemetery

WASHINGTON, DC -In honor of what would have been Senator Ted Stevens' 89th birthday, Senator Lisa Murkowski visited his gravestone at Arlington National Cemetery, and offered the following reflections: Click the image above for a link to video of Sen. Murkowski at Ted Stevens Grave "On November 18th, we celebrate the birthday of Ted Stevens - he would have been 89 years old this year. Here at Arlington we remember Ted and his life of service to our country, to the state of Alaska, to his f… Continue Reading

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11.15.12

Murkowski Comments on Justice Department Decision on BP Spill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following comment regarding the $4.5 billion in federal penalties imposed on oil company BP for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill that killed 11 people. I'm pleased that BP, the Justice Department and the SEC have reached a settlement," Murkowski said. "While no amount of money will compensate for the lives lost in or the environmental damage done by the explosion, I hope that this will provide a measure… Continue Reading