07.12.12

Begich, Murkowski Call for National Arctic Strategy

Washington, D.C. - Making the point that the United States is the only Arctic nation lacking a formal strategy on the Arctic, U.S. Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski are calling on President Obama to create of an overall U.S. strategy for the Arctic. In a letter to the President, Sens. Begich and Murkowski stress that now is the time for the United States to develop an expanded policy which ties together all of the policies and visions of the multiple federal agencies dealing with energy a… Continue Reading

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07.12.12

Abandoned Federal Wells Represent Another Failed and Broken Promise to Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today questioned Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officials about the agency's 40-year failure to clean up federally drilled oil and natural gas exploration wells in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). Click photo to play video "This is the type of crime the federal government would fine a private company millions of dollars for, but since these wells were drilled and are owned by a federal agency they are allowed to willful… Continue Reading

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07.11.12

Murkowski Fights Against Military Fraud

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined the fight to punish attempts by individuals to make money through misrepresenting themselves as heroes from military service - as a co-sponsor of S.1728, the Stolen Valor Act. The bill would impose a punishment on individuals who commit fraud by lying about their military service with the intention of receiving anything "of value" in return. "Alaska has over 75,000 men and women who have served their country bravely, none of whom deserve… Continue Reading

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07.09.12

Murkowski Submits Comment on JPARC EIS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the deadline approaching tonight for public comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement surrounding the expansion of Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, Senator Lisa Murkowski today finalized and submitted her thoughts on the enhancements and modernization via letter (attached). To the unique advantages provided by Alaska, Murkowski writes: "As the comment period on the DEIS closes my office has not been given the opportunity to review the comments submitted… Continue Reading

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07.06.12

Murkowski Announces High School Interns for July Session

Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced the names of her second session summer interns who will work in her Washington, D.C. office starting next week. These recent Alaskan high school graduates will have the opportunity to observe the fast-paced Senate environment and legislative process from an up-close view. The 2nd session will run from July 9th - August 3rd. Senator Murkowski selected Jenessa Albertson of Ketchikan; Courtney Lewis of Soldotna; Sierra Udland from Juneau; Carly Colligan of… Continue Reading

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07.05.12

Murkowski: EPA Leadership Does Not Understand Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today criticized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for refusing to give Alaskans more time to comment on the agency's controversial watershed assessment of the Bristol Bay region. "The EPA's refusal to provide additional time for the public to comment on the draft watershed assessment for Bristol Bay demonstrates, once again, that the agency does not understand Alaska," Murkowski said. "There is no deadline - other than the one a… Continue Reading

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07.04.12

Murkowski Honors Purple Heart Veteran in July 4th Spotlight

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Independence Day, Senator Lisa Murkowski is commemorating it by releasing her latest "Veteran Spotlight" featuring Alaskan veteran Benno Cleveland - a Fairbanks Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War. In his Veteran Spotlight interview, Benno talks about volunteering for the U.S. Army in 1968 under the Great Society Choice after running into trouble with the law in Fairbanks. He served two tours in Dong Tam, Vietnam, earning the Purple Heart before being discharged f… Continue Reading

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07.04.12

Senator Murkowski Wishes Alaskans a Happy Fourth of July

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today offered the following reflections on the Fourth of July: (Click image to watch statement) "Over 230 years ago, a collection of very brave and thoughtful men put their names and lives on the line to support a visionary idea, writing: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.… Continue Reading

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07.03.12

Subsistence Whaling Extended with Vote in Panama

Alaska's Congressional delegation praised strong advocacy by the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC) and the committed work of the U.S. delegation to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) for the renewal of the annual catch limit for subsistence whaling of bowhead whales for six more years. The annual catch limit of 336 whales over the six-year period was set to expire this year but was extended at the ongoing annual meeting of the IWC in Panama City, Panama. The catch limit passed thi… Continue Reading

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06.29.12

Murkowski Works to Keep Emmonak Women’s Shelter Open

Senator Lisa Murkowski today expressed her deep gratitude to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for working with her to come to the aid of the Emmonak Women's Shelter, delivering $50,000 to compensate for a funding gap putting the center's operations in peril. The center -burdened with a work load of up to 500 women and children annually - was low on funds months before the next federal grant money would have been available in September. At Senator Murkowski's request, the center and the BIA have wo… Continue Reading

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06.29.12

Murkowski Votes to Protect College Students from Rate Hike

Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted in favor of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, which - in addition to providing critical resources for key Alaska priorities and extending Secure Rural Schools and PILT programs - maintains the 3.4 percent interest rate on subsidized federal student loans, which was scheduled to double on July 1st. The bill passed 74-19 and Murkowski had the following statement after the vote: "I just had ten immensely motivated recent high school graduates wor… Continue Reading

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06.29.12

Sen. Murkowski Comments on Secure Rural Schools, PILT Extensions

Sen. Lisa Murkowski today commented on the inclusion of a Senate-passed amendment in the final version of the transportation bill, which would extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) programs for one year. "I am happy to see that the conferees included the extensions to the Secure Rural Schools and PILT programs," Murkowski said. "Secure Rural Schools funds are critical to supporting the schools, as well as for road maintenance pr… Continue Reading

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06.29.12

Murkowski, Begich Laud Passage of Pilot’s Bill of Rights

The U.S. Senate today unanimously passed the Pilot's Bill of Rights, legislation important to Alaska's aviation community. The Pilots Bill of Rights was championed by Sen. Mark Begich and Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and was cosponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski. "Flying is a way of life in Alaska. It's key to economy, jobs and tourism," Begich said. "With six times more pilots per capita than the re… Continue Reading

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06.29.12

Murkowski Calls for White House Action on Looming Tsunami Debris

Senator Lisa Murkowski is advising President Barack Obama to act immediately to prevent additional damage to Alaska's shores from approaching debris resulting from the devastating March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. In a letter to the White House (attached), the Senator recommended taking preemptory actions by instructing several federal agencies to work together and halt any unnecessary harmful impacts, writing: "I have already seen the impacts of this debris in Alaska while touring c… Continue Reading

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06.28.12

Murkowski Satisfied with Transportation Bill’s Progress for Alaska

Senator Lisa Murkowski today applauded the news that the Transportation Reauthorization Bill negotiated in a House-Senate conference will deliver critical funds to Alaska's unique infrastructure needs through rail, road and water transportation projects and maintenance - on top of the resources she was able to direct to Alaska through negotiations in the U.S. Senate. Murkowski also lauded the work of Congressman Don Young - particularly for his work benefitting the Alaska Railroad - who sat at … Continue Reading

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06.28.12

Supreme Court Decision “A New Precedent for Governmental Overreach”

Moments after the United States Supreme Court ruled to uphold the health care reform bill - while identifying the mandate as a new tax on Americans - Senator Murkowski had the following response to the decision. "Today's news from the Supreme Court is troubling to me in that it sets a new precedent for governmental overreach into our health care choices, and a wide majority of Alaskans and Americans feel the same way. "Moving forward, we must repeal this bill and responsibly address health ca… Continue Reading

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06.27.12

Murkowski Urges Colleagues to Alaskanize Mount McKinley, Talkeetna Ranger Station

Senator Lisa Murkowski today pushed for support of her bill that would officially restore the nation's tallest peak, Mount McKinley, to its traditional Interior Alaska Athabascan name: Denali. In a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources National Parks Subcommittee, she also advocated for her legislation that would rename the Talkeetna Ranger Station after the first man to summit Denali: Walter Harper. "My two bills both focus on probably the most storied and photographed geographic… Continue Reading

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06.26.12

Murkowski Responds to Pentagon’s Decision Delaying Proposed F-16 Move

Senator Lisa Murkowski had the following response to the news surrounding the proposal to move the F-16 Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base: "Along with many Alaskans, I am pleased to learn that the Pentagon is delaying the decision to move the F-16 Aggressors from Eielson Air Force Base to J-BER. But while today's announcement provides us with breathing room, we need to use this time and opportunity to make today's victory a permanent one for Alaska and the nation's defense. "On F… Continue Reading

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06.26.12

Murkowski Votes to Outlaw Synthetic Drugs Nationwide

Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted for S.3187, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act that contains several high-profile Alaska-related benefits - from making Alaska's tough policy against synthetic drugs the national standard to improving the issue of drug shortages in Alaska and across the country. The bill passed 92-4. "I'm pleased that my vote today takes the common-sense Alaskan policies against these synthetic drugs and raises the national standard to match our own," … Continue Reading

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06.26.12

Murkowski Presses Attorney General On “Avalanche of Leaks”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski joined 26 of her Republican colleagues in demanding Attorney General Eric Holder immediately appoint a special counsel to investigate the "avalanche of leaks" originating out of the White House regarding critical classified intelligence materials. The 27 Senators sent a letter today making their case, including references to then-Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden requesting an independent counsel on two separate occasions during the Bush presidency fo… Continue Reading