Press Releases
Media Requests: Members of the media can contact the press office by emailing Joseph_Plesha@murkowski.senate.gov or by calling 206-302-8317 and asking for the press office.
Murkowski Casts Vote Against Buffett Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against taking up the "Buffett Tax" bill and shared the following statement after her vote: "It's extremely frustrating that as most Americans struggle to fill up their gas tank, heat their home or find work, they see the U.S. Senate taking a vote that does nothing to address those priorities. "America needs to come to grips with our fiscal situation, but through comprehensive, bipartisan tax reform - the same approach recommended by the … Continue Reading
04.13.12
Senator Murkowski Statement on Kodiak Shooting, Victims
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today had the following statement in response to the United States Coast Guard naming the victims slain in yesterday's shooting at a communications station in Kodiak. "My thoughts, concerns and prayers are with the Belisle and Hopkins families - as well as the entire Kodiak community - as the Alaskans there cope with the shock of the shooting of two Coast Guard members. Alaska's resilient and resourceful guardians are deeply committed to our state, our … Continue Reading
03.30.12
Murkowski Welcomes Approval of Air Permits for Shell’s Kulluk Drillship
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding a decision by the Environmental Protection Agency's internal appeals board confirming the validity of air-quality permits for Shell's Kulluk drillship to explore Alaska's Arctic waters this summer. "Today's decision by the EPA's appeals board brings us closer than we've ever been to proving up the vast storehouse of oil and gas off Alaska's northern coastline," Murkowski said. "While ther… Continue Reading
03.30.12
Murkowski: Agreement Represents Step Forward on Gas Line
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement in response to the announcement that the major North Slope producers and the TransCanada Pipeline Co. have agreed to pursue a single pipeline project: "It's encouraging that the major leaseholders are once again talking about a single pipeline project to commercialize Alaska's North Slope natural gas. This is the first time in many, many years that there's been alignment among the leaseholders, TransC… Continue Reading
03.30.12
Alaska Senators Introduce Bill to Advance Research in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
WASHINGTON, DC-Today U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Begich (D-AK), Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Daniel Inouye (D-HI) introduced The Advancing FASD Research, Prevention, and Services Act to improve research, prevention, and services for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). FASD is an umbrella term that describes a range of physical and mental birth defects that can occur in a fetus when a pregnant woman drinks alcohol. Alcohol exposure during pregnancy is a leading cause of non-heredit… Continue Reading
03.30.12
Murkowski Comments on JPARC Draft EIS Statement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today released the following statement after Alaskan Command released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the modernization and enhancement of the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. "The Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) is the premier joint training range in the United States and will become even more important to US national security in the coming years as training ranges in the Lower 48 find themselves limited in their ability to op… Continue Reading
03.29.12
Murkowski Touts Alaskan Seafood at Senate Oceans Caucus
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski, co-chair of the U.S. Senate Oceans Caucus today hosted a briefing of the bipartisan group - this meeting focusing on American seafood jobs and the importance of the U.S. seafood industry to our national and coastal region economies. The experts offering testimony represented the seafood industry in the Gulf of Mexico, West Coast, Chesapeake Bay and New England. She opened the discussion with the following statement: "In the state of Alaska, this is o… Continue Reading
03.29.12
Murkowski Invites President Obama to “Milkshake” Summit on ANWR Development
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today invited President Barack Obama to a "milkshake" summit to discuss a new approach to opening the non-wilderness portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to responsible oil and gas development. Murkowski's invitation was motivated by an exchange at today's White House Press Briefing, during which Press Secretary Jay Carney was asked about the President's position on legislation that Murkowski introduced last year. Carney respon… Continue Reading
03.29.12
Murkowski Brings “Choose Respect” Movement to Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski took to the U.S. Senate floor today and shared the "Choose Respect" message with her Senate colleagues and all those watching proceedings from the gallery. Immediately following the Choose Respect rally outside the U.S. Capitol, Murkowski spent a few moments telling the Senate and the national viewing audience about the fight that all Alaskans are engaged in against domestic abuse and sexual assault. (Click box to watch) An excerpt from her floor… Continue Reading
03.29.12
Alaska Delegation Chooses Respect at Capitol Hill Rally
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski joined with Senator Mark Begich and Representative Don Young today in a show of support for Governor Parnell's "Choose Respect" initiative. The delegation participated in a rally at the U.S. Capitol, to stand together with all Alaskans to march against the plague of domestic violence and sexual assault that harms Alaska. (Click photo for video of remarks: click here for b-roll of event) "We stand together with Governor Parnell as a nationwide net… Continue Reading
03.29.12
Alaska Delegation Introduces Legislation Naming Juneau Courthouse Facilities
The Alaska Congressional Delegation, looking to honor his many years of service and dedication to the state of Alaska, has introduced legislation to name the federal courthouse facilities in the Juneau Federal Building after the late Judge Robert Boochever. Judge Boochever moved to and began his service to Alaska in 1946 first as an assistant U.S. attorney and later as the fourth Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. In 1980, Judge Boochever became the first Alaskan to serve on the Federal… Continue Reading
03.29.12
Murkowski to Hold Break-Up Forecast Roundtable
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced she is holding a roundtable discussion with state and federal authorities next Thursday in Anchorage - that will be livestreamed to all Alaskan communities - on the upcoming spring thaw and potential flood risks in Alaska. "Alaska has seen a historic winter of snowfall," said Murkowski. "But after the snow piles peak and before the water levels increase, Alaskans' concerns and anxieties rise about the break-up and flood season ahead. I … Continue Reading
03.29.12
Murkowski: Addressing Rising Gasoline Prices is National Imperative
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, made the following opening statement at today's hearing on gasoline price trends: "It's true that many factors are driving up fuel costs for Americans. Some are beyond the control of the President and the Congress. But others, we can influence. We can influence pipeline capacity, by approving them on a timely basis. We can influence whether refineries stay in busines… Continue Reading
03.28.12
Murkowski Offers ANWR, Permitting Amendments to Energy Tax Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed her frustration over the inability to vote on amendments to the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies bill due to the Senate Majority Leader blocking all Republican amendments. "This is the only energy bill that's been up for debate on the Senate floor this Congress and instead of having a real discussion about policy, Democrats are engaged in a political messaging exercise," Murkowski said. "Republicans introduced 32 energy amendme… Continue Reading
03.28.12
Murkowski Drills Down on Eielson Savings Claim
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today pressed United States Air Force officials about the methods and reasoning being relied upon in its proposal to move the F-16 Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. During a hearing of the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, Murkowski asked what data has changed since the Pentagon's attempted BRAC of Eielson in 2005 and received assurance that the USAF will take a "broader look" than… Continue Reading
03.28.12
Approval of Spill Response Plan Moves Shell Closer to Exploration
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today congratulated the Obama administration for its approval of Shell's spill response plan for Alaska's Beaufort Sea. "Today's approval by Interior marks one of the last major hurdles that Shell must overcome to explore for oil in Alaska's northern waters this summer," Murkowski said. "This is good news for Alaska and the nation, which needs the energy, jobs and econ… Continue Reading
03.28.12
Murkowski: Stevens Trial Among Justice Department’s “Darkest Moments”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today submitted a statement for the record (attached in its entirety) in a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee focused on the independent investigator Henry Schuelke's report on the prosecutorial misconduct surrounding the trial of Senator Ted Stevens. Senator Murkowski addressed the misconduct of the Department of Justice prosecution team, her recent legislation that would attempt to eliminate future unethical prosecutions - and the lingering qu… Continue Reading
03.27.12
Murkowski: Raising Taxes on Oil Producers Will Not Lower Gas Prices
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today took to the Senate floor to speak in favor of decreasing America's dependence on OPEC imports by increasing domestic oil production. Murkowski made her comments during debate over legislation offered by Democrats to increase taxes on American oil producers by about $2 billion a year. The full text of her speech is below. (Click video to watch speech) "I rise in opposition to the proposal to raise taxes on American energy com… Continue Reading
03.27.12
Murkowski: Is Air Force "Going Around" BRAC Laws?
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today continued searching for answers to lingering questions surrounding the proposed move of the F-16 Aggressor squadron from Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, and the United States Air Force's announced plan to reduce personnel at Eielson by 50 percent in coming years. Murkowski pursued her line of questioning from both ends of the envisioned move - pressing the military on the legitimacy of the Eiels… Continue Reading
03.27.12
Murkowski Comment on EPA New Source Performance Standards for CO2 Emissions from Power Plants
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following comment on the release of draft climate regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "While I am still reviewing the full rule, it's clear that the administration has decided to try to outlaw coal - one of America's most abundant, affordable and secure energy resources," Murkowski said. "The administration is using this new rule to accomplish what Congress refused to impose on the economy when it reje… Continue Reading
