02.15.12

Murkowski, Begich Fight to Restore Road Funding Balance

WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today co-sponsored an amendment (attached) to S. 1813, the Surface Transportation Bill that would keep Alaska's federally recognized tribes from being disproportionately harmed through a funding formula change to the Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) program. The Senators also proposed to restore 'High Priority Projects' funds that totaled $14 million last year in rural Alaska. The new formula proposed in the bill would funnel the existing… Continue Reading

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02.14.12

Senators Call on Majority Leader Reid to Allow Hearings, Debate on Cybersecurity Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Kay Bailey Hutchison, John McCain, Chuck Grassley, Saxby Chambliss Jeff Sessions and Mike Enzi today sent a letter calling on Majority Leader Reid to reconsider his plan to bypass regular order on the Lieberman/Collins cybersecurity bill. "If we are serious about enacting effective legislation into law, we must provide all Members of the Senate the opportunity to become adequately informed by regular order. This is not the kind of legislation tha… Continue Reading

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02.14.12

Murkowski Urges Heart Disease Awareness for Women

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined the Women's Heart Health Foundation, encouraging women to communicate to one another about the high risk of heart disease - given that too few women are aware a woman dies every minute from heart disease, stroke or other forms of cardiovascular disease. "I urge you to use your networks, talk to other women, go home tonight and share it with people you know," Murkowski told the women in attendance. "Tweet it, go to your Facebook page. Put t… Continue Reading

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02.13.12

Murkowski Responds to White House Budget

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski today had the following reaction to President Obama's budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2012: "My initial response to the President's budget today is that it represents another missed opportunity. The President had an opportunity to show leadership and attempt to get our fiscal house in order when it comes to spending, entitlement and tax reform, but instead he is proposing adding another trillion dollars to our debt - ignoring the … Continue Reading

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02.13.12

Murkowski Opens Juneau Office to Strengthen Outreach

Senator Lisa Murkowski announced the opening of a new office today in Juneau, to improve her connectivity with constituents in the capital city. While Murkowski staffer Colleen McCowan has been working in Juneau for a number of months, Senator Murkowski's new office, which is located in the heart of downtown Juneau, provides a place for Alaskans to more easily connect with the Senator. "The city of Juneau is a vibrant community with a high fluency in politics, and I'm glad this opens up an imp… Continue Reading

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02.10.12

Murkowski Fights for Rural Justice Commission Return

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski is proposing a framework to restart the Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission -- which has exhausted its authorized funding levels - in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. Other Murkowski provisions successfully included in the bill during a Senate Judiciary Committee working session promote the health and safety of Alaskan women in remote locations. "The Rural Justice Commission has been a critical component to provide public s… Continue Reading

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02.10.12

Murkowski Renews Request for Oversight Hearing on DOE Loan Guarantee Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today renewed her request to Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hold an oversight hearing on the Department of Energy's loan programs. This renewed request comes as the Obama administration released an audit of the Loan Program Office (LPO) at DOE. "It's clear that implementation of the DOE's loan programs has flaws that need to be addressed," Murkowski said. "As the Senate committee of juris… Continue Reading

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02.09.12

Murkowski, NY Yankee Teixeira Discuss Afterschool Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today met with New York Yankees First Baseman Mark Teixeira to share ideas about how afterschool programs benefit youth in Alaska, Harlem, and across the nation. "While I wish Mark had played in the Alaska Baseball League, he really recognizes the positive impacts sports and afterschool programs can bring," said Murkowski. "The confidence and discipline that sports instills in youth can be applied across the board - as can afterschool programs that p… Continue Reading

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02.09.12

Alaska Delegation Questions Air Force Over Eielson Decision

Following a meeting with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz today, the Alaska Congressional Delegation released a set of unified statements. The meeting was requested by the Alaska Congressional Delegation to question as well as hear the reasoning behind the Air Force's recently announced plan to relocate the 18th Aggressor F-16 Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Congressman Don Young: "Overall, I was pleased with the candidness of t… Continue Reading

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02.09.12

Murkowski Applauds NRC Approval of New Reactors

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval of a Combined Construction and Operating License for two new nuclear reactors at Southern Co.'s Vogtle plant in Georgia. "Today's decision clears the way for the first construction of new nuclear reactors here in decades," Murkowski said. "This was the right decision both for our energy security and our economy. The greatest thing we can do to ensure a robust economy is to make … Continue Reading

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02.08.12

Murkowski Welcomes News on Prosecutorial Misconduct Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the March 15th release of the investigation he ordered into prosecutorial misconduct during the trial of Senator Ted Stevens - a report that he said in November showed "systematic concealment of significant exculpatory evidence." Senator Murkowski had the following reaction to the news: "The legacy of the Stevens trial - not just in Alaska, but nationwide - has become bigger than one man; it's become a national example of abus… Continue Reading

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02.07.12

Murkowski Fights for Religious Freedom from Health Care Mandate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today co-sponsored S. 2043, The Religious Freedom Restoration Act that would halt the recent Obama Administration directive that some religiously-affiliated institutions will be required to defy their belief systems when providing some health care services for current employees. "Religious freedoms are a large part of what makes this country great," Murkowski said. "This is a Catholic issue as well as a concern for every Baptist, Jew, Muslim or anyone… Continue Reading

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02.07.12

Alaska Senators Ask Panetta to Explain, Reconsider F-16 Decision

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta expressing their concern over an Air Force proposal to move the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks to Joint Base-Elmendorf Richardson in Anchorage. In a joint letter to Sec. Panetta, the Senators point out nothing has changed since a similar proposal was rejected in 2005 by the independent Defense Base Closure and Realignment… Continue Reading

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02.07.12

Alaskan’s Story Wins National Job Corps Gold, Scholarship

Senator Lisa Murkowski today congratulated Wasilla resident Megan Dauphinee after her first-prize finish in the 2012 National Job Corps Student Oratory Competition this morning. Participants shared their life stories, and Dauphinee told how her professional aspirations were boosted by Job Corps after a difficult childhood - winning a $1,500 scholarship along with the recognition before a crowd of 300. (Photo courtesy: Office of Senator Murkowski) (Photo courtesy: R… Continue Reading

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02.07.12

Murkowski Addresses NARUC at Winter Meeting

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today gave the following remarks at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' (NARUC) winter meeting: "Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to initiate your Capitol Hill Update. It is a pleasure to be with such a large group of distinguished public officials and industry leaders - and an honor to be your 'lead-off batter' this morning. I am grateful to Commissioner David Wright for the invitation and for his … Continue Reading

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02.06.12

Murkowski Votes to Have Essential Air Service Funded Through 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today voted for the first FAA reauthorization since 2007 - after a series of 23 short-term extensions - giving needed certainty to Alaska's aviation industry and a 21st century infrastructure to the nation's airways. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 passed the Senate 75-20. "I'm always stressing to my Senate colleagues that Alaska's intrastate highway system is our skies - linking communities like Nikolski and Icy Bay to the rural hubs - so it… Continue Reading

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02.06.12

Murkowski, Begich File Legislation Prohibiting F-16 Move

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Murkowski and Begich today introduced legislation (attached) in the U.S. Senate that would expressly bar the United States Air Force from planning or executing the relocation of F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson - and requires that just as many, if not more, F-16s are based at Eielson this September. Alaska's entire Congressional Delegation will be sitting down with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz on Thursday,… Continue Reading

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02.03.12

Murkowski, Begich Fighting F-16 Aggressor Squadron Move from Eielson to Elmendorf, 4 C-130 Retirements at Elmendorf

Senators Murkowski and Begich today issued a united set of statements opposing the Department of Defense's plans to relocate the F-16 Aggressor squadron from Eielson Air Force Base to Elmendorf Air Force Base and retire four C-130 transport aircraft at Elmendorf - as part of a nationwide Pentagon budget reduction strategy. When the Senate returns to session on Monday, Murkowski and Begich will introduce legislation that would prohibit the Air Force from making these moves. Senator Lisa Murk… Continue Reading

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02.03.12

Begich, Murkowski Join Call for Tax Fairness

Washington, D.C. - In an effort to provide fairness to residents of states without an income tax, U.S. Senators Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are joining a call to make extending the state and local sales tax deduction a top priority on Capitol Hill. The deduction, which expired at the end of 2011, gives tax fairness to residents of eight states without an income tax. "As a tax extenders package is considered in the Senate, we urge you to ensure that our constituents are… Continue Reading

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02.02.12

Alaska Delegation Appreciates Kenai Peninsula Borough Disaster Declaration

Washington, D.C. - Alaska's Congressional Delegation is pleased to see action just two weeks after they supported Governor Parnell's request that a disaster declaration be issued for the storm-afflicted Kenai Peninsula Borough. On January 19th, the delegation urged the White House to "act on the request expeditiously" and disburse funds - and today the White House released the following information: On February 2, 2012, President Obama issued a major disaster declaration for the State… Continue Reading