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 Salutes “Mala the Magnificent” on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski took the occasion of the 105th anniversary of Ray Mala's birth to share the memories and the meaning of the nation's first Native film star. An Alaska Native and the first non-white actor to receive top billing in Hollywood entertainment, Mala was born on December 27th, 1906 in Candle, Alaska. Over the course of his career, he worked with cinema legends like Alfred Hitchcock and Cecil B. DeMille. "It is a great honor for me to reflect upon the life of … Continue Reading
12.17.11
Delegation Recognizes the 40th Anniversary of ANCSA
Washington, D.C. -Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich, along with the support of Congressman Don Young passed a resolution recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. On December 18, 1971, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) was enacted to settle longstanding issues of the Alaska Native aboriginal land claims. "When Alaska Business Monthly recently announced the Top 49 Alaskan-owned business list, it was no surprise to see that 8 of the top 10 … Continue Reading
12.17.11
Omnibus Appropriations Bill Brings Alaska Vital Funds
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced a number of funding priorities for Alaska addressed in the $1 trillion omnibus appropriations bill that passed the Senate with bipartisan support. The omnibus bill, which will fund the federal government for the remainder of the 2012 Fiscal Year, now heads to President Obama for his signature. The Senator sits on six different appropriations subcommittees, and is the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Interior, … Continue Reading
12.17.11
Murkowski Votes for Benefit Extensions, 20,000 Jobs for America
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted for the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, which will continue to put added money into working Americans paychecks and keeps benefits going through February to those unemployed and looking for work. The act also extends the current medicare reimbursement rate and aid to needy families for two months. To make certain the bill does not add to the nation's deficit, it will be paid for by a bipartisan agreement to raise guarantee fees … Continue Reading
12.16.11
Murkowski Comments on BOEM Release of Shell Exploration
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) conditional approval of Shell's exploration plan for Alaska's Chukchi Sea, which requires Shell to stop drilling 38 days before ice forms around the drill site. BOEM has set Sept. 24 as the final day Shell can drill in the Chukchi next year. "Some of the conditions attached to this decision seem to be a response to newspaper ads, rather than founded in sc… Continue Reading
12.16.11
Spending Bill Reaffirms Restriction on “Wild Lands” Designations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today unveiled language included in the 2012 Interior spending bill that blocks federal land management agencies from creating new wilderness areas without first getting Congressional approval. "It should be no surprise to the administration that Congress is again reconfirming that the executive branch does not have authority to set aside lands in wilderness-like classifications," Murkowski said. "This should be a clear message to the admi… Continue Reading
12.16.11
Murkowski: Interior Appropriations a Boon for Alaskan Causes
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced a number of funding priorities for Alaska reflected in the 2012 Interior Appropriations Bill working its way through the House and Senate - on areas ranging from resources to public health to recreation. Murkowski is the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, which, with her role on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, gives her authorizing and appropriating powe… Continue Reading
12.15.11
Murkowski on Christen: “It Often Takes a Little Time to Get the Best”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted to confirm Alaskan Supreme Court Justice Morgan Christen as the first Alaskan woman to serve on the Ninth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, in an overwhelming 95-3 vote. Prior to the vote, Senator Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor in support of Justice Christen. "Morgan Christen is an experienced, well-rounded attorney," said Murkowski. "She is an exceptionally well-rounded jurist with experience on the trial and appellate bench. She … Continue Reading
12.15.11
Bill Blocks NPS from Conducting Boating Checks on State Waters
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski today announced that the 2012 Interior Appropriations bill includes language restricting the National Park Service's authority to conduct boater safety checks within the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. "Congressman Young and I worked together to craft this language to address the growing frustration Alaskans have with the unprecedented overreach of federal land managers," Murkowski said. "Park Service rangers are not the Coast Guard." The provi… Continue Reading
12.15.11
Murkowski Provision to Return Authority for Arctic OCS to Interior
WASHINGTON, D.C. - After months of negotiations, Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced a deal that would return authority over air emissions from offshore activity in the Arctic to the Interior Department via the 2012 Interior Appropriations Bill. Murkowski is the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, giving her authorizing and appropriating power over the Interior Department. "This language is one of the most important s… Continue Reading
12.13.11
Murkowski Warns Oceans Caucus of the “Great Consequences” Of Illegal Fishing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski, Co-Chair of the Senate Oceans Caucus today took part in a briefing on Capitol Hill with Senators Dan Inouye (D-HI), Co-Chair Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Mark Begich to discuss the global problem of illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing commonly referred to as IUU or pirate fishing. "When we have illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing that goes on, we can see great consequences when we do not have the rules in place and when we do not have … Continue Reading
12.13.11
Murkowski Appreciates “Thoughtful” Postal Service Decision
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Earlier today, the United States Post Office announced it has agreed to delay closing or consolidating any Post Office or mail processing facility until May 15, 2012. Senator Murkowski had the following reaction upon hearing the news: "I've asked for two things from the United States Postal Service as it adapts to survive in a digital era: a thoughtful approach that considers up-to-date and accurate information and an awareness that Alaska's geography is different from the l… Continue Reading
12.13.11
Murkowski Backs New Deficit Reduction Plan
WASHINGTON, DC- Senator Lisa Murkowski today joined four of her Senate colleagues to introduce the Deficit Reduction Implementation Act of 2011, which would create an opportunity for other Congressional proposals to receive a simple up or down vote and the same streamlined process afforded to the "Super Committee" - as long as the legislation meets the same $1.5 trillion goal of deficit reductions. She is joined by Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Bob Corker (R-TN), and Mark Kirk… Continue Reading
12.12.11
Murkowski to Prepare ‘Safety Valve’ Bill to Protect Electric Reliability
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today reiterated her concerns regarding the imminent release of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Utility MACT rule and its potential to cause power disruptions. The Utility MACT rule is due out this week and the EPA have yet to adequately address the concerns about reliability raised by Murkowski and many others. "After many communications with the EPA and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in which I asked them t… Continue Reading
12.10.11
Murkowski: NRC Commissioners’ Letter Raise Troubling Concerns
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today called on President Obama to address concerns raised by members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) about the actions and management style of the agency's chairman, Gregory Jaczko. "I have serious concerns about the ability of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to protect the safety of the nation's 104 commercial nuclear reactors under the divisive leadership of Chairman Jaczko," Murkowski said. Four of the five members o… Continue Reading
12.09.11
Murkowski Invites Alaskans To Join “#MyAKTree” Campaign
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced the "#MyAKTree" holiday campaign, inviting Alaskans to share pictures of their household Christmas trees on her Facebook page and via her Twitter account. "We do everything bigger in Alaska - whether it's the hefty trees many of us chop down and take home to decorate, or the festive spirit we display through the holiday season," said Murkowski. "I'm always talking up Alaskans to my Senate colleagues from the lower 48, so I'm encouragin… Continue Reading
12.09.11
Murkowski: State Offer Proves More Attractive in Dueling Lease Sales
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today congratulated state officials in Alaska for this week's successful petroleum lease sale, which netted the state nearly $21 million in high bids. "The state's successful sale clearly sends the message that Alaska is open for business," Murkowski said. "Unfortunately, because of the problems with the federal permitting process there was a lot less interest in the federal sale." Wednesday's offer of state-owned acreage on the North S… Continue Reading
12.09.11
Alaska Delegation: Take Care of Our Alaska Workers
The Alaska Congressional Delegation is calling on the U.S. Army's top officials to make sure workers impacted by a recent announcement to reduce civilian personal numbers at Army bases are treated in a manner which recognizes their dedication in support of our troops. The Army has announced it would decrease the total civilian workforce nationwide by 8,741, to include 78 positions in Alaska, to achieve efficiency and cost savings directed by former Secretary Robert Gates. The Alaska Delegation… Continue Reading
12.08.11
Murkowski Continues Fight For LIHEAP Aid
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation that attempts to fund the low income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) at 2011 levels. Senators Snowe (R-ME) and Reed (D-RI) are the sponsors of S.1961, the LIHEAP Protection Act which would maintain a flat funding level of $4.7 billion instead of the $3.6 billion currently in the 2012 Labor, Health and Human Service, Education and Related Agencies bill. "I worry that so many rural Alaskans are facing high price… Continue Reading
12.08.11
Murkowski Comment on Cloture Vote Against Richard Cordray
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against the cloture motion on the confirmation of Richard Cordray, nominee to head the newly-created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She had the following statement afterwards: "My decision to oppose cloture on Mr. Cordray's nomination wasn't due to his credentials, but due to my concerns regarding the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau itself. Everyone agrees that Wall Street reform is necessary but the CFPB crea… Continue Reading
