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: USS Anchorage Should Be Commissioned In Anchorage
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski wrote Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, encouraging him to have the Navy commission the USS Anchorage - a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship - in Anchorage once it completes its sea trials. "Alaskan hospitality is legendary. It is well known through the Armed Forces that no people support our men and women in uniform more enthusiastically than the people of Alaska," Murkowski wrote. Murkowski concluded that "the commissioning ceremony p… Continue Reading
11.22.11
Murkowski Pushes Investigation of Stolen Military Medical Records
Washington, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced an amendment to the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act that calls for a Department of Defense Inspector General investigation into the theft of 4.9 million TRICARE records containing personal information of active duty service members, military families and retirees from the vehicle of a military contractor. TRICARE is the health care program serving the military, retirees and their families worldwide. "Our military families are justifia… Continue Reading
11.22.11
Murkowski Staffer Provides Details on "Human Side" of Storm
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today received information and images from staff member Bob Walsh upon his return from a three-day, 11 village tour of Western Alaska storm damage. Walsh, a Nome native, visited communities impacted by the violent weather system in early November - including Nome, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Kotzebue and Kivalina - and provided Murkowski pictures, anecdotes and experiences he heard from residents. "The constant phone calls with officials and updates were he… Continue Reading
11.21.11
Murkowski Responds to Super Committee Result
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today had the following reaction to the news that the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction will not reach an agreement: "Americans expected and deserved a productive outcome. The 'Super Committee' failed to meet its deadline, not from a lack of trying, and this failure doesn't mean the debate is over. It means we must continue our efforts. If anything, we must double down on our efforts to resolve this issue through a combination of spending … Continue Reading
11.18.11
Murkowski Recognized for Award-Winning Websites
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski is being recognized this year for having two of the best websites in the U.S. Senate - both her personal office's website and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee website, where she is the ranking Republican. "I am proud that my web presence is being recognized as a high quality service for my Alaskan constituents - keeping them connected across the 4,000 miles and four time zones between home and DC," said Murkowski. "Whether it's utiliz… Continue Reading
11.17.11
Key Alaska Needs Cross the Finish Line on Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today supported final passage of an appropriations bill that combines three appropriations bills - meaning millions for Alaska's infrastructure and industry in the next fiscal year have been sent to President Obama for his signature. Murkowski serves on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and 6 different Appropriations Subcommittees. When signed, many Alaskan imperatives can now count on resources for the next year, including: Village Safe Water:… Continue Reading
11.17.11
Murkowski Asks BLM to Clarify Proposed Recreational Shooting Restrictions on Public Lands
WASHINGTON, D.C. - During today's Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, ranking member Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, questioned Interior Department officials about a proposed policy that would restrict recreational shooting on Bureau of Land Management land. (click to watch video) "I've got a real concern about this, as most of my constituents in Alaska clearly do," Murkowski said. "The last time the Department of Interior attempted to regulate guns…, we ended up with … Continue Reading
11.17.11
Oceans Caucus Co-Chair Murkowski Hosts Alaskan Expert
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today convened a briefing of the Senate Oceans Caucus by bringing an expert on the changing ocean environment from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Senator Murkowski is co-chair of the caucus and selected Dr. Jeremy Mathis to speak before the group - spurred by a conversation the two shared during a recent Fairbanks visit. "I am very pleased Dr. Mathis accepted my invitation to present at the Oceans Caucus today," said Murkowski. "I think the information… Continue Reading
11.17.11
Proposed Merger Means Loss of Independence for Regulatory Agency
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed concern and frustration over Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's order to "consolidate" the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). "I'm not convinced the decision to merge OSM into BLM is legally valid or good public policy," Murkowski said at Thursday's Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the issue. "The committees of jurisdiction were not consulted and the Interior's s… Continue Reading
11.16.11
November “National Native American Heritage Month” After Senate Passes Legislation Co-Sponsored by Senator Murkowski
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution co-sponsored by Senator Murkowski recognizing November as National Native American Heritage Month - and next Friday as Native American Heritage Day. "Forty percent of all the federally recognized tribes in the United States call Alaska home," said Murkowski. "So I am proud to call attention to our Alaska's First People - and American Indians and Native Hawaiians, as well - and celebrate their rich contribution to our… Continue Reading
11.16.11
Murkowski to Super Committee: “Let’s Get the Job Done”
WASHINGTON, D.C. -With growing urgency and a rise in bicameral, bipartisan support for a long-term deal, Senator Murkowski today pressed the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction's 12 members to reach an agreement that finds at least $1.2 trillion in savings over the next 10 years. At a U.S. Capitol press conference (footage below), the Senator stood alongside approximately 50 lawmakers on behalf of the over 150 members of the Senate and the House who are encouraging the "Super Committee"… Continue Reading
11.15.11
Murkowski Announces Staff Visit to Storm-Damaged Villages
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced that a member of her staff will be visiting the communities of Nome, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Kotzebue and Kivalina to assess the damage of the recent winter storm on much of western Alaska last week. "Though I was receiving continuous updates from state and federal authorities when the storm was threatening so many of our vulnerable villages, now that the skies and seas have calmed I want a first-hand account of where western Alaska stan… Continue Reading
11.15.11
Murkowski Lauds "Historic" Vote for Sharon Gleason, First Alaskan Woman on Federal Bench
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today voted to confirm Alaskan Judge Sharon Gleason to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, in a overwhelming 87-8 vote preceded by a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate where the Senator praised the nominee. Prior to today's vote, Murkowski sought input from a few of her Alaska bar colleagues to gain additional insight into Gleason's judicial approach - and shared some of the observations with the Senate: "She insists upon litiga… Continue Reading
11.15.11
Murkowski: Regular Review Would Improve Energy Policies
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today gave the following remarks during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Quadrennial Energy Review Act (S.1703): "I welcome the opportunity to consider the Administration's recent technology review and our bipartisan legislation to establish a Quadrennial Energy Review. "I have long believed that our nation needs to develop an energy policy that can endure - a policy that won't be completely revamped every … Continue Reading
11.14.11
Senate Oceans Caucus Will Kick Off with Alaska Focus
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Oceans Caucus co-chair Senator Murkowski today announced that Dr. Jeremy Mathis - head of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Ocean Acidification Research Center - will be the first expert to address the U.S. Senate Oceans Caucus at its first meeting Thursday. "Alaska has more miles of coastline than the rest of the country combined, and those shores represent a wide range of ecosystems - so we have a large body of knowledge to share," said Murkowski. "I'm proud that Al… Continue Reading
11.14.11
Sens. Murkowski and Inhofe Again Ask for Answers on Utility MACT Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, sent letters to Environment Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and Office of Management and Budget Information and Regulatory Affairs Administrator Cass Sunstein regarding the lack of response to previous questions about the proposed Mercury and Air Toxic Standards or "Utility MACT rule." The letter calls upon EPA and OMB to answer questions that have been pending for months, and asks new and potent… Continue Reading
11.11.11
Murkowski Unveils “Veteran Spotlight” to Honor Alaskan Heroes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced she is beginning a "Veteran Spotlight" project - a monthly focus on an Alaska veteran of our conflicts worldwide - to honor and draw the well-deserved attention to Alaska's men and women who served. Every month, the Senator will post a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad, in conjunction with the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. "We can learn a lot about our country, our state, and ours… Continue Reading
11.11.11
Murkowski Spends 11-11-11 Honoring Vets, Volunteering
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today visited the Vietnam Women's Memorial in our nation's capitol to honor the 265,000 women who volunteered alongside their brothers during the Vietnam War. At the memorial, the Senator heard the stories and memories of those who served during the Vietnam era, and updates from the front lines by those serving in today's armed conflicts. "I want to thank all our Veterans and those currently serving in the military, who we honor this day for their sac… Continue Reading
11.11.11
Murkowski: “Freedom Is Not Free”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today shared the following thoughts and reflections in observance of Veterans Day: "On this Veterans Day, I want to pay my own tribute to those who wore the uniform of our great Nation and remind all of Alaska of the tremendous sacrifice they bore when our nation called. Theirs is the highest calling of public service. "We like to say that everything is bigger in Alaska. That goes for our veteran population as well. We have more veterans per capita… Continue Reading
11.10.11
Murkowski: Wilderness Proposals Should Come from States
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following comment in response to the Interior Department's recommendation that 18 backcountry areas in nine states be designated as either wilderness or national conservation areas: "The appropriate process for creating new wilderness areas on federal land is to petition Congress after the federal land management agencies have completed their land management plans and recommendations," Murkowski said. "If a proposal has… Continue Reading
