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 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
12.08.11
Murkowski: Nominee Will Need to Take on Tough Challenges at DOE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed support for nominee Arunava Majumdar to be the Under Secretary of Energy during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources nomination hearing. "Dr. Majumdar's background as a scientist and an engineer makes him a good candidate and a good fit for DOE," Murkowski said. "And while it's not always easy - or fun - to be responsible for a big piece of a federal department, I think his experience at ARPA-E will give him the necessary … Continue Reading
12.06.11
Murkowski Honors John Katz on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today took to the U.S. Senate floor to share her reflections on long-time Alaskan public servant John Katz - who is retiring at year's end - and honor him for his four decades of advocating for policies between the federal government and Alaskan interests. Katz announced his retirement in early October, citing a rising level of frustration with the polarization in Washington, DC - a sentiment echoed by Senator Murkowski in her speech. Additional exc… Continue Reading
12.06.11
Murkowski Statement on Cloture Vote for Caitlin Halligan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today voted to allow Caitlin Joan Halligan of New York an up or down vote to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit in a cloture vote that failed 54-35. She offered the following explanation afterwards: "I stated during the Bush Administration that judicial nominations deserved an up or down vote, except in "extraordinary circumstances" and my position has not changed simply because there is a different President making the nomin… Continue Reading
12.05.11
Murkowski Praises Coast Guard for Efforts to Assist Nome
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Murkowski today spoke with Commandant of the United States Coast Guard Admiral Papp, discussing a number of plans to cut through an ice block off the Nome coast and allow the remaining winter's supply of heating oil and other petroleum products to arrive in the region by year's end. "Admiral Papp and the Coast Guard are working on overcoming a host of logistical hurdles to help Nome find a way forward," said Murkowski. "I appreciate his determination and insistence o… Continue Reading
12.05.11
Murkowski: Agreement Clears Way for NPR-A Production
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the agreement in principle between Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow construction of a road across the Colville River, clearing the way for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to approve the first oil and natural gas production from the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). "This agreement is long overdue, but no less welcomed," Murkowski said. "With this agreement I expect the Cor… Continue Reading
12.02.11
Delegation Refutes USPS Inspector General Bypass Mail Report
Alaska's Congressional Delegation today sent a letter to the United States Postal Service Inspector General, prodding the department for answers to nine questionable claims made in this week's report "Bypass Mail: Beyond Its Original Purpose." Among the questions raised in the letter: False Equivalencies: To criticize the passenger air service supply and demand imbalance created by bypass mail, the report states there are 80 flights/month between Anchorage and Juneau, compared to 90 between… Continue Reading
12.02.11
Murkowski Responds to IPHC Preliminary Halibut Recommendations
WASHINGTON, D.C. -The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) held a briefing earlier this week, discussing its stock assessment and preliminary recommended catch limits for 2012. After following all the proceedings, Senator Murkowski had the following reaction to the announcements: "It is disappointing to hear further reductions are likely, and that the IPHC is suggesting potentially drastic model changes may be needed that would cause steeper reductions. Whether the changes are inco… Continue Reading
