02.09.23

Murkowski to DoD Officials: Americans Deserve to Know Why Chinese Spy Balloon Wasn’t Shot Down Over Alaska

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today raised questions to Department of Defense (DoD) officials regarding the Chinese surveillance balloon during a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Oversight Hearing. In her opening statement, Senator Murkowski noted that "Alaska is the first line of defense for America," and asked DoD's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah Royal, "Why was the state that is the first line of defense not able to keep the rest… Continue Reading

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02.09.23

Schatz, Murkowski Elected Chair, Vice Chair Of Committee For 118th Congress

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) were formally elected as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. "None of our achievements last Congress would have been possible without this Committee's bipartisan commitment to Native people in Indian Country, in Alaska, and in Hawai?i," said Chairman Schatz. "Our longstanding tradition of bipartisanship is our strength, so I am truly proud to serve, fo… Continue Reading

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02.08.23

Grant Roundup: Senator Murkowski Announces Federal Grants Heading to Alaska

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the following grants to organizations, tribal entities, and communities in Alaska: Statewide Alaska-Statewide: $8 million to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Program. Alaska-Statewide: $2.8 million to the State of Alaska from the U.S. Department of… Continue Reading

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02.08.23

Murkowski, Sullivan Lead Effort to Lift Outdated PLOs, Remove Barriers to Public Land Access in Alaska

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, (R-Alaska), a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, reintroduced S.175, which would codify the revocation of five Public Land Orders (PLOs), undoing the Biden Administration's efforts to unfairly halt access to federal public lands in Alaska. This legislation would return nearly 28 million acres of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) territory in Alaska to multiple use status by lifting several PLOs still in place after decades of being… Continue Reading

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02.08.23

Murkowski Responds to President Biden’s State of the Union Address

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) tonight released the following statement in response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address: Click here or to watch the Senator's remarks. Excerpts: "He spoke about bipartisan accomplishments, and there certainly have been significant bipartisan accomplishments-I have been part of them. Certainly, the infrastructure bill that we passed into law last year was very significant for the state of Alaska, delivering great benefits to Alaska. It… Continue Reading

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02.03.23

Murkowski Announces U.S. Military Service Academy Nominees

Washington, DC - Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced the names of the 32 young Alaskans she is nominating to the U.S. military service academies for the class of 2027. "I'm honored to announce this year's military service academy nominees. These remarkable young citizens from Alaska have excelled in academics, athleticism, and leadership," said Senator Murkowski. "They have demonstrated capabilities deserving of a nomination to these service academies. I'm proud to recognize the… Continue Reading

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02.03.23

WATCH: UA President Pat Pitney Joins Senator Murkowski on “The Icebreaker” to Discuss Recent Wins for the University

In U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski's inaugural video podcast, "The Icebreaker," University of Alaska System President Pat Pitney joins the Senator to discuss the University of Alaska Fiscal Foundation Act. "The Icebreaker," a new series hosted by Senator Lisa Murkowski, will invite a diverse set of guests discussing issues and events important to Alaskans. Stay tuned for future episodes. Click here or the image above to watch the full conversation. Murkowski's University of Alaska Fiscal Found… Continue Reading

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02.03.23

$580 Million Secured By Schatz, Murkowski To Fulfill Indian Water Rights Settlements

WASHINGTON - The Department of the Interior today announced a nearly $580 million allocation to continue fulfilling settlements of Indian water rights claims using funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Reclamation Water Settlements Fund. "The federal government's trust responsibility to Native communities includes providing Tribes with access to clean, reliable water," said Chairman Schatz. "This announcement follows through on our work to pass and fund Indian water rights settlem… Continue Reading

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02.01.23

Alaska Delegation Welcomes Next-To-Last Step for Federal Re-Approval of Willow Project

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) today welcomed the Department of the Interior's (DOI) release of a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for ConocoPhillips' Willow Project on Alaska's North Slope. "The Willow Project has earned very broad support from communities on the North Slope, Alaska Native leaders, labor unions, and stakeholders across the political spectrum. That's be… Continue Reading

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01.31.23

Cardin, Murkowski, Pressley and Colleagues Unveil Resolution Affirming Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (Mass.-7), along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Congresswomen Sylvia Garcia (Texas-29), Abigail Spanberger (Va.-07), Cori Bush (Mo.-1), Madeleine Dean (Pa.-4) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Calif.-37) announced today the introduction of a bicameral, joint resolution to affirm the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and take a critical step tow… Continue Reading

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01.31.23

Senator Collins, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Bills to Bolster Alzheimer’s Research

Washington, D.C.-A bipartisan group of Senators introduced a pair of bills that would cement and build on the important progress that has been made to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's costs our nation an astonishing $321 billion per year, including $206 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. If we continue along this trajectory, Alzheimer's is projected to claim the minds of 12.7 million seniors and nearly surpass $1 trillion in annual costs by 2050. In 2021,… Continue Reading

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01.31.23

Murkowski Statement on EPA’s Final Determination for Pebble Mine

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final determination that effectively vetoes the proposed Pebble mine in the Bristol Bay region. "EPA's final determination should mark the end of Pebble, which was already rejected by the agency in 2020 and does not have the access, permits, financing, public support, or disposal sites needed to proceed. As Senator Stevens once said, it is the … Continue Reading

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01.30.23

ICYMI—A ‘Big Fat Deal in Alaska’

Last week, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Federal Transit Administration Administrator Nuria Fernandez in announcing more than $285 million in federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) for operations, vessel acquisitions, shoreside infrastructure, and reduced environmental impact. The funding for Alaska accounts for nearly 75 percent of the awards announced ac… Continue Reading

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01.27.23

Murkowski Announces New Staff Director And Changes To Indian Affairs Committee Staff

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced her senior staff to lead the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in the 118th Congress. Amber Ebarb, who most recently served as the Deputy Staff Director, will serve as the Minority Staff Director. Lucy Murfitt will continue in her role as Chief Counsel after having served as Interim Staff Director over the last year. Murkowski provided the following statement on the staff changes: "I am pleased that Amber has accepted her new positi… Continue Reading

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01.25.23

Murkowski, Sullivan: Tongass is a National Forest, Not a Political Football

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) today released the following statements after the USDA Forest Service finalized its repeal of the Tongass National Forest's exemption from the 2001 Roadless Rule. Today's decision reinstates the 2001 rule, ignoring requests from the State of Alaska and data and analysis from the last administration that supported the 2020 exemption. "The Roadless Rule should never have applied to the Tongass, and the Biden administration's decision t… Continue Reading

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01.25.23

Alaska Marine Highway System Awarded $285 Million in Infrastructure Funding

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today announced the Federal Transit Administration is awarding more than $285 million of investments to improve the reliability and service of Alaska's ferry system, which serves more than 30 communities across 3,500 miles of coastline. The funding, all awarded to the Alaska Marine Highway System, is designated to replacing an aging vessel, upgrading ferry dock infrastructure in rural communities, modernizing four vessels, procuring a… Continue Reading

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01.20.23

Murkowski Announces Staff Promotions, New Staff Members to D.C. and Anchorage Offices

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced new staff members to her Washington D.C. and Anchorage offices. "As we kick off a new Congress, I'm proud to announce these changes to my growing team as I continue my work to represent all Alaskans. These individuals each bring unique skills, experience, and knowledge to the table, which will help us better serve the unique needs, challenges, and opportunities that we face in our state. I look forward to all the good work we have ah… Continue Reading

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01.05.23

Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson Campus of the Alaska VA Healthcare System Act Signed into Law

Today, legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson Campus of the Alaska VA Healthcare System Act, was signed into law by the President. Murkowski previously introduced the bill in October 2022 with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) as a cosponsor. The bill, which has garnered widespread support from Alaska's veteran organizations, designates the name change from the "Alaska VA Clinic" to "Colonel Mary Louise Rasmuson Campus of the Alaska VA Healt… Continue Reading

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01.05.23

Murkowski, Sullivan Applaud Bill to Recognize the Legacy of the Late Congressman Don Young Signed into Law

Today the Don Young Recognition Act was signed into law. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) championed this legislation in an effort to honor the life and legacy of the late Don Young, Dean of the House and Congressman for All Alaska, who passed away on March 18, 2022 after serving Alaska in the House of Representatives for 49 years. The bill designates one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian Islands, currently known as Mount Cerberus, as Mount Young. In addition… Continue Reading

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01.03.23

Murkowski Sworn-In for New Term at Start of 118th Congress

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today released the following statement after she was officially sworn-in to a new term as senior Senator for Alaska: "Serving Alaska is one of the greatest honors of my life. I'm excited and optimistic as we enter a new year and a new Congress, especially coming off our tremendous successes in the one we adjourned earlier today. I'm humbled to take the Oath of Office to continue representing the state I love, and ready to get back to work on Alaskans… Continue Reading