03.07.17

Stakeholders Say ‘Yes’ to Overturning BLM’s Flawed Planning 2.0 Rule

Today, the Senate will continue debate on a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Planning 2.0 Rule, which was finalized in a parting shot by the Obama administration on December 12, 2016. BLM's rule is a significant departure from how the federal agency is required, under federal law, to partner with state and local governments in land management planning for grazing, energy and mineral development, and recreational use of… Continue Reading

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03.02.17

Murkowski Congratulates New Energy Secretary

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after former Texas Gov. Rick Perry was confirmed to be the Secretary of Energy by a vote of 62-37. "I congratulate Gov. Perry on his successful confirmation to be our nation's next Secretary of Energy," Murkowski said. "This is a critical time for the Department, and it needs steady leadership as we pursue the broad benefits of energy innovation and greater security for our nation's energy infrastructure. The Department'… Continue Reading

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02.03.17

Murkowski Votes to Protect Alaska’s Coal Mining Industry

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voted in support of H.J. Res. 38, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) disapproval resolution to overturn the Obama administration's so-called "Stream Protection Rule" (SPR). The resolution passed the Senate by a vote of 54-45 and now goes to President Trump for his signature. "In drafting this regulation, the Obama administration ignored the input and recommendations of states and stakeholders, and subverted the law to meet its policy objective-keeping c… Continue Reading

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01.26.17

Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce Four Alaska Energy, Lands Bills

Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, this week introduced four Alaska-focused bills. The bills would expand the use of clean, renewable hydropower to generate affordable electricity for Alaska communities, reroute a portion of a proposed gasline in Denali National Park and Preserve, and rename an existing wilderness area in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. "My top priority as chairman of the Energy Committee is to deliver for Alaska," Murkowski said. "These bills will boo… Continue Reading

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01.12.17

Delegation Introduces Bill to Accelerate AMHT Land Exchange

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, and U.S. Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today introduced companion bills to accelerate an equal value land exchange between the Alaska Mental Health Trust (Trust) and the U.S. Forest Service. The legislation, which nearly passed last Congress, protects important community viewsheds, local trails, and other conservation values while expediting much-needed timber for local operators and generating new revenues for mental health services across the s… Continue Reading

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01.05.17

Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce Bill to Allow Energy Production in 1002 Area of Arctic Coastal Plain

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today introduced legislation that would allow limited oil and natural gas development within the non-wilderness portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The Alaska Oil and Gas Production Act, S. 49, would allow development of no more than 2,000 surface acres within the 1.5-million acre 1002 Area - which itself is just a fraction of the 19-million acre refuge. The area that would be opened to development is equivalent to ju… Continue Reading

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12.29.16

Murkowski Reacts to Monument Designations in Two Western States

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after President Obama created new National Monuments in Nevada and Utah despite significant local opposition. "I am extremely disappointed that President Obama has chosen to lock up nearly two million acres of land in Nevada and Utah through these controversial designations," Murkowski said. "This summer, our committee held a field hearing in Utah to examine this issue, and well over 1,000 local farmers, ranchers, and tr… Continue Reading

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12.20.16

Alaska Delegation Reacts to Stunning Arctic Withdrawal

Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today slammed President Barack Obama for unilaterally placing the entire Chukchi Sea and the vast majority of the Beaufort Sea off-limits to energy development. The sweeping withdrawal disrespects the Alaskan people, is not based on sound science, and contradicts the administration's own conclusions about Arctic development. It will have lasting consequences for Alaska's economy, state finances, and the secur… Continue Reading

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12.20.16

Alaska Delegation Seeks Halt to Additional Offshore Withdrawals

Amid growing reports of additional withdrawals that the Obama administration plans to impose in Alaska in its final days in office, Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today wrote President Barack Obama urging him to take no further action in Alaska and requesting a meeting to discuss the economic damage his previous decisions are causing in Alaska. "On behalf of the people we serve, we write to seek an appointment with you to discuss federal l… Continue Reading

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12.19.16

Murkowski: Stream Buffer Rule Bypasses State Regulators and Congress

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed opposition to the Obama administration's final rule on stream buffer zones for coal mining. "The Obama administration has abused the rule-making process for eight years to subvert the law to meet their policy objectives," Murkowski said. "The stream buffer rule issued today is yet another example of this administration's unilateral efforts to bypass Congress and the states to impose rules that will have severe impacts on the economic well-bein… Continue Reading

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12.16.16

New EPA Rule Dismantles Waste Disposal in Remote Areas of Alaska

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed Federal Plan for Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration (CISWI) units, which directly impacts entities in Alaska that use small remote incinerators (SRIs) to dispose of waste in remote areas where traditional disposal methods are unavailable. "I am extremely disappointed that the EPA has chosen to push forward with a proposal that appears to do… Continue Reading

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12.14.16

Sen. Murkowski Comments on the Nomination of Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry for DOE Secretary

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement on President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as Secretary of the Department of Energy. "I welcome the President-elect's nomination of former Gov. Rick Perry to be Secretary of Energy. I strongly believe the leadership at this Department should have a broad understanding of the need to increase access to energy, make it more affordable, and improve environmental performance - all key factors … Continue Reading

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12.09.16

Final Tongass Plan Has Dire Implications for Southeast Economy

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, and U.S. Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Forest Service released its Final Record of Decision (ROD) to amend the Tongass Land Management Plan (plan). "By finalizing a new plan on its way out of office, the Obama administration has blatantly disregarded some of the Tongass Advisory Committee's most important recommendations and imperiled the economic future of Southeast Alaska," Murkowski said. "… Continue Reading

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12.08.16

Alaska Delegation Warns President Obama Against Parting Shots at Alaska

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, and U.S. Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today sent a letter to President Obama reiterating their strong objections to the use of Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to withdraw acreage in the Arctic planning areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from future leasing. The letter highlights the delegation's fierce opposition to any potential Arctic withdrawals and cites the legal, economic, and scientific ramification… Continue Reading

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11.18.16

Alaska Delegation Slams Decision to Strip Arctic Leases from New OCS Plan

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, and U.S. Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today condemned the Obama administration's decision to remove two Alaska lease sales - one each in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas - from its "Proposed Final Program" for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing for 2017-2022. Eliminating the program's Arctic sales will yield the weakest offshore development plan in American history and lock up vast resources that are needed to grow our economy, protect national… Continue Reading

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10.25.16

Murkowski Welcomes Funding to Reduce Alaskans’ High Energy Costs

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the announcement that over $15 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are headed to the state to help Alaskans with their home heating bills. The State of Alaska will receive $9,151,603 from the LIHEAP Block Grant that will be distributed to Alaskans through the DHHS Division of Public Assistance. An additional $6,515,817 will be distributed to Native tribes and … Continue Reading

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10.07.16

Murkowski Welcomes Gov. Walker’s OCS Announcement

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after Gov. Bill Walker (I-Alaska) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, signaling the State's nomination of offshore Arctic areas for the administration's upcoming Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Leasing Program for 2017-2022. "I appreciate the governor's formal nomination of the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Cook Inlet planning areas," Murkowski said. "While officials in the Obama administration ha… Continue Reading

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09.08.16

Murkowski: This Is Our Chance to Modernize Our Energy Policy

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today convened the first meeting of Senate and House conferees to S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016. This meeting marks the first time since 2005 that the Senate and the House have held conference on an energy bill. "Our task now is to develop a final bill that can be signed into law. That's my goal here. My goal is to update our energy policies in this country and get a conference report, a bill that can be signed into l… Continue Reading

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09.07.16

Murkowski Welcomes Release of Strategic Petroleum Reserve Report

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the release of the Long-Term Strategic Review of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which was prepared by the Department of Energy ‎for Congress. "Our nation's strategic energy reserve is set to enter an era of unprecedented drawdowns, fundamentally transforming its nature and function," Murkowski said. "We have never before sold off so much oil, at such a pace, for such a long period of time. Both Congress and the Ad… Continue Reading

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08.13.16

Murkowski to Hopper Again: Keep Alaska Sales in Next OCS Plan

Anchorage, AK - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday strongly urged Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Abigail Ross Hopper to preserve all three lease sales proposed for Alaska when it finalizes its offshore program for the years 2017 through 2022. Murkowski's request came during a face-to-face meeting yesterday afternoon in downtown Anchorage, as Hopper neared the end of a week touring Alaska. "I stressed to Director Hopper that Alaska must be allowed to develop its … Continue Reading