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: "Time Out" On New Regulations
Washington, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced she is joining her colleague Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) as a co-sponsor of the Regulatory Time Out Act of 2011 (S.1538) that would create more regulatory certainty for job creators and some breathing room for employers with 4,257 new rules up for consideration. "Our businesses are wasting hours and productivity on paperwork and don't need more boxes to check; they need more time to work and create opportunities for new employees," Murk… Continue Reading
10.04.11
Murkowski Files Critical Minerals Amendment to Currency Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Dean Heller, R-Nevada, today filed an amendment promoting the domestic production of critical minerals to the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform bill currently being debated on the Senate floor. The amendment (S. Amdt. 673) would help create jobs by addressing the domestic critical minerals supply chain in a comprehensive way. Majority Leader Reid, D-Nevada, has moved to prevent votes on all amendments, but Murkowski hopes that … Continue Reading
10.04.11
Murkowski Hires Stefanie Moreland as Fisheries Advisor
Washington - Senator Murkowski today announced she has selected Stefanie Moreland to be her legislative aide covering fisheries issues and Arctic matters. "Alaska's fisheries are one of our largest economic drivers - employing more people in Alaska than the oil and gas and mining industries combined - so Alaska needs a smart, strong advocate," said Murkowski. "Stefanie's expertise and Alaska focus will be a great addition to my staff." An Alaskan for over a decade, Moreland joins Senator Mur… Continue Reading
10.04.11
Murkowski Statement on Katz Resignation
Washington, dc - John Katz, Alaska's Director of State and Federal Relations and Special Counsel to the Governor in Washington, D.C., today announced that he will be retiring at the end of the year. Senator Murkowski issued the following reaction to his statement: "Today's announcement comes as a shock to the system of Alaska. John Katz has worked for the people of Alaska for over half the time we have been a state - always working and fighting tirelessly for Alaska's interests, whether at h… Continue Reading
10.04.11
Murkowski: Natural Gas is One of Our Most Promising Resources
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today spoke about the importance of exploring the full potential of America's unconventional natural gas resources at today's Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing. "We've witnessed game-changing technological innovations that have unlocked tremendous volumes of previously inaccessible natural gas," Murkowski said. "These resources are already benefitting our nation by further diversifying our energy supplies, growing our e… Continue Reading
09.29.11
Murkowski Pleased With Progress on Fire Island Wind Project
ANCHORAGE, AK - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that it will continue to move forward with efforts to construct, test and commission a new Very High Frequency Omni-directional Radio Range (VOR) navigation beacon that will replace the existing VOR on Fire Island. This announcement allows the Fire Island Wind Project to proceed while the FAA transition to the new VOR continues. Senator Murkowski had the following reaction to the news: "I'm glad the FAA sees what I see a… Continue Reading
09.29.11
Senators Call for Stronger Support of Tribal Health Care
Today U.S. Senators from the Western states protected the needs of Native Americans, Native Hawaiians and Alaska Native peoples in a letter calling on President Obama to strengthen tribal self-governance, support economic self-sufficiency, and honor the government's agreements with Indian Tribes by fully funding contract support costs and joint venture staffing in his Fiscal Year 2013 budget request. Tribal groups around the country contract with the government to deliver services such as runni… Continue Reading
09.27.11
Murkowski Joins Six Senate Colleagues Urging Indian Health Service Improvements
WASHINGTON - Senator Murkowski today joined a bipartisan group of her Senate colleagues in urging Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and other top administration officials to act quickly to improve health care delivery to American Indians and Alaska Natives. In a letter to Secretary Sebelius and Indian Health Service Director Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, the senators pointed to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report issued Friday that highlights billing and other problems … Continue Reading
09.23.11
Murkowski Criticizes ‘No Child Left Behind’ Waiver Offer
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Murkowski today challenged the Department of Education's waiver process for states to opt out of some provisions of the "No Child Left Behind Act" - reminding the administration they do not have the authority to do so, unilaterally. "I'm disappointed that President Obama's solution to his predecessor's top-down, one-size-fits-all policy is his own top-down, one-size fits all policy." At a White House press conference today, President Obama offered states the chance to … Continue Reading
09.23.11
Murkowski: Solyndra Bankruptcy Casts Shadow on Pending Loan Guarantees
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday sent a letter to Energy Secretary Steven Chu urging him to correct any shortcomings in the Department of Energy's loan guarantee program under the 2009 stimulus bill before taxpayers are asked to shoulder additional risk. The Department of Energy (DOE) may issue up to $9.2 billion in new loan guarantees under the temporary Section 1705 loan guarantee program in the next week. "In these critical days, as the cabinet officer respon… Continue Reading
09.23.11
Murkowski Fights Attempt to End Alaska’s Bypass Mail Funding
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Murkowski today defended the United States Postal Service's core duty as two Congressmen push legislation that would require Alaska to pay the USPS for the costs of bypass mail in Alaska - a critical service for Alaskans off the road system who cannot get their mail through other means. "Bypass mail connects rural Alaska to our hubs, but it also works the other way around," Murkowski said. "Millions of dollars worth of groceries, medications, and construction supplies … Continue Reading
09.21.11
Murkowski Makes Move to Help Rural Alaskans’ Energy Costs
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Murkowski took the opportunity today during a Senate Appropriations Committee markup to advocate increased funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - a key program to many Alaskans dealing with expensive heating bills - by diverting some of the $1 billion being set aside for implementation of the health care reform bill, known as the Affordable Care Act. "I find it unconscionable that so many rural Alaskans are facing high prices on heating oi… Continue Reading
09.21.11
Alaska’s Essential Air Service Getting Critical Funding
WASHINGTON, DC - Millions of dollars for Alaska's transportation projects were approved by the full Senate Appropriations Committee earlier today, in a bipartisan vote supported by committee member Senator Lisa Murkowski. "It is my priority and my duty to do all I can for the state of Alaska," said Murkowski. "And that means I must make sure that even in an era of cuts and tough decisions, we continue to receive our fair share." The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations … Continue Reading
09.21.11
Murkowski Touts Jobs, Debt Reduction during House ANWR Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed her frustration over the Obama administration's repeated attempts to lock up lands in Alaska by designating them as wilderness to prevent resource development. Murkowski made her comments Wednesday in testimony before the House Committee on Natural Resources during an oversight hearing on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). "Here we are with the federal government essentially broke - fighting all day, every day o… Continue Reading
09.21.11
Murkowski: Delay of NPR-A Permitting Decision Unacceptable
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy requesting a timely resolution of permitting roadblocks that threaten to derail the first oil and gas production in the National Petroleum Preserve Alaska (NPR-A). In her letter to Assistant Secretary Darcy, who visited ConocoPhillips' Alpine oil field on the North Slope in August, Murkowski stressed the importance of allowing surface access to NPR… Continue Reading
09.20.11
Murkowski Emphasizes an All of the Above Energy Policy at RETECH Conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today gave the following remarks at the RETECH conference, hosted by the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE): "Good afternoon, and thanks for the invitation to join you this afternoon. Admiral McGinn, I appreciate that kind introduction. I'd also like to thank you for your leadership at ACORE and your hard work on RETECH. "I'm told this conference could draw more than 3,000 attendees over the next couple of days. Not only will… Continue Reading
09.20.11
Murkowski Responds to Ketchikan Alaska Class Ferry Contract
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Murkowski today responded to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities' decision that Alaska Ship & Drydock (ASD) in Ketchikan has been selected as the construction manager/general contractor for the new Alaska Class Ferry: "I welcome Commissioner Luiken's news that Alaska Ship & Drydock has been chosen to oversee the construction of the new Alaska Class Ferry. The project could mean up to 200 jobs for Ketchikan whether in direct shipbuildi… Continue Reading
09.19.11
Murkowski: FERC Responsible for Protecting Power Grid Reliability
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to immediately initiate a formal process to address electricity reliability issues raised by the Environmental Protection Agency's regulatory agenda. In a letter to FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, Murkowski requested the commission provide, within six months, a thorough analysis of the cumulative impact that proposed EPA regulations could have on the reliability of the nation's … Continue Reading
09.19.11
Murkowski Calls for Action on Pilots’ Bill of Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski joined 31 of her Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV) and Ranking Member Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), asking the committee to hold a hearing and markup of S.1335, the Pilot's Bill of Rights - legislation that grants aviators greater transparency in their interactions with the FAA. "Alaska's skies are our highways in many cases and we take to the air far more than residents of other… Continue Reading
09.15.11
Defense Bill Fully Funds Military Operations In Alaska
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate Appropriations Committee today passed a $630.6 billion defense appropriations bill that fully funds military operations in Alaska and America's ongoing overseas contingency operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to Senator Lisa Murkowski - a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and the Appropriations Committee. The bill also includes a 1.6% across the board pay raise for military personnel. "I am proud that we were able to support our troo… Continue Reading
