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.
Law Enforcement in Alaska to Get Needed Federal Support
WASHINGTON, DC - Justice programs with significant importance to Alaska received millions in national funding today in an appropriations bill passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee, according to Senator Lisa Murkowski. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for a final vote. Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) - crucial to Alaska law enforcement because they allow police across the state to coordinate with other state agencies in the Northwest - received $35 million in federal f… Continue Reading
09.15.11
Murkowski Welcomes New Report on Domestic Oil and Gas Resources
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the release of a report by the National Petroleum Council (NPC) that points to newly and greatly expanded domestic oil and natural gas resources that have been unlocked by recent and significant advances in technology. "This report underscores what I have been saying for a very long time: that our nation has a tremendous natural resource base. It's critical, not just to our energy security, but to our economic security as we… Continue Reading
09.15.11
Murkowski To Super Committee: “Go Big, Go Bold”
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Murkowski today shared the podium with a bipartisan group of 35 U.S. Senators assembled to encourage the work of the 12-member "Super Committee" that has been tasked with reducing the nation's debt - and share their thoughts about an even more aggressive path forward than originally envisioned. The three dozen Senators laid out their beliefs that a deficit reduction plan should: Include enough deficit reduction to stabilize the debt as a share of the economy, put the… Continue Reading
09.15.11
Murkowski: Energy Technologies Need to be Cost Competitive
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following statement on the importance of making sure Americans have access to affordable energy during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee nomination hearing: "One of the issues that we continue to struggle with, especially in these difficult economic times, is what the government's role should be as we transition to the next generation of energy technologies. We hear a lot about the 'Valley of Death' for investm… Continue Reading
09.14.11
Alaska’s Fisheries To Receive “Smart, Targeted” Support
WASHINGTON, DC - Alaska's fisheries benefitted from funding decisions and a number of cost-effective adjustments in the language of an appropriations bill that passed the Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee today in a bipartisan vote, according to Senator Murkowski, a Subcommittee Member. The CJS Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2012 now goes to the full Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration tomorrow. "America is facing an increasingly high deficit, w… Continue Reading
09.14.11
Law Enforcement in Alaska to Get Needed Federal Support
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Murkowski announced today that justice programs with significant importance to Alaska had language approved by the Commerce Justice and Science subcommittee - and could mean millions in federal funding for Alaska's law enforcement. The bill received bipartisan support and now heads to the full Senate Appropriations Committee for a vote Thursday. Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) - crucial to Alaska law enforcement because they allow police across the state to… Continue Reading
09.13.11
“Without Healthy Oceans, We Do Not Have a Healthy Planet”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski joined Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today to open up the discussions and mission of the newly launched U.S. Senate Oceans Caucus (SOC). Senator Begich and fifteen additional members of the SOC will also participate to create better informed and timely policy for America's coasts, estuaries and open oceans. After the SOC meeting concluded earlier today, Senator Murkowski shared her thoughts with the assembled media: "This is an opportunity for u… Continue Reading
09.12.11
Murkowski Welcomes Fall Interns to Washington, D.C. Office
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski today announced the names of her college interns who will work in the Senator's Washington, D.C., office this fall. "It's one thing to learn theory and models of political science or international affairs in a college classroom," said Murkowski. "But on Capitol Hill my office works hard every day on concrete, pressing issues that Alaskans deal with constantly. I hope these young people find it illuminating as they begin their professional lives." Sarah … Continue Reading
09.12.11
Murkowski To Co-Chair U.S. Senate Oceans Caucus
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski will be a leader of the new bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus when it assembles for the first time tomorrow, with the remaining co-chairs to be named at the event. "It's an honor to be a leader of this caucus, on behalf of the only state bordering two oceans," said Senator Murkowski. "The oceans are more than beautiful and important natural gifts, they are our farms, our factories of growth - and our future." The mission of the Senate Oceans Caucus (SOC… Continue Reading
09.12.11
Murkowski: Preemptive Veto Would Trample Scientific Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement in response to a news report that Washington Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell may seek a preemptive veto from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the proposed Pebble Mine: "Attempts to prejudge development in the Bristol Bay area before a permit application has even been submitted would make a mockery out of the federal environmental review process. A preemptive veto makes no more sense than a… Continue Reading
09.09.11
Murkowski: “America Stands Resilient, Vigilant and Strong”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski shared her thoughts with Alaskans on the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001: "Ten years ago, nearly 3,000 men and women lost their lives in New York City, at the Pentagon and in a quiet country field in Pennsylvania - simply for being Americans doing what we do: going to work, traveling to see relatives, or protecting our country and its citizens. "And while it happened a distance away from our state, it hit home for… Continue Reading
09.09.11
Murkowski Shares Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Speech With Senate Colleagues
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced and passed a resolution commemorating today, September 9, 2011 as International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Day. "During my time in the Senate, I have given many speeches recognizing FASD day. In each of these speeches, I stated that in Alaska we have the highest rate of FASD in the nation," Murkowski said in a speech submitted for the record. "Approximately 160 Alaskan babies are born each year affected by materna… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Murkowski: “He’s Reheating the Same Failed Ideas”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Obama addressed a joint session of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives tonight, unveiling his American Jobs Act. Afterwards, Senator Murkowski responded to the President's plan: "Alaskans, I had hoped that tonight the President would hear the majority of Americans asking for solid, comprehensive solutions that can get bipartisan support - but tonight the President offered us nothing new. "President Obama spent a lot of time sharing his plan with the coun… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Alaska’s Post Offices Are “More Than Statistics or Traffic Rates”
ANCHORAGE, AK - Senator Lisa Murkowski is pleased to announce that the United States Postal Service has confirmed they have removed all but 5 post offices from the original list of those being considered for closure in Alaska. "I appreciate that as the post office has been running numbers to find efficiencies, it found that many post offices originally considered for closure or transformation to the Village Post Office model are more than statistics or traffic rates - they're the focal points … Continue Reading
09.08.11
Murkowski Calls on EPA to Address Electricity Reliability Concerns
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson asking the agency to defer implementation of a stricter federal regulation of power plants, the so-called "Utility MACT" rule, until it receives a full analysis of the rule's impact on electricity reliability from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. "We must consider the total impact this rule will have on the electric grid," Murkowski said. "The re… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Murkowski Welcomes Report on Spurring Energy and Job Creation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the release of a report by the Senate and Congressional Western Caucuses focused on the jobs that could be created through the responsible development of America's natural resources. Many of the bills highlighted in the report are awaiting a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, of which Sen. Murkowski is the ranking member. "I applaud Sen. Barrasso and the Western Caucuses for focusing on se… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Murkowski, Begich Laud Judiciary Vote For Christen, Gleason
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved the nominations of Alaska Supreme Court Justice Morgan Christen and Alaska Superior Court Presiding Judge Sharon Gleason in a unanimous, bipartisan voice vote. The nominations now head to the U.S. Senate floor for a final confirmation vote. "I'm optimistic that today's vote is a clear signal of momentum for these candidacies and, very soon, Justice Christen and Judge Gleason will be the first Alaska women confirmed to the federal… Continue Reading
09.07.11
Alaskan Issues Get Funding, Support in Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Alaska's Coast Guard, energy projects, waterway and port improvements and Village Safe Water projects have had millions in needed funds allotted from several subcommittees' proposed fiscal year 2012 appropriations bills -- and today were supported by Senator Murkowski and her colleagues in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The appropriations bills now head to the U.S. Senate floor for consideration. The following Alaskan issues also came up: Frankenfish legislation: Midwa… Continue Reading
09.07.11
Alaska’s Senators Join in Bipartisan Resolution Designating National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today joined 9 of their U.S. Senate colleagues to cosponsor a bipartisan Senate Resolution recognizing the week of September 12, 2011 as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. The bill is designed to call attention to the fact that approximately 90 million American adults struggle with literacy, numeracy and English language skills, many of which are necessary to gain employment and help their children in school. "Literacy… Continue Reading
09.06.11
Alaska’s Coast Guard Gets Funding For Aircraft, Icebreaker Work
WASHINGTON, DC - Millions of dollars for Alaska have been included in the Department of Homeland Security's 2012 appropriations bill that passed the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee today on a bipartisan vote, including that of Senator Lisa Murkowski - a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The DHS appropriations bill now goes to the full Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration. The bill includes $10.351 billion dollars to help fund Coast Guard operatio… Continue Reading
