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 Gets Answers for Alaska’s Rural Educators
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski took part in a Department of Education (Education) online forum yesterday to ask important unanswered questions surrounding the details of possible No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waivers for Alaska, learning Education's decisions will be made public in approximately two weeks, and educators are still welcome to contribute comments. She took advantage of the Department of Education's Rural Education Twitter Town Hall to do so. Department of Education Secr… Continue Reading
08.30.11
Murkowski Bolsters Policy Team With New Staff
ANCHORAGE, AK - Senator Lisa Murkowski has hired three new staff members to help her shape upcoming work with an Alaska-centric vision: a Legislative Director and two Legislative Assistants. "When Congress reconvenes next week, we are going to hit the ground running on issues crucial to our unique state," said Murkowski. "These new staffers bring years of expertise to the table and I welcome their contributions on behalf of Alaska." Tara L. Shaw is the new Legislative Director for Senator Mur… Continue Reading
08.23.11
Murkowski Comments On Federal - Industry Agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed an agreement between federal regulators and companies invested in the responsible development of Alaska's offshore resources in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. "This agreement recognizes both our need to continue to gather information about the waters that surround us and the fact that it is through responsible exploration by industry that we will get that information," Murkowski said. "We should always strive to gather more … Continue Reading
08.22.11
“Libya Is On The Verge of Becoming a Different Country”
ANCHORAGE, AK - With rebels overtaking Libya's capital city of Tripoli, the four-decade reign of Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi is ending. Senator Murkowski shared her thoughts of the events: "Muammar el-Qaddafi's loyalists are growing smaller in number every hour today, and Libya is on the verge of becoming a different country. Libyans have an opportunity to write their own chapter of freedom and liberty into their country's history books. "The days and weeks ahead will be difficult for the cou… Continue Reading
08.18.11
Murkowski on BOEMRE Releasing Final SEIS For Chukchi Sea Oil & Gas Lease Sale 193
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski released the following statement after the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) released a final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Chukchi Sea Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193: "For the sake of Alaska and America, we've been working relentlessly to develop the resources under the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. The thousands of Alaskans who commented helped make this critical step happen. This will encou… Continue Reading
08.15.11
Murkowski Responds to Kenai Lowe’s Closure
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today commented on the sudden closure of the Lowe's home improvement store in Kenai:"I was disappointed to hear that Lowe's decided late Sunday evening to close their retail store in Kenai, one of four stores they operate in Alaska. It is my understanding that the store's employees, the City of Kenai and the community had very little notice of the company's action."Since opening its first stores in Alaska, Lowe's has been one of the top retailers and lar… Continue Reading
08.15.11
Murkowski Responds to Anvik Crash
Yesterday, a small plane carrying teachers crashed on the way to Anvik. Long-time teacher, 52 year old Julia Walker, and 66 year old pilot Ernest Chase both died in the crash. The other four passengers on the flight sustained injuries but are recovering in Anchorage. Senator Murkowski responded to the news:"I am grief-stricken to hear the news of Julia Walker and Ernest Chase. It is difficult to think of two things more crucial to rural Alaska than teachers and pilots. Pilots connect villages… Continue Reading
08.15.11
Murkowski: Federal Jurisdiction Limited on State Waters
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following comments at a roundtable discussion on the jurisdictional issues related to navigable waterways on federal lands in Alaska: "Alaskans from all over the State are frustrated with the ongoing dispute over jurisdiction over the navigable waters in our State. Continued uncertainty about who's in charge - and how those agencies will enforce their regulations - only serves to harm Alaskan residents who need and deserve … Continue Reading
08.12.11
Murkowski: Law Clear on No More Wilderness in Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today criticized the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for considering forever locking up America's oil resources contained beneath the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) by designating the area as "wilderness." "Despite claims to the contrary, the Fish and Wildlife Services' efforts to designate new wilderness areas in Alaska is a violation of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The law is cle… Continue Reading
08.09.11
Murkowski: “Uncle Ted Was a Giant”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski spoke to Alaskans on August 9th, one year after a plane crash took the life of Senator Ted Stevens: "Alaskans, one year ago today we lost a legend: the architect and father of our great state: Theodore Fulton Stevens. Most of us, though, just called him 'Uncle Ted.' We all remember the emotion and tragedy we experienced a year ago, but it's crucial we remember the outpouring of support and respect that crossed every age group, every race and culture … Continue Reading
08.05.11
Murkowski Bill Helps Kids Keep Up, Not Drop Out
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski has introduced legislation to fight nationwide dropout rates by instituting preventative measures and proactively identifying the first signs of students sliding off-course - as early as Pre-K on through high school. "No child wakes up one day and decides to drop out of school," said Murkowski. "It starts as a bad day, turns into frustration over time and ends up as a trajectory in the wrong direction." Entitled the 'Early Intervention for Graduation S… Continue Reading
08.04.11
Murkowski Comments on FAA Agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski released the following statement after a short-term agreement between the Senate and House of Representatives was reached to extend FAA authorization: "I am pleased that Congress was able to come to an agreement on a FAA extension. This compromise puts thousands of Americans back to work, including 79 Alaskans, and puts vital airport improvement projects back on track. Congress needs to work toward a long-term FAA authorization bill, which is import… Continue Reading
08.04.11
Sen. Murkowski Welcomes Conditional Approval of Beaufort Sea Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commended the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) for issuing conditional approval of Shell's revised exploration plan for the Beaufort Sea. "Shell has been working to secure approval of this plan for over five years," Murkowski said. "This is another positive step forward, and I'm hopeful that they will soon be able to move forward with exploration and production in the Beaufort." "If this plan i… Continue Reading
08.04.11
Murkowski Announces Agenda for Sec. Salazar, Sen. Reed Trip
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski today announced the itinerary of her August travels across Alaska with Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. "Sometimes when Alaskan issues are discussed in Washington, things get lost in translation because policymakers simply don't know enough about our state," Murkowski said. "I look forward to showing Secretary Salazar and Senator Reed the promise Alaska has to… Continue Reading
08.03.11
Murkowski Bill Boosts Health Care Access for Alaskan Children
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced legislation with fellow Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) that would allow parents to purchase insurance for their children across state lines, after a provision in the recent health care reform law resulted in Alaskan carriers not allowing new enrollees. "One of the unintended consequences of health care reform is that it has made it difficult for children to be insured if their parents or grandparents don't have coverage… Continue Reading
08.03.11
Murkowski: FERC Responses Raise New Concerns About Reliability
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today said she remains concerned about the impacts that new regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency could have on the reliability of the nation's power grid. In May, Murkowski asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is responsible for reliability, to explain how the commission is working to ensure that EPA's new regulations do not adversely affect reliability. FERC's responses, which arrived Monday in the form of three … Continue Reading
08.03.11
Murkowski Applauds SAFE Report on Directional Drilling in ANWR
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commended a new report by the group Securing America's Energy Future (SAFE) calling for a real-world test of directional drilling techniques to tap into the estimated 10.4 billion barrels of oil contained in the non-wilderness portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). "This is a concept that I have long offered as a reasonable alternative to those who oppose conventional development of the 1002 Area," Murkowski said. "Whi… Continue Reading
08.02.11
Sen. Murkowski Comments on Approval of Southeast Mining Permits
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Forest Service's approval of mining permits on Prince of Wales and Woewodski islands in Southeast Alaska: "I remain committed to repealing roadless requirements for the Tongass, but in the interim, I welcome the Forest Service's efforts to find a compromise that allows responsible development to proceed," Murkowski said. "The ability to develop our domestic supplies of critical mine… Continue Reading
08.02.11
Murkowski Supports Bipartisan Deal
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted for legislation to rein in federal spending while allowing the U.S. Treasury to pay America's debts and obligations, issuing the following statement afterwards: "Today I joined with 73 colleagues to pass the Budget Control Act. I'm satisfied that Congress took care of business and carved out an agreement that allowed us to raise the debt ceiling and avoid seeing a financial crisis materialize. Failure to act could have undermined our entire… Continue Reading
07.31.11
Murkowski Votes Against Reid Debt Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted against the debt bill put forward by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) - which fell 10 votes short of cloture - and issued the following statement afterwards: "Senator Reid's plan could not get my support because at its core, it's a hollow piece of legislation - counting as savings money we don't plan on spending and calling it a debt reduction plan. A full trillion dollars of Senator Reid's assumed cuts are decreases in spending on o… Continue Reading
