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 Crosses Aisle to Help Vets Hear “You’re Hired”
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lisa Murkowski joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) today, in introducing new legislation to address rising unemployment among our nation's veterans. The Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 is the first of its kind to require broad job skills training for all service members returning home and comes at a time when more than one in four veterans aged 20-24 are unemployed. "It is tragic our men and women in uniform come back from combat and find that some federal and private se… Continue Reading
05.10.11
Senator Murkowski Joins Cabinet Secretaries at Arctic Council
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski will join Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in making history at this week's Arctic Council meeting in Nuuk, Greenland - becoming the first U.S. Senator and State Department Head to participate in the event. "Alaska is the reason that America is an Arctic Nation," said Murkowski, "and I thank Secretary Clinton for the invitation to share my knowledge, experiences and suggestions with the member nations." The main focus of this week's meeting is "Ch… Continue Reading
05.09.11
Senator Murkowski Welcomes New Chief Of Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced today she is promoting Legislative Director Edward Hild to become her new Chief of Staff, taking over the position previously held by Karen Knutson since 2007. "Ed is an intelligent and shrewd staffer who has done a lot for Alaska in his first two years in my office," Murkowski said. "Promoting him will expand the ability of our entire staff to set an agenda of accomplishments for our state and the country." Hild served as Legislative… Continue Reading
05.05.11
Murkowski Addresses the Importance of Cyber Security Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, at a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday addressed the importance of working with the electric industry to improve the nation's cyber security. "The danger posed to our nation's electricity infrastructure from a possible cyber attack is clear and should prompt Congress to provide government agencies with the authority to respond to such threats and vulnerabilities in a timely manner," Murkowski s… Continue Reading
05.05.11
Murkowski Takes Lead To Praise America’s Teachers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A resolution honoring American teachers co-sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski unanimously passed the U.S. Senate. "I still remember Mrs. Buness, my 1st grade teacher in Wrangell who instilled in me a love for learning," Murkowski said. "America's children are being empowered every day by their teachers to think deeply about the world around them and become the innovators and leaders of tomorrow." Senator Murkowski was the lead Republican co-sponsor for the Teacher … Continue Reading
05.03.11
Murkowski: Clean Energy Deployment Administration Needs Offsets
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed support for creating a Clean Energy Deployment Administration (CEDA) to encourage development of new energy technologies, but made clear that the cost of the program would need to be offset by spending reductions elsewhere in the federal budget. "This debate should be about how to make better use of all of our resources, including the revenues that result from energy production," Murkowski said. "Despite the high in… Continue Reading
05.02.11
Murkowski Statement on the Death of Osama Bin Laden
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, tonight released the following statement regarding the death of Osama Bin Laden: "Tonight we learned Osama bin Laden is dead. The man was behind some of the most inhuman and unprovoked deaths of innocents in generations -- the worst of which being the hateful 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. His death is a direct result of the determination of America's military and intelligence forces -- and it casts a well-deserved sp… Continue Reading
04.28.11
Murkowski Criticizes Plans to Raise Taxes on Energy Producers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement today in response to Majority Leader Reid's plan to hold a vote after the recess on raising taxes on energy producers. "Despite the fact that we, as a country, need more energy, not less, Democrats appear committed to a campaign to increase oil prices and drive investment, jobs and oil production overseas," Murkowski said. Murkowski, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Commi… Continue Reading
04.15.11
Murkowski Seeks Comments on Draft Legislation to Address Nation’s Critical Minerals Supply Chain
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released a discussion draft of legislation designed to revitalize the nation's critical minerals supply chain. Murkowski is asking for public comments on the draft by May 6. "Minerals are the building blocks of our economy," said Murkowski, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "From rare earth elements to molybdenum, we rely on minerals for everything from the smallest computer chips to the tall… Continue Reading
04.14.11
Murkowski Presses Commerce Secretary For Fishery Protections
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today highlighted the importance of Alaska's fisheries in a series of questions with Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke at a Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee hearing of the Appropriations Committee. "Over half of the fish harvested in the United States comes from sustainably-managed Alaskan fisheries - yet we receive a disproportionate share of the overall funding," Murkowski said. "We have the best fisheries science and management in th… Continue Reading
04.14.11
Murkowski Votes In Favor Of 2011 Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski today voted in favor of the 2011 federal budget - featuring the largest cuts in American history - while criticizing the vote's delay. "Here we are, halfway through the fiscal year without having come to an agreement on spending levels," said Murkowski. "There are entire public sectors whose hirings have been put on hold because of the fiscal uncertainty, like Forest Service workers to fight wildfires this upcoming summer." "Alaskans have underst… Continue Reading
04.13.11
Murkowski: President Obama’s Budget Address Will “Lose America”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today responded to President Barack Obama's address intended to address the nation's spending and long-term debt. "The President's debt commission submitted its report in December. Representative Ryan released his plan last week. I'm glad that President Obama has joined the conversation about America's economic future, but his timing makes me question his motivation," said Murkowski. "If we're going to tackle the problem, we need to be working… Continue Reading
04.13.11
Murkowski: Alaska’s Offshore Resources Promise Energy, Jobs, Revenue for Nation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today stressed the importance of the timely review of permits by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in testimony before the Energy and Power Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Murkowski, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, explained that exploration and development in Alaska's Outer Continental Shelf has been held up for years because of the EPA's inability to grant air pe… Continue Reading
04.12.11
BUDGET DEAL SPIKES ATTEMPTED WILD LANDS DESIGNATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski today applauded the inclusion of language in the continuing budget resolution that would block implementation of a controversial order by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to designate new "wild lands" without required congressional approval. "Congress has sole authority to create new wilderness areas. Any attempt to try an end run around Congress will get a predictable response," said Murkowski - who serves as the ranking Republican on the Senat… Continue Reading
04.12.11
Murkowski Announces Deputy Chief of Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski today announced longtime Alaskan Jim Palmer as her Deputy Chief of Staff. This enhanced policy role to her Alaskan staff reflects a desire to better serve Alaska through an increased state presence. Palmer, a veteran of statewide and DC politics, will direct operations from Senator Murkowski's Anchorage office and will be making additional hires to further expand service to Alaskans. "Jim Palmer brings a commitment to service along with a sense of… Continue Reading
04.08.11
Murkowski Sees “Bad Math” In Cook Inlet Critical Habitat Decision
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski says today's designation of over 3,000 square miles of Cook Inlet as Critical Habitat is far costlier than the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) figures contend. NOAA announced today it is designating two areas of Alaska's Cook Inlet as critical habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale, while exempting the Port of Anchorage and Eagle River Flats Range. "I understand the Beluga habitat needs protection, but I have seri… Continue Reading
04.08.11
Murkowski on Budget Deal: “Why Did It Take So Long?”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski today expressed relief Capitol Hill lawmakers reached an 11th hour budget agreement to keep the federal government running, but questioned the politics of the process, asking "Why did it take so long?" Weeks of negotiations culminated late Friday night with a deal between the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate, and the President - as leadership compromised on a budget for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year containing $39 billion in cuts. They … Continue Reading
04.07.11
Murkowski Fights For Alaska Native 8(a)s
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As some on Capitol Hill single out and challenge Alaska Native Corporations' participation in the Small Business Administration's 8(a) program, Senator Lisa Murkowski lashed back in a hearing of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. "My colleagues want to measure the Indian 8(a) program with a spreadsheet, but bean counters can't measure self-sufficiency or innovation." The Alaska Native Corporations are exempted from a contract cap and automatically classified as "… Continue Reading
04.07.11
Murkowski Welcomes Administration’s Decision to Increase Funding for Hydropower
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior for investing $26.6 million to advance hydropower technology. "There is no question that hydropower is, and must continue to be, part of our energy solution," Murkowski said. "The administration's investment is a long-overdue down payment on expanding our use of hydro to generate clean, baseload power." Murkowski has long been a strong proponent of hydropo… Continue Reading
04.07.11
Murkowski Steps Up Fight Against Alaskan Youth Suicide
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Lisa Murkowski today joined efforts to extend needed funds, service and resources to Alaska's at-risk youth communities -- as a co-sponsor of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization of 2011. The bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Tom Udall (D-NM), would strengthen suicide prevention efforts for the state, tribal organizations, and college campuses. "Alaska's children are our most valuable natural resource - … Continue Reading
