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 Announces New Communications Director
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska has announced Alaskan broadcast journalist Matthew Felling as her new Communications Director. "I look forward to having Matthew lead my communications team," Murkowski said. "As a veteran of both Alaska and D.C. reporting, he brings valuable experience and insight to my staff, and will bolster our efforts to keep Alaskans informed on so many of the issues that impact our state." Felling comes to Sen. Murkowski's office after being le… Continue Reading
03.31.11
MURKOWSKI PRESSES VA TO STOP SENDING ALASKA VETERANS TO SEATTLE FOR HEALTHCARE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki and the VA's Undersecretary for Health, Dr. Robert Petzel, promised U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski that the VA will do better in purchasing care for Alaska veterans from Alaska community providers, rather than require they travel to the VA Hospital in Seattle, when the VA cannot provide the care at its facilities in Alaska. Murkowski today in a Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee hearing questioned Shinseki and Petzel abo… Continue Reading
03.31.11
Alaska Delegation Supports Gov. Parnell’s “Choose Respect” Initiative with D.C. Rally
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Lisa Murkowski joined with Senator Mark Begich and Representative Don Young in a show of support from the Alaska delegation of Governor Parnell's "Choose Respect" initiative, in organizing a rally today in front of the U.S. Capitol, to stand together in solidarity, with their staffs and Alaskans living in D.C., against the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault that plagues Alaska. There were over sixty marches and rallies held across Alaska, from Barrow… Continue Reading
03.31.11
Murkowski Comments on Hydro, Energy-Water Integration Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following opening statement at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on two hydropower bills and the energy-water integration portion of the 2009 American Clean Energy Leadership Act: "As you know, I've long been a strong hydropower proponent. I consider hydropower to be our hardest working renewable resource - one that often gets overlooked in the clean energy debate. "There is no question that … Continue Reading
03.30.11
Murkowski Questions Air Force Leadership on Alternative Fuel and Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today in a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing, questioned Air Force leaders on alternative fuel initiatives in Alaska and proposals to modernize the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) currently under environmental study. Continuing her leadership on energy issues, Murkowski asked Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley, where the Air Force is headed with alternative fuel, referring specifically to Alaska's mili… Continue Reading
03.30.11
Murkowski Comments on Army’s Decision to Split Base the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commented on the Army's announcement to split base the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade presently stationed at Fort Wainwright with Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Fort Lewis) Washington. "With speculation that the Army would relocate the entire 16th Combat Aviation Brigade to the lower 48, I am relieved at the Army's decision to split base the brigade and keep most aviations assets at Fort Wainwright, including the additional placement … Continue Reading
03.29.11
Senators Introduce Legislation to Preserve STORIS for Museum
Calling it a fitting tribute to the service and sacrifices of Coast Guard men and women in Alaska, U.S. Sen. Mark Begich today introduced legislation to authorize the conveyance of the decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter STORIS for use as a privately-funded museum in Juneau. Begich was joined by Sen. Lisa Murkowski in co-sponsoring the legislation and Rep. Don Young is introducing a companion bill in the House of Representatives. "The Coast Guard's history in Alaska dates back to the ear… Continue Reading
03.28.11
Senators Klobuchar, Collins, Murkowski, McCaskill Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Assist Victims of Sexual Trauma in the Military
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) introduced bipartisan legislation to assist victims of sexual trauma in the military. The Support for Survivors Act would assist servicemembers who were victims of sexual trauma during their military service by requiring the Department of Defense to ensure life-long storage of all documents connected with reports of sexual assaults and sexual harassment ac… Continue Reading
03.24.11
Postal Regulatory Commission Heeds Murkowski in Recommendation for Saturday Mail Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Postal Regulatory Commission released its final Advisory Opinion on a proposal by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to end mail delivery and other postal operations on Saturdays. USPS proposed these and other changes to address over $2 billion in annual losses. "The Commission did an excellent job reviewing both the potential cost benefits and impacts to Postal Service customers associated with the proposal to end most Saturday mail services," Murkowski said.… Continue Reading
03.21.11
Bingaman and Murkowski Release Clean Energy Standard (CES) White Paper
Today, Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Murkowski released a white paper soliciting comment broadly on key questions and potential designs elements of a Clean Energy Standard (CES). The full text of the white paper, along with instructions and forms for submitting responses, can be found here on the Energy Committee website. All responses should be submitted in accordance with the instructions by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 11, 2011. ###… Continue Reading
03.18.11
Alaska Delegation Introduces Maritime Lien Reform Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Alaska delegation introduced the Maritime Lien Reform Act of 2011 this week. The legislation would protect fishermen who hold Alaska commercial fishing permits. The legislation also would prohibit maritime liens from being imposed on permits and protect the right of fishermen to continue to earn a livelihood by engaging in commercial fishing. Similar legislation was introduced in 2006 and 2008 but neither bill became law. "The legislation is imperative to prote… Continue Reading
03.18.11
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Hydropower Improvement Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday introduced the Hydropower Improvement Act of 2011 (S. 629), which was co-sponsored by Sens. Begich (D-AK), Bingaman (D-NM), Cantwell (D-WA), Crapo (R-ID), Murray (D-WA), Risch (R-ID), Whitehouse (D-RI), and Wyden (D-OR). The bill seeks to substantially increase the capacity and generation of our clean, renewable hydropower resources that will improve environmental quality and support local job creation and economic investme… Continue Reading
03.17.11
Murkowski Votes for Three Week Continuing Resolution But Urges Long Term Solution
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voted to continue providing funding for federal government operations until April 8th, 2011, including $6 billion in spending cuts, and issued the following statement: "While I am pleased that the federal government will continue to be funded for the next three weeks, it's time to stop these short-term budget resolutions and finish Fiscal Year 2011 budget work. Not only do we need to move on to the FY12 budget, we really need … Continue Reading
03.17.11
Murkowski on America’s Tremendous Resource Potential
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, spoke on the Senate floor today about a newly-released Congressional Research Service report that estimates the United States has the largest fossil fuel endowment in the world. Watch Sen. Murkowski's floor speech on her YouTube page. Below is the full text of Sen. Murkowski's floor statement: "Madam President, I've come to the floor to discuss America's tremendous natural resource potential, and to again highlight the fact that if… Continue Reading
03.17.11
Murkowski Comments on Global Trends in Clean Energy Technologies
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following opening statement at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to examine current global investment trends in clean energy technologies and the impact of domestic policies on that investment: "Today's hearing is on a very broad topic and one where the conversation often leads to a comparison of American policies with those in other countries. These comparisons can be useful, but in making them … Continue Reading
03.16.11
Sens. Murkowski and Begich Opposed to ‘Use it or Lose it’
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, today blasted proposed legislation - the so-called "Use It or Lose It" bill offered by Democratic Senators Bill Nelson, Bob Menendez and Chuck Schumer - that would penalize companies for leasing federal lands and waters for energy production. Murkowski, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said the bill was an attempt to shift blame for rising gasoline prices to energy p… Continue Reading
03.16.11
Murkowski Criticizes EPA Administrator over Recent Decision, Demands Fair Treatment for Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today questioned Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson on a series of development projects in Alaska that have been adversely impacted by the agency's decisions, including efforts to explore for oil and gas in the Beaufort Sea and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Murkowski pressed Jackson in her opening statement at Wednesday's Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on EPA's 2012 budget proposal. Sen.… Continue Reading
03.16.11
Alaskans Concern About Japan Radiation Understandable
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding the risk of radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan reaching Alaska. "It's understandable that Alaskans would be concerned about the threat of radiation from Japan drifting across the Pacific Ocean. The National Nuclear Security Administration has assured me, however, that there's no risk of radioactive material reaching Alaska, Hawaii, the territories, or … Continue Reading
03.15.11
Murkowski Speaks in Support of Amendment to Rein in EPA’s Climate Regulations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, spoke on the Senate floor Tuesday in support of an amendment to the pending small business bill that would block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from imposing a costly backdoor energy tax on the American people. "I remain as convinced as ever that the EPA's effort to impose backdoor climate regulations is the wrong way, and perhaps the worst way, to address our nation's energy and climate challenges," Murkowski said. "As o… Continue Reading
03.15.11
Murkowski Congratulates John Baker and His Team on Winning the Iditarod in Record Time
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today congratulated John Baker and his team on winning their first Iditarod Sled Dog Trail Race: "I congratulate John and his team on their amazing victory in this year's Iditarod sled dog race. After ten days of racing the extraordinary 1049 mile span of terrain from Anchorage to Nome, John Baker of Kotzebue has crossed the finish line to victory ahead of his 61 fellow competitors. His team of four-legged athletes gave an amazing per… Continue Reading
