02.16.11

Murkowski Cautions EPA Officials Against Overreaching with Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a letter sent today to the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, cautioned the federal agency against overreaching in its assessment of the Bristol Bay watershed and prejudging any project prior to the release of a detailed development plan and the completion of a full scientific analysis of potential impacts. "I believe the EPA should commit now to refraining from exercising a veto of development in the Bristol Bay area at… Continue Reading

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02.16.11

Murkowski Questions Need for Increases to Energy Department Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following opening statement at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Energy Department budget for fiscal year 2012: "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm pleased to be here today as we gather to organize the Committee for the 112th Congress and hold our first hearing as a reorganized entity. "I'd like to welcome the Senators who are returning from last Congress, as well as our unusually high number o… Continue Reading

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02.15.11

Murkowski: Tapping ANWR Improves Energy Security and Reduces Deficit

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced two pieces of legislation to increase domestic oil production by tapping the energy reserves in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). "Now is the time to develop our domestic oil reserves in the ANWR coastal plain," Murkowski said. "For far too long, we've kept resources under lock and key that could improve our energy security and create badly-needed jobs. There's no excuse for continuing to pay… Continue Reading

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02.14.11

Murkowski Comments on the President’s FY 2012 Budget Proposal

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, made the following statement after President Obama released his budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2011: "I was disappointed that the President's budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 doesn't do near enough to reduce spending and cut the deficit. In fact, the Fiscal Year 2012 budget proposal would increase spending and add an additional $7.2 trillion to the deficit over 10 years. That is clearly unacceptable. … Continue Reading

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02.14.11

Murkowski Defends Essential Air Service to Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today warned against a move to eliminate the nation's Essential Air Service (EAS), a program that brings vital air service to 44 rural Alaskan communities across the state. In a Senate floor speech, Murkowski spoke against U.S. Sen. John McCain's amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration authorization bill that would terminate the $212 million EAS program. "I can say without any reservation that this amendment would create an econ… Continue Reading

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02.14.11

Murkowski Announces Upcoming Town Hall Meetings on Sealaska Land Exchange Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced the latest round of informational meetings to gather public comment on the Sealaska lands bill. The meetings are set during the President's Day congressional recess for Feb. 21-22 in Ketchikan and Craig on Prince of Wales Island. McKie Campbell, staff director of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Republican staff, will be on hand to discuss the latest draft of the proposed land exchange. • Ketchikan - Monday, F… Continue Reading

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02.13.11

Murkowski Commends U.S. Coast Guard on Dramatic Rescues

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commended the United States Coast Guard for the rescue of 18 fishermen in four incidents over the last two months in Alaskan waters. The most recent incident occurred early Friday morning when the Coast Guard rescued five fishermen from a grounded vessel near Kodiak Island. This was the second major rescue in a week; on February 8, the Coast Guard saved five fishermen from a grounded vessel near Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands. On… Continue Reading

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02.11.11

Murkowski Comments on SBA’s Revisions to 8(a) Regulations

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding the Small Business Administration's (SBA) comprehensive revision to its regulations governing the 8(a) business development program: "The SBA's revision of its regulations governing the 8(a) Business Development program, the first significant revision of these rules in a decade, is thoughtful and comprehensive. It bears noting that the final rule characterizes the 8(a) program as 'a mu… Continue Reading

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02.11.11

Senators Support Kantishna Micro Hydro Project

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today reintroduced legislation that would facilitate the permitting and construction of a micro hydro project inside the non-wilderness part of Denali National Park. The bill directs the National Park Service to issue a special use permit to speed construction and provides authority to exchange ten acres of Doyon owned land in the Kantishna area with the National Park Service. "Hydropower provides electricity that is clean and renewable, and we shou… Continue Reading

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02.11.11

Murkowski Welcomes Mubarak’s Exit

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commented on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's decision to step down: "This has been a painful process for the Egyptian people, and I welcome President Mubarak's decision to step down. Egypt is undergoing a generational political change, and at this point no one can say for sure what the outcome will be. It is my hope that this action will relieve some of the tension and put the Egyptian people on a path to greater stability and po… Continue Reading

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02.10.11

Murkowski Comments on Possible Overestimates of Saudi Oil

WASHINGTON, D.C. ¬- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commented on a surprising report that Saudi Arabia might not have sufficient oil reserves to stabilize global supplies and prices: "The conventional wisdom is that America can rely on OPEC's spare capacity to keep world oil prices stable, but there's increasing evidence that this is a mistake. "If reports that Saudi oil reserves have been inflated are true, it would be irresponsible and downright dangerous for us to continue t… Continue Reading

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02.09.11

Murkowski Comments on ConocoPhillips Closing Kenai Facility

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement today in response to ConocoPhillips' announcement that it was shutting its Kenai liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility. "The closure of the LNG plant will leave a huge hole in Kenai's economy and my first thought is for the employees and their families, many of whom are wondering what they're going to do now," Murkowski said. "This announcement highlights the urgent need we face to find a way to commerciali… Continue Reading

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02.09.11

Murkowski Welcomes First Oil Production at Eni Field

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today congratulated the members of oil company Eni's Alaska team for successfully beginning production at their Nikaitchuq field. "This is great news for Alaska. It is exactly the kind of project we like to see because it shows our resources can be safely developed and globally competitive," Murkowski said. "The future of the trans-Alaska pipeline, and most likely the state, depend on our ability to increase oil production." Nikaitchuq i… Continue Reading

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02.09.11

Sens. Murkowski, Begich Introduce Fix to Help Small Miners

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Small Miner Waiver Clarification Act was reintroduced today by Alaska's U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich. The legislation would clarify federal mining law to remedy a problem that has arisen from the extension process for "small" miner land claims. "The existing law is clearly falling short of what it was designed to do - exempt small miners from the claim maintenance fee," Murkowski said. "The bill we introduced today provides a simple administrative fix to rem… Continue Reading

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02.08.11

Murkowski Comments on Pacific Walrus Endangered Status

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced that the Pacific walrus would be designated a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Service said the Pacific walrus warrants ESA protection, but it won't move forward with a formal listing at this time because of more pressing higher priority species listings. As a result, the Service said the walrus will be added to… Continue Reading

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02.08.11

Sens. Murkowski, Begich Ask for Parks Highway Right-of-Way for Gas Line

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Denali National Park and Preserve Natural Gas Pipeline Act was reintroduced today by Alaska's U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich. The legislation would authorize a right-of-way along the Parks Highway for construction of an Alaska in-state natural gas pipeline. "Southcentral needs natural gas and an in-state line provides an alternative solution to their future needs," Murkowski said. "By eliminating the uncertainty of permitting and regulatory delays, the Parks H… Continue Reading

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02.08.11

Murkowski, Begich Introduce Legislation to Train Alaskans for Gas line Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Alaska Gas Line Worker Training Center Modification bill was introduced today by Alaska's U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich. The legislation would make a minor technical change to a provision that Congress approved in 2004 to further construction of a pipeline system to move Alaska's natural gas to market. "The last time we built a pipeline many of the workers came from outside Alaska," Murkowski said. "When it comes time to build the gas line, I want to make sur… Continue Reading

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02.07.11

Murkowski Welcomes EPA Decision to Study Bristol Bay Watershed

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commended Environmental Protection Agency officials on their decision to assess the potential impacts of mining and other development projects on the Bristol Bay watershed. "The EPA's decision to withhold judgment on the potential environmental impact of projects, like the Pebble Mine, until all the scientific information has been collected and analyzed is a prudent decision," Murkowski said. Opponents of the Pebble Mine last year … Continue Reading

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02.04.11

Sens. Murkowski, Begich Introduce Bill to Resolve Salmon Lake Land Claim

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Salmon Lake Land Selection Resolution Act was reintroduced today by Alaska's U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich. The bill ratifies a settlement between the state of Alaska, the federal Bureau of Land Management and the Bering Straits Native Corp., completing land conveyances promised in the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). "The shareholders of the Bering Straits region have waited 40 years to finally receive the land and economic benefits promised… Continue Reading

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02.04.11

Murkowski Announces Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Assignments

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is the new ranking Republican member on the Senate Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee, a panel with jurisdiction over a number of federal agencies that play a major role in Alaska. Senate Appropriations Committee members today learned their subcommittee assignments for the 112th Congress. As a senior member of that panel - Murkowski ranks seventh in seniority - Alaska's senior senator was able to pick up a sixth subcommi… Continue Reading