03.01.11

Murkowski: Pace of Offshore Permitting Remains Priority

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, commented on the Interior Department's issuance yesterday of the first deepwater oil drilling permit since the Gulf of Mexico oil spill: "Yesterday's announcement is the first step to putting us back into the race for greater energy security and economic recovery," Murkowski said. "While this approval for a bypass well isn't the new exploration we need to see, this does put the administration closer to compliance with the law as dir… Continue Reading

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03.01.11

Murkowski: Rising Oil Prices Threaten Economic Recovery

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today commented on the rapid increase of gasoline prices and the resulting impact on the United States' struggling economic recovery. "The recent dramatic increase in the cost of gasoline has an effect on every single American - from soccer moms, to senior citizens, to college students," Murkowski said. "The fragile recovery trajectory that we're on is threatened by the hits that every family is facing due to skyrocketing prices at th… Continue Reading

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03.01.11

Murkowski Delivers Keynote Speech at ARPA-E Summit

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today gave the following speech at the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in Washington, D.C. "Good morning and thank you, Secretary Chu, for the invitation to join you here today. As I look around the room, I'm reminded of an observation by the astronomer Carl Sagan, who once wrote, "We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology." I think w… Continue Reading

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02.28.11

Murkowski Comments on Libya

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement on the situation in Libya: "I strongly condemn the actions taken by Colonel Moammar Gadhafi and his regime. Libya, like many other North African countries is in the midst of generational political change. Col. Gadhafi's 42- year reign has come to a tipping point. I support recently imposed sanctions by the United Nations, United States and the European Union on the Libyan government, and ho… Continue Reading

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02.24.11

Murkowski Gives Annual Address to Alaska State Legislature

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, delivered her annual address to the Alaska State Legislature today in Juneau. In her speech, Murkowski highlighted the urgent need to increase production from the state's northern oil fields to keep declining oil throughput from forcing a permanent shutdown of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. Attached is the full text of her speech, as prepared for delivery. ###… Continue Reading

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02.23.11

Murkowski Calls On Tsa To Clarify Screening Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today sent a letter to Transportation Security Administration Administrator John Pistole requesting the TSA immediately clarify it's screening policy for airline passengers with special medical conditions. Murkowski sent the letter following an incident on Sunday at Seattle's airport involving Alaska state Rep. Sharon Cissna, D-Anchorage, a breast cancer survivor who was singled out for an invasive pat-down search by TSA agents after… Continue Reading

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02.18.11

Murkowski: Stevens Crash Prompts Senate to Tighten Inspections of Aircraft Emergency Locator Transmitters

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Acting on a federal safety recommendation stemming from the airplane crash that claimed the life of former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, the Senate late Thursday approved a proposal to ensure that aircraft emergency locator transmitters (ELT) are properly mounted and maintained, according to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. During its inspection of the Stevens crash last summer, which also claimed the lives of pilot Theron "Terry" Smith, William "Bill" Phillips S… Continue Reading

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02.18.11

Murkowski Comments on Sen. Jeff Bingaman’s Retirement

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following reaction to the news that New Mexico Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, plans to announce that he will not run for re-election. "I have very much enjoyed my time working with Chairman Bingaman on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee," Murkowski said. "He has been an honest partner in developing legislation, and under his leadership there's b… Continue Reading

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02.17.11

Murkowski Disappointed That TSA Caved to PETA Pressure

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today expressed disappointment that the Transportation Security Administration has cancelled its planned recruitment efforts at the 2011 Iditarod Sled Dog Race due to pressure from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). In a letter to TSA Administrator John S. Pistole, Murkowski said the Iditarod captures "the spirit of Alaska and our State's rich history," and urged Pistole to reconsider the agency's decision. Murk… Continue Reading

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02.17.11

Murkowski Welcomes Senate Defeat of Amendment to Eliminate Essential Air Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the Senate's defeat, 61 to 38, of an amendment by U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, to eliminate the nation's Essential Air Service (EAS) program. Forty four communities across Alaska receive EAS subsidies. In a Senate floor speech earlier this week, Murkowski said elimination of the air service would be an "economic and transportation disaster" for Alaska, arguing that, unlike the rest of the nation, most of Alaska's EA… Continue Reading

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02.16.11

Murkowski Announces Military Will Extend JPARC Comment Period

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that the military granted a two-week extension of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) comment period for proposed enhancements to the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC). In a phone call with Murkowski, Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, Commander, Alaskan Command, said the military would extend the comment period through March 4, 2011. "While I understand the JPARC's unique value to the state and our nation's military, I … Continue Reading

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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