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 Seeks Answers from FAA Administrator on Air Shipments of Oxygen in Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, spoke with the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this week about her ongoing concerns regarding regulations for shipping oxygen by air. Federal safety measures instituted following the 1996 ValuJet crash in Florida require that hazardous material canisters shipped aboard aircraft be enclosed in specialized, fire retardant cases. Due to the size, weight and expense of the cases, many Alaskan air carriers are unable to comply … Continue Reading
12.15.10
Murkowski Comments on DOE Critical Minerals Strategy
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following statement regarding the Department of Energy's release of its first report on critical minerals, including rare earths elements. "Secretary Chu deserves to be commended for his leadership in producing this comprehensive and useful report identifying the challenges we face as a nation in securing the raw materials vital to the advancement of cleaner energy. Now it's time for the Interior Department, the Environment… Continue Reading
12.15.10
Murkowski Comments on Senate Passage of the Tax Package Agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, made the following statement after voting today in favor of the tax package, which passed the Senate by a vote of 81 - 19: "Neither side of the aisle got everything it wanted in this tax package, but I believe the bill strikes a fair middle ground that will block huge tax hikes that could jeopardize the economic recovery. Absent an agreement on taxes, all Americans who pay taxes would see their tax bill go up come the New Year. The bill pas… Continue Reading
12.14.10
Bering Sea Cod Co-Op Wins Final Congressional Approval
Bering Sea cod fishermen will be able to end the dangerous and wasteful "race for fish" thanks to House concurrence with legislation passed earlier by the Senate. S.1609, the Longline Catcher Processor Subsector Single Fishery Cooperative Act, authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to approve a cooperative for longline cod catcher processors in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. The measure now goes to the White House where President Obama is expected to sign it into law. Alaska Senators Mark B… Continue Reading
12.14.10
Murkowski Calls for Immediate Release of FERC Study on Renewable Reliability
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today sent a letter to the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee asking for the immediate release of the results of a long-awaited study of how much intermittent renewable energy can be reliably used without disrupting the nation's power grid. "This study, which the commission said would be released more than a year ago, is information we will need to determine how much renewable energy can safely be added to the existing gri… Continue Reading
12.13.10
Alaska Delegation Seeks Timely Resolution of NPR-A Permitting Issue
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Mark Begich and Congressman Don Young recently sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jo-Ellen Darcy regarding the Corps' decision to reconsider part of its previous rejection of a plan to drill in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). In February, the Corps rejected a plan by ConocoPhillips to reach its le… Continue Reading
12.13.10
Murkowski Announces 2010 Service Academy Nominees
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, nominated 29 of Alaska's best and brightest young people for appointment to the U.S. military service academies for the year 2011-the Class of 2015. "Each year we receive many appointment requests from outstanding and talented Alaska students. It is always unfortunate that there are never enough openings to accommodate all of the nominees who have the makings of successful service men and women," Murkowski said. "These accomplished candidat… Continue Reading
12.08.10
Murkowski Statement on Don't Ask, Don't Tell
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following statement concerning the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy: "After reviewing the DOD report and the testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee by Defense Secretary Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen, I have concluded that it is time to repeal the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law. We expect all who serve to serve with integrity, but under current law gay and lesbian service members may s… Continue Reading
12.04.10
Murkowski Opposes Tax Hikes for Small Business Owners
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, made the following statement today following her votes against two proposals that would increase taxes next year on America's small business owners: "Our nation is in the midst of a recession, and this week we learned that the unemployment rate inched up to 9.8 percent, yet the Senate majority's answer today was to offer legislation that would levy a massive tax increase on small businesses. At a time when the number of Americans out of wor… Continue Reading
12.01.10
Murkowski Comments on Deficit Commission’s Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, made the following comments about today's release of the President's deficit commission final report: "I commend those involved with the commission for the difficult task they undertook. Although I will be reviewing the report in greater detail, the commission's proposal is clearly a positive step towards reducing the deficit, cutting out-of-control federal spending and reining in mushrooming entitlement costs, something that Congress has b… Continue Reading
12.01.10
Murkowski Comments on Interior’s Decision for Offshore Development
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement today in response to the Obama administration's decision on offshore energy exploration: "I am pleased and relieved that Alaska's offshore leases are being honored, but I strongly believe that the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Atlantic and Pacific, should be open to exploration," Murkowski said. "These areas represent some of the most abundant oil and gas resources available for domestic productio… Continue Reading
11.30.10
Murkowski Votes Against Earmarks Ban
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voted against considering a proposal that would impose a three-year moratorium on earmarks in both appropriations and authorization bills. The proposal, which failed, was offered as an amendment to an unrelated bill that pertains to food safety. Murkowski voted for the food safety bill. "Today's vote was long on bravado but short on substance. The notion that Congress would turn federal spending responsibilities over to unelected gove… Continue Reading
11.29.10
Murkowski to Vote for Repeal of Tax Burden in Health Care Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said today she would vote to allow consideration of an amendment that would rescind an onerous tax reporting burden on small businesses that was included in the government health care takeover bill. The vote, which requires 67 votes to succeed, was expected to come up later tonight on an unrelated bill that pertains to food safety. A provision in the health care law requires any business that purchases more than $600 of goods or services fr… Continue Reading
11.20.10
Murkowski Statement on Loss of Air Force Pilot
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement regarding the loss of Captain Jeffrey Haney who was killed when his F-22 crashed earlier this week: "I am deeply saddened to learn of Captain Haney's death from this tragic incident. Captain Haney paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country and we as a nation are forever in his debt. I extend to Captain Haney's family my most heartfelt sympathies and prayers as they mourn his loss." # # #… Continue Reading
11.19.10
Murkowski: Native American Challenge Act Heads to Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has announced that the Senate Indian Affairs committee passed the Native American Challenge Demonstration Project Act of 2010. The bill, championed by Murkowski, is cosponsored by Sens. Mark Begich D-Alaska, Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii and Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii. Passed by the Committee on Thursday, the bill would direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish the Native American Challenge Demonstration Project which would allow tribes, tribal or… Continue Reading
11.17.10
Murkowski Opposes an Earmark Ban
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement regarding efforts to ban congressional earmarks: "Senate Republicans today adopted a non-binding resolution to ban congressional earmarks. I was unable to vote on the resolution because my re-election has not yet been certified, but had I been able to vote, I would have opposed the earmark ban. "The notion that Congress would abdicate its constitutional duty and turn federal spending over to government… Continue Reading
11.16.10
Murkowski Congratulates New President of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today strongly welcomed the selection of retired U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thomas J. Barrett as the new president of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., the organization that operates the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline. Murkowski, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said she could think of no one more qualified to lead Alyeska through the future challenges of operating and maintaining the 33-year-old pipeline that… Continue Reading
11.16.10
Murkowski Recognizes American Education Week
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has submitted a statement to the Congressional Record recognizing the week of November 15, 2010 as National Education Week. Sen. Murkowski's statement, in full, is attached. ###… Continue Reading
11.09.10
Sen. Murkowski Issues Veterans Day Message
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In observance of Veterans Day, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following message: "Veterans Day is a proud day for America. We rightfully take pause to do something we can never do too often and that is thank the men and women of our armed forces. We celebrate your courage, we recognize your sacrifice, and we honor your service. "In Alaska we are proud to be home to the highest number of Veterans per capita of any state in the nation. We embrace our serviceme… Continue Reading
11.04.10
Sen. Murkowski: Action on Emissions Possible with EPA Preemption
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement today in response to President Obama's comments on Wednesday regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's plans to begin regulating greenhouse gas emissions on Jan. 1. "There are a great number of things we can do to responsibly reduce our carbon emissions without burdening our economy with an unworkable cap-and-trade scheme or command-and-control regulation by the EPA," Murkowski said. "Many of those p… Continue Reading
