07.21.20

Murkowski Commends Air Force’s Arctic Strategy

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statements after the Department of the Air Force unveiled an Arctic Strategy: "One of my top priorities is ensuring the Arctic region is a national priority. The Air Force's first ever Arctic Strategy not only recognizes the importance of the Arctic, but emphasizes Alaska's essential role in projecting national power and protecting our homeland. As General Billy Mitchell, the "Father of the Air Force," testified before Congress in 1935, … Continue Reading

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06.11.20

Murkowski Commends Administration’s Arctic Focus

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statements in support of the administration's recent Arctic-specific actions. This week, the Trump administration issued a Presidential Memorandum entitled Safeguarding U.S. National Interests in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions: "My priority is not just to raise awareness of America's role as an Arctic nation, but also for us to move from awareness to action. I'm encouraged by this memorandum and statement of support from President Tru… Continue Reading

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05.29.20

Alaska Delegation Applauds Major Progress for Port of Nome

Today, the Alaska Congressional Delegation (all R-Alaska) applauded the Army Corps of Engineers' completion of the Chief's Report for the Port of Nome Modification Feasibility Study. With the signing of this report, the proposal is eligible for consideration by Congress for authorization and funding. The project is already recognized in the authorizing legislation, S. 3591, the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2020, which passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in M… Continue Reading

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12.11.19

Arctic Shipping Legislation Advances in U.S. Senate

The Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee Act, legislation to address the impacts and opportunities of increasing shipping and maritime traffic, today advanced out of the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously. The bill is sponsored by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS), Commerce Committee member Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Commerce Committee Ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-WA). The legislation calls for the U.S. to take advantage of emerging o… Continue Reading

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11.25.19

Delegation Applauds Presidential Memo on Alaska Mapping

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to map the shoreline and nearshore of Alaska and the United States exclusive economic zone (EEZ). "This is an important step for Alaska, especially for the Arctic as we are woefully behind in developing up-to-date maps for the region," Senator Murkowski said. "The Arctic is crucial to our nation's geopolitical, economic, and envi… Continue Reading

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11.19.19

Murkowski Stresses Need to Equip DoD With Tools to Support Arctic Defense Strategy

In honor of what would have been U.S. Senator Ted Stevens' ninety-sixth birthday, U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) raised attention to an issue that was significant to him-the importance of the Arctic and a strong national defense to Alaska and the nation. Senator Murkowski highlighted her legislation she introduced with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) to create a new Department of Defense (DoD) Regional Center for Security Studies for the Arctic, which would be named in Senator Stevens' honor. T… Continue Reading

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11.14.19

Murphy, Murkowski Applaud Committee Passage of Save Our Seas 2.0

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) applauded committee passage of Save Our Seas 2.0, bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) to combat marine debris. Murphy and Murkowski are both cosponsors of the bill. The legislation includes a Murphy-Murkowski drafted provision to fund a Genius Prize for Save Our Seas Innovation to be given out for the development of projects to rep… Continue Reading

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11.07.19

Murkowski, Wicker, Sullivan Introduce Legislation to Prioritize Arctic Maritime Transportation Opportunities, Safety, and Security

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced legislation to urge the U.S. to prioritize emerging opportunities in the Arctic for maritime transportation, and ensure that increased Arctic shipping proceeds safely and securely. The Arctic Shipping Federal Advisory Committee Act addresses increasing shipping and maritime traffic by creating an advisory committee to study Arctic maritime transportation, including Arctic seaway development. The Arctic… Continue Reading

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09.27.19

Funding Bills Advance to Full Senate

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved both the Homeland Security and State & Foreign Operations Appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2020, sending them to the full Senate for consideration. As a member of the Committee, U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) worked to secure provisions to support the U.S. Coast Guard with the assets and infrastructure they need to keep our people and our waters safe, prioritize our nation's leadership in the Arctic, as well as invest in security and improving … Continue Reading

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05.31.19

Murkowski Leads Congressional Delegation Arctic-Focused Trip

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) this week led a congressional delegation to locations across the Arctic and North Atlantic to develop a better understanding of the region, further the United States' relationship with the other Arctic nations, and visit American troops in the Far North. As part of the trip, the delegation focused extensively on energy technologies and climate research activities. Joining Senator Murkowski, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, were committee Ra… Continue Reading

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04.12.19

Murkowski Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster America’s Arctic Role

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation aimed to increase the nation's presence in the Arctic by supporting responsible research and development in the U.S. Arctic while giving those who live in the region a greater voice on policy and research. The Shipping and Environmental Arctic Leadership Act (SEAL Act), cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), addresses increasing shipping and maritime traffic by establishing a congressional… Continue Reading

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03.31.19

Murkowski Comments on Court Ruling on Arctic OCS

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska released a ruling that reinstates President Obama's withdrawal of the vast majority of the Beaufort Sea and all of the Chukchi Sea from responsible oil and gas development. "I strongly disagree with this ruling, which asserts that past presidents can bind their successors and only Congress can overturn those decisions," Murkowski said. "That is not the correct interp… Continue Reading

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01.25.19

Murkowski, Manchin, King Highlight Urgent Need for Greater U.S. Leadership in the Arctic

Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Ranking Member Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., yesterday convened a roundtable with domestic and international dignitaries and policy leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the Arctic region. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, the co-founder of the Senate Arctic Caucus along with Murkowski, also attended the event. The roundtable focused on the Arctic's economy, security, resource development, infrastructure, and changing climate. Participants emphasized… Continue Reading

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01.18.19

Senator Murkowski Speaks at AFN’s Alaska Day Event in DC

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) kicked off the Alaska Federation of Natives' (AFN) Alaska Day event this week in our nation's capital to address opportunities and challenges we face at our northernmost border and educate policymakers on Alaska's strategic significance. This two-day briefing includes Alaska Native leaders, high-level military personnel, the Alaska Congressional Delegation and staff, Cabinet officials, and representatives in telecommunications, energy, and commerce. During the… Continue Reading

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12.12.18

Murkowski Unveils Arctic Legislation to Reinvigorate America’s Arctic Role

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) unveiled legislation aimed to raise the nation's presence in the Arctic through two bills, the Arctic Policy Act (APA) and the Shipping and Environmental Arctic Leadership Act (SEAL Act). The APA takes steps to increase local and indigenous voices in federal science and policy in the Arctic while the SEAL Act establishes a congressionally charted seaway development corporation in the Arctic. As shipping and maritime traffic in the Arctic is expected to grow, th… Continue Reading

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11.15.18

Murkowski Supports Coast Guard Reauthorization

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) last night voted in favor of S. 140, The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, which passed in a 94-6 vote. The bipartisan legislation co-authored by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), co-sponsored by Senator Murkowski, will further develop America's presence in the Arctic, support the maintenance and repair of U.S. Coast Guard infrastructure, and improve safety among recreational boaters. The reauthorization also provides Alaskan fishermen permanent exemption of ve… Continue Reading

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10.19.18

Murkowski Spotlights Alaska at Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today delivered remarks during the opening session of the 2018 Arctic Circle Assembly, which is being held in Reykjavik, Iceland. The Assembly annually brings together more than 2,000 of the most influential leaders, policymakers, and experts from more than 60 countries to focus on the Arctic region. This year's Assembly showcase is the state of Alaska - America's Arctic. Murkowski speaking at the Arctic Circle Assembly "It is an honor to have Alaska spo… Continue Reading

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06.15.18

Murkowski Supports a Safer and More Prosperous Alaska

The Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations bill, which contains several priorities U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski secured for Alaska. As a member of this subcommittee, Murkowski included provisions to strengthen Alaska's world-class fisheries, protect Alaskan ocean wildlife, improve Arctic infrastructure and research, and support other significant programs such as the National Sea Grant Program. In … Continue Reading

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04.25.18

Murkowski Welcomes New Coast Guard Assets to Alaska

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the announcement that the Coast Guard will homeport six Fast Response Cutters (FRC) in Alaskan communities, which will enhance the Coast Guard's coastal capability to perform search and rescue operations, protect our fisheries, and improve resiliency to disasters throughout Alaskan waters. In a letter from the Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Zukunft wrote Senator Murkowski today (attached) that two FRCs will be homeported in Kodiak, one in Seward, one … Continue Reading

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01.26.18

Delegation Urges Interior to Keep Chukchi, Beaufort, and Cook Inlet in New Offshore Program

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to provide comment on the Alaska-specific offshore areas in the Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing for 2019-2024 that should be included in its Final Proposed Program. "We commend you for taking an inclusive approach that allows for meaningful public input as you determine where responsible development should occur on o… Continue Reading