08.18.22

Vice Chairman Murkowski to Hold Media Availability Following SCIA Field Hearing

WASHINGTON, DC - On Tuesday, August 23, 2022, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), will hold a media availability for reporters in Unalaska on the committee's field hearing, "Contaminated Land Conveyances: the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, the Detrimental Impacts of Contamination on Native Communities and the Next Steps for Environmental Justice," including the testimony provided by the following witnesses: MR. STE… Continue Reading

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05.04.22

Tribal Broadband Funding Secured by Murkowski Heading to Alaska

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, applauded the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announcement of broadband grants, including four grants totaling $41.5 million heading to Alaska. The grants are provided through NTIA's Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program. The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program was created by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which made $980 million … Continue Reading

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03.28.22

Vice Chairman Murkowski: It Is Time HHS Take Action to Ensure Tribal Health Data Access

Recently, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, delivered remarks at the Committee's legislative hearing to receive testimony on six bills, including, S.1397, the Tribal Health Data Improvement Act of 2021, sponsored by Vice Chairman Murkowski with Senator Tina Smith (D-MN). "During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 12 Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) in the country, which includes the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, faced signi… Continue Reading

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03.16.22

Delegation Welcomes Court Ruling Reinstating King Cove Land Exchange Agreement

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today welcomed a ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstating the land exchange needed to facilitate a life-saving road for the residents of King Cove, Alaska. The Ninth Circuit's decision reversed and remanded a flawed District Court ruling that set aside the land exchange agreement in June 2020. "This decision out of the Ninth Circuit reflects the right read of ANILCA and the Secretary of th… Continue Reading

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03.16.22

Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Signed into Law

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) attended a ceremony at the White House to recognize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act of 2022 being signed into law. Earlier in the day, Senator Murkowski, alongside her co-leads on the bill, U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) celebrated its passage by speaking on the Senate floor. [Click here for bill highlights. Click here for video of Murkowski's speech. Click here for high res photos.] "… Continue Reading

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03.11.22

Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Passes Congress, Heads to President’s Desk

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act of 2022, led by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), alongside U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Dick Durbin (D-IL), is heading to the President to be signed into law. This bipartisan legislation, which was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, reauthorizes VAWA through 2027, preserves advancements in previous reauthorizations, and strengthens and modernizes the almost 30-year-old law. The VA… Continue Reading

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02.17.22

Vice Chairman Murkowski Delivers Floor Speech on Alaska Native Civil Rights Leader

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), spoke on the Senate floor on February 16, 2022 to recognize Elizabeth Peratrovich and her legacy as an Alaska Native civil rights leader. Senator Lisa Murkowski delivering her floor speech on Elizabeth Peratrovich on February 16, 2022 Excerpts from the Vice Chairman's floor speech: "Mr. President, I've come to the Senate floor to recognize and honor Elizabeth Peratrovich, who was a relentless c… Continue Reading

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02.10.22

Murkowski and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), alongside U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Dick Durbin (D-IL), introduced the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act of 2022. This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the VAWA federal grant programs through 2027 and modernizes the almost three-decade old law. This legislation will help prevent violence, support survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable for their violent actions. It includes key provisions to enhan… Continue Reading

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11.16.21

Senator Murkowski Joins Indian Boarding Schools Commission Legislation

Today, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, made the following statement after signing on as the lead Republican co-sponsor of S. 2907, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding Schools Act. "For many years, thousands of Native children were taken from their families, homes, and communities, and forced to attend boarding schools far away. These Indian boarding schools stripped Native children of their identities and forced them to ass… Continue Reading

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11.06.21

Vice Chairman Murkowski: Historic Infrastructure Package Heading to President's Desk

Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, applauded the House passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, legislation she and a bipartisan group of nine Senators worked for months to negotiate, draft, and pass through the full Senate. Included in the legislation that will now head to the President's desk is substantial funding for Federal programs and Native communities to address water and sanitation, transportation, broadband… Continue Reading

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11.03.21

Schatz, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan National Native American Heritage Month Resolution

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, introduced a Senate resolution recognizing November 2021 as National Native American Heritage Month. "Every November we observe Native American Heritage Month to celebrate Native Hawaiian, American Indian, and Alaska Native peoples and their diverse cultures, achievements, and contributions," said Chairman Schatz. "I am honored to… Continue Reading

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11.01.21

Vice Chairman Murkowski Welcomes November as National Native American Heritage Month

Today, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), issued the following statement on November as National Native American Heritage Month. "This month brings awareness to celebrate, and recognize the many contributions made by Native people in the United States-Alaska Natives, American Indians, and Native Hawaiians-along with other Indigenous peoples in our country from across the globe. Alaska is home to nearly 40 percent of all federally recog… Continue Reading

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10.29.21

Vice Chairman Examines Barriers to Voting for Native People

This week, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), welcomed the opportunity to hear from Native witnesses about the issues that continue to pose barriers to voting access during an oversight hearing she requested entitled: Voting Matters in Native Communities. "The right to vote has evolved tremendously over time, including with respect to the voting rights of our First peoples. American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians-all… Continue Reading

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10.21.21

Murkowski, Sullivan Secure Extension on COVID Relief Dollars for Alaska Natives

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) welcomed the Senate's passage last night of S.3011, the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act, legislation that includes a provision the senators authored granting an extension until December 31, 2022 for tribes-including Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs)-to spend Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) resources from the March 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securi… Continue Reading

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10.20.21

Senate Passes One Year Extension for Tribal Governments to Utilize COVID Relief

Last night, the United States Senate passed the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act (S. 3011), which includes a one-year extension of the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) deadline to allow Tribal governments additional time to use CARES CRF allocations. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), is a cosponsor to S. 3011 and was able to secure inclusion of the tr… Continue Reading

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09.30.21

Cortez Masto, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Shortage of Health Care Providers in Native American Communities

U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced bipartisan legislation to help the Indian Health Services (IHS) recruit and hire more health care professionals by providing medical, nursing, and other students with fully tax-exempt scholarships and loan repayment programs. IHS has a 25 percent vacancy rate for health care providers and currently needs more than 1,300 positions filled, which this legislation could help address. In order to attract new, tale… Continue Reading

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09.29.21

Murkowski’s Legislation Extending Native Children’s Commission Signed Into Law

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) today applauded S. 325, a bill to amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes, being signed into law by the President. Senator Murkowski introduced the bill in February 2021 with Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dan Sullivan… Continue Reading

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08.30.21

Vice Chairman Murkowski Announces New Committee Staff

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), welcomes additional staff to the Committee and provided the following statement. "I am pleased that Amber Ebarb and Lucy Murfitt have transitioned over to the Committee. They provide a depth of knowledge and skill that will complement the Committee's work to advance the lives of American Indian and Alaska Native people. Both women are familiar with the many issues affecting Indigenous peoples and… Continue Reading

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08.23.21

Murkowski, Young Applaud Native Children’s Commission Extension Bill Heading to President’s Desk

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 325, a bill to amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes. The bill, introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and co-sponsored by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Jon Tester (D-MT), now heads to the President to be signed into law. A House compani… Continue Reading

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08.10.21

Vice Chairman Murkowski Secures Significant Investments in Native Communities

Today, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, provided the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes substantial funding for Federal programs and Native communities to address water and sanitation, transportation, broadband, climate and energy resilience, Indian water settlements, new energy technology, drought mitigation, mine and well cleanup, wildfire mitigation, and ecosystem re… Continue Reading