01.28.22

Murkowski Welcomes Additional H-2B Visas, Critical for Seasonal Jobs in Alaska

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statements after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced 20,000 additional H-2B nonagricultural worker visas for the first half of fiscal year 2022, which will be available to employers on Friday, January 28, 2022. This marks the first release of supplemental visas in the first half of a fiscal year. "The H-2B visa program has long played an important role for seasonal fishing and tourism bus… Continue Reading

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01.21.22

Delegation Announces Disaster Declarations for Alaska Fisheries

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today welcomed determinations from the Department of Commerce that fishery disasters have occurred in numerous Alaska fisheries, allowing them to receive critical relief funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The funding can be distributed to fishermen and their crews, seafood processors, and research initiatives in the impacted regions. "Alaska's fisheries are economic and s… Continue Reading

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01.16.22

Murkowski Welcomes USDA Announcement for New Mariculture Facility on Prince of Wales Island

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today welcomed the announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will award $500,000 to Southeast Conference to design a mariculture processing facility to be located on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska-home to one of the largest kelp farms in the United States. "Creating sustainable economies in rural and remote communities can be challenging, but this investment, in recognition of the promise that Alaska's unique and growing mariculture industry … Continue Reading

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12.23.21

Murkowski Announces Disbursement of CARES Act Funding to Alaska’s Fisheries

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced that $50 million in fishery assistance, secured through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and. Economic Security (CARES) Act, will be disbursed this week to Alaska's commercial harvesters, sport fishing charters, and seafood processors. This funding comes as a result of the efforts of Senator Murkowski to make direct assistance available to subsistence, commercial, and charter fishery participants, processors, fishery-related businesses and fishery-d… Continue Reading

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06.04.21

Murkowski and Colleagues Stand Up for Wild-Caught Salmon

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) reintroduced the Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act, which will allow consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing salmon. The bill works to ensure that any genetically engineered (GE) salmon products sold in the U.S. are clearly labeled "genetically engineered" in the market name. This requirement would apply to the entire lineage of salmon modified via recombinant DNA technology. The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), M… Continue Reading

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05.26.21

Senators Hassan, Murkowski Call on CDC and Coast Guard to Change Mask Requirements for Commercial Fishing Industry

Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Coast Guard to change mask requirements for crews on commercial fishing vessels. In a letter to the CDC and Coast Guard, the Senators discuss the latest CDC mask guidance and write, "Many fishing vessel operators were therefore understandably dismayed to learn that the most recent CDC guidance does not loosen restrictions for fishing vessels that are staffed by fu… Continue Reading

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04.22.21

Alaska Delegation Encourages Department of Homeland Security to Help Keep Alaska Seafood Industry Running

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young issued the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the department is making available 22,000 temporary, non-agriculture worker visas through the H-2B visa program: "The H-2B visa program is crucial to on-shore fish processors in Alaska and to our national seafood supply. The COVID-19 pandemic has created incredible hardships for American businesses across the nation, and Alaska's seafood industr… Continue Reading

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02.01.21

Whitehouse-Murkowski Bill Would Advance Understanding of Oceans, Great Lakes, and Coasts

U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus, have introduced legislation to advance data collection of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts. The Bolstering Long-Term Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries Act, or BLUE GLOBE Act, would accelerate technology innovation, plan for a stronger maritime workforce, and develop a better understanding of the Blue Economy. "There'… Continue Reading

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01.05.21

Sullivan, Markey, Murkowski Welcome Signing of Young Fishermen’s Development Act

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today welcomed the signing of the Young Fishermen's Development Act, legislation to mitigate the challenges facing the next generation of entrants into the fishing industry by supporting regional training opportunities and apprenticeship programs. Congressmen Don Young (R-Alaska) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) were the lead sponsors of the legislation in the House. "Just like the proud men and women of … Continue Reading

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12.28.20

Year-End Omnibus Appropriations Package Signed Into Law

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded a year-end omnibus bill being signed into law, which includes a 12-bill appropriations package to fund the government through the end of Fiscal Year 2021, including Senator Murkowski's Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. This historic funding package also provides nearly $900 billion for COVID-19 relief; Senator Murkowski's bipartisan, bicameral Energy Act of 2020; a bipartisan compromise to address the issue of Surprise M… Continue Reading

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12.09.20

Murkowski Statement on NPFMC Closing EEZ Waters to Commercial Fishing in Cook Inlet

Following the announcement that the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC) has decided to close all Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters to commercial fishing in the Cook Inlet, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement: "I am disappointed by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council's decision to close federal waters in Cook Inlet to commercial fishing, but I am also very concerned about the prospect of federal management over resources that have been, … Continue Reading

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12.02.20

Murphy, Murkowski Applaud Final Passage Of Save Our Seas 2.0

U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) applauded passage of Save Our Seas 2.0, legislation to combat marine debris. Murphy and Murkowski are both cosponsors of the bill, which was introduced and led by U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) and Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey). The legislation includes a Murphy-Murkowski drafted provision that allows for the establishment of a new Genius Prize to fund the development of materials to repl… Continue Reading

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10.02.20

Murkowski Leads Bipartisan Call to Ensure NOAA Surveys Proceed in 2021

In May 2020, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries started canceling research surveys to protect the health of its crews and personnel at sea on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. In support of coastal communities across the country who rely on these surveys as a basis for their livelihoods, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led a letter, co-signed by 18 of her Senate colleagues, calling on NOAA to identify and resolve any challenges created by COVID-19 that preven… Continue Reading

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09.09.20

Sullivan, Murkowski & Young Welcome Major Tariff Relief for Alaska Fishermen

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today thanked President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for authorizing approximately $530 million for fishermen and the U.S. seafood industry impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments, including fishermen in Alaska. "Working alongside Alaska fishermen across our state, I have been relentlessly pushing the administration to ensure that our fishermen are provided relief fr… Continue Reading

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08.05.20

Senators Stabenow, Murkowski Team Up to Reintroduce Bipartisan Food Supply Protection Act

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) reintroduced the Food Supply Protection Act to help protect the food supply after the COVID-19 crisis has put an unprecedented strain on farmers, workers, food banks, and families. "The COVID-19 crisis has continued to disrupt our nation's food supply chain, creating a ripple effect that's harming our families, farmers, and workers," said Senator Stabenow. "Our bipartisan bill will help strengthen our food supply by redirecti… Continue Reading

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07.23.20

Whitehouse-Murkowski Bill to Further Understanding of Oceans, Great Lakes, and Coasts Advances Out of Committee

U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus, have announced that their legislation to advance data collection and monitoring of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts was approved by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee by voice vote yesterday. The Bolstering Long-Term Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries Act, or the BLUE GLOBE Act, would accelerate… Continue Reading

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07.01.20

Paycheck Protection Program Deadline Extension

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation to extend the Paycheck Protection Program to August 8, 2020. The small business loan program expired yesterday, on June 30. It now needs to pass the House in order for it to be sent to the President's desk to be signed into law. Just last week the Department of Treasury and Small Business Administration announced a rule allowing commercial fishing businesses to account for crew member payroll when applying for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan… Continue Reading

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06.25.20

Delegation Announces Paycheck Protection Program Fix for Commercial Fishing Businesses

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today applauded a rule released by the Department of Treasury and Small Business Administration that will allow commercial fishing businesses to account for crew member payroll when applying for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. Over the past several weeks, the Alaska Congressional Delegation has pressed the Trump administration for the change - which included sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Mnu… Continue Reading

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06.23.20

Murkowski Statement on Order Affecting H-2B Workers, J-1 Visas

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement after President Trump issued a "Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak," which includes an exemption for workers seeking to enter the U.S. to provide temporary labor or services essential to the nation's food supply chain, such as the seafood industry: "The COVID pandemic has strained workers and businesses all across the nation. I appreciate the admini… Continue Reading

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05.18.20

Alaska Delegation Applauds Homeland Security Rule Creating Flexibility for Seafood Industry

The Alaska Congressional Delegation today applauded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's announcement that it is implementing a temporary rule that will give seafood processors more flexibility to hire workers in H-2B status during the COVID-19 pandemic. This action creates parity with the H-2A program, which was granted similar temporary flexibility in April of 2020. The recently published rule will allow companies that are critical to the U.S. food supply to hire current visa holders alr… Continue Reading