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 Offers Reflections on Memorial Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, submitted to the Congressional Record her reflections on Memorial Day. Murkowski's remarks, as submitted to the Congressional Record, follow: "On Memorial Day, citizens across our great country pause to reflect on our fallen heroes. American hearts swell with pride as men and women everywhere stand just a little bit taller when hearing our National Anthem, and they feel a lump in their throat at the sound of a bugle playing taps. We stand … Continue Reading
05.27.10
Sen. Murkowski Testifies on Her Bill to Improve Compensation Process for Gulf Victims
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, testified today at the request of Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., before the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee on how to improve the process of getting compensation to the victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Murkowski this week introduced legislation to streamline the claims process and ensure that those who desperately need help now get it in all haste. "This bill allows those affected by the spill to recover damages… Continue Reading
05.27.10
Murkowski: Alaska, Nation Must Have Safe Oil Production
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement today regarding the Obama administration's decision to impose a one-year delay on exploration in Alaska's Chukchi and Beaufort seas: "All of us are committed to protecting Alaska's waters. I'm also committed to protecting Alaska's economy," Murkowski said. "If the delay is for a season to ensure we have the highest levels of protection in place, that's one thing. But if it means that existing permits are all… Continue Reading
05.26.10
Sen. Murkowski Announces Events for Memorial Day Congressional Recess
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced her public event schedule for the Memorial Day Congressional recess and availability for media at various events. Following are details of events and availabilities: Saturday, May 29, 2010: 10:00 a.m. KODIAK - Sen. Murkowski will attend the Crab Festival and parade.Mill Bay Road between Powell and Bartel Avenues Sunday, May 30, 2010: 2:00 p.m. DENALI PARK/TALKEETNA - Sen. Murkowski will speak at the Byers Lake Memorial Da… Continue Reading
05.26.10
Sen. Murkowski Sponsors Legislation to Hold BP to its Promise
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, introduced legislation today to ensure BP fully meets its commitment to pay all claims from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The legislation, co-sponsored with Sen. David Vitter, R-Louisiana, would codify BP's promises to pay all economic damages from the spill and forego any attempt to recover those expenditures from the federal government as a waiver of the strict liability cap under the Oil Pollution Act. "I believe this legislation wil… Continue Reading
05.25.10
Sen. Murkowski: BP Must be Held Fully Accountable
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today reiterated her commitment to ensuring that all those affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are justly compensated by the companies responsible. "When it comes to liability issues associated with a major oil spill, I don't believe any other state represented on this committee has more experience than my home state of Alaska," Murkowski said. "The recovery from the Exxon Valdez oil spill has been long and sad, and it took 20 years… Continue Reading
05.25.10
Murkowski, Begich Announce Mobile Office Visits to Kenai Peninsula
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R- Alaska, and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, today announced that members of their staffs will visit the communities of Whittier, Cooper Landing, Seward, Ninilchik and Homer between June 1-4, 2010. Congressional staff hold mobile office hours in Alaska in order to meet with constituents and community leaders. During their mobile office hours, staff from each office will be available to take casework requests and listen to constituent concerns about issues … Continue Reading
05.24.10
Murkowski, Begich Introduce Legislation Amending Duck Stamp Requirement for Subsistence Purposes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today introduced legislation that would eliminate the law requiring Alaskans to purchase duck stamps for subsistence purposes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has announced that beginning this spring, it will enforce a regulation requiring subsistence hunters to purchase and carry duck stamps when hunting or when gathering the eggs of birds. This requirement presents additional burdens to Alaskans living a subsistence lifesty… Continue Reading
05.21.10
Sen. Murkowski Applauds New Red Dog Mine Development
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed Teck Alaska's announcement that it was moving forward with development of the Aqqaluk Deposit at Red Dog Mine in Northwest Alaska. Development of Aqqaluk will allow operations at Red Dog to continue through 2031. "This new mining development at Red Dog will help maintain the economy of Northwest Alaska," Murkowski said. "The mine not only provides high-paying jobs and important tax revenue to the region, but also minerals th… Continue Reading
05.21.10
Murkowski Opposes Financial Regulatory Reform Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after voting against the financial regulatory reform bill: "We all agree that Wall Street reform is necessary, but I have serious concerns that it will be America's community banks, credit unions, and small businesses - not Wall Street - that will bear the brunt of the pain under this bill. In the name of consumer protection, this bill proposes to create a massive new Washington bureaucracy with the aut… Continue Reading
05.20.10
Murkowski Announces First Session Summer Interns
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced the names of her first session summer interns who will work in the Senator's Washington, D.C., office next month. These young Alaskans will observe both the operations of a fast-paced Senate office and the legislative process from an up-close view. For the first summer session, running June 1-July 2, 2010, Murkowski has selected as interns Virginia Angaiak of Tununak; Thomas Comellas, Anchorage; Eva Cress, Anchorage; Alexand… Continue Reading
05.18.10
Sen. Murkowski Welcomes Hearing on Oil Spill Liability Limit
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, last week called for a hearing on raising the strict liability cap under the Oil Pollution Act. Today, Murkowski applauded Chairman Jeff Bingaman's announcement that the energy committee will hold a hearing on the liability issue on Tuesday, May 25. "I support raising the strict liability limit on oil companies drilling offshore," Murkowski said. The number of mischar… Continue Reading
05.18.10
Sen. Murkowski’s Opening Statement on the Government’s Response to Deepwater Horizon Tragedy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced for the record the following opening statement today in the energy committee's hearing on the nation's readiness to respond to offshore oil spills: "Good morning, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for convening this hearing. "It's now been 29 days since the Deepwater Horizon exploded after what may have been a catastrophic well failure followed by an equally cata… Continue Reading
05.14.10
Sens. Boxer and Murkowski Introduce Bill to Extend Moratorium on Discharge Permits for Commercial Vessels
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-California, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced a bipartisan bill (S. 3372) that would extend the current moratorium on a permit requirement for commercial and charter fishing vessels and other commercial vessels under 79 feet long. The legislation would provide these commercial vessels a three-year moratorium extension from permits for discharges under the Clean Water Act. Two years ago, in the 110th Congress, bipartisan legis… Continue Reading
05.13.10
Murkowski Gets Disaster Relief Funding to Help Mitigate Yukon River Chinook Salmon Fishery Failure
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Appropriations Committee today agreed to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski's request to include $5 million in a 2010 supplemental appropriations bill to help mitigate the Yukon River Chinook salmon fishery failure. The economic disaster assistance would help fishermen and communities affected by the fishery failure for the Yukon River Chinook salmon fishery. In 2008, the commercial salmon harvest was 89 percent below the five-year average, and the fishery remained clo… Continue Reading
05.12.10
‘Ask Lisa’ Webcast Premieres on Murkowski’s YouTube Page
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today recorded and posted to YouTube her first 'Ask Lisa' webcast in which she answered questions from constituents submitted through new media platforms Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and by email. "In an effort to be more accessible and responsive to Alaskans, I've instituted a new webcast called 'Ask Lisa' that will give constituents a chance to send me their questions and I'll answer as many as I can by video and post the clip on my YouTube… Continue Reading
05.12.10
Sen. Murkowski Welcomes Administration’s Spill Response Efforts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today welcomed President Obama's efforts to strengthen the federal response to the tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Murkowski specifically singled out the move to beef-up the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, increase available funding for the U.S. Coast Guard and enhance research and study of the use of chemical dispersants as smart, targeted responses t… Continue Reading
05.11.10
Sen. Murkowski: Answers to Deepwater Horizon Tragedy Vital to Nation’s Energy Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today led questioning of the companies involved in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill for a full explanation of what went wrong on the Gulf of Mexico drilling rig and what steps can be taken to minimize such risks in the future. "We often cite our nation's strict safety and environmental laws for oil and gas development as a means to reassure Americans that we can responsibly develop our resources, but this argument will ring hollow if those s… Continue Reading
05.10.10
Murkowski Issues Statement on Nomination of Elena Kagan for the U.S. Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after President Obama announced that he was nominating Solicitor General Elena Kagan for the United States Supreme Court: "I congratulate Elena Kagan on being nominated by President Obama for the United States Supreme Court. As a senator, I have a constitutional duty - one that I take seriously -- to examine and evaluate a judicial nominee's qualifications to ensure that the candidate has the right tempe… Continue Reading
05.08.10
Murkowski Statement on the Passing of Former Gov. Wally Hickel
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement on the passing of former Gov. Wally Hickel: "I am deeply saddened to learn of former Gov. Wally Hickel's passing. A man of deep vision, intense strength and strong backbone, Wally embodied the Alaskan spirit of liberty and independence, and I join all Alaskans in mourning his passing. "Wally had a truly remarkable career, one that spanned Alaska's history from territory to state. He was twice elected Al… Continue Reading
