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.
Sens. Murkowski and Begich Introduce Legislation to Raise Oil Spill Liability Fund to $10 billion
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich have introduced legislation to expand the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) to $10 billion by raising the fee the oil industry pays on each barrel. The bill (S.3309) also removes the "sunset" provisions in the law so the fund will always be accessible to those impacted by oil spills. Nothing in the bill would limit the liability of oil companies or other responsible parties. "The liability fund provides a critical, indus… Continue Reading
05.04.10
Murkowski Comments on Gulf of Mexico Oil Disaster
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference, today said there would be plenty of time to "assign blame" in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, but the major focus at this time should be on "how we contain this devastation." "There's a lot of focus right now, folks want to bring the individuals from BP, get the execs in here, and basically start pounding them," Murkowski said at the weekly Republican Leadership news conference. "My interest ri… Continue Reading
05.04.10
Alaska Delegation Comments on ANWR Comprehensive Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich along with Representative Don Young today submitted a joint letter commenting on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USF&WS) proposed Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The USF&WS held a public meeting for the plan in Washington, D.C. as one of seven scoping meetings. The letter acknowledges the 22-year-old plan for ANWR needs to be updated, but voices strong objection … Continue Reading
04.29.10
Sen. Murkowski Seeks Answers Regarding the Explosion on the Deepwater Horizon
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today said it's imperative that tough questions are asked about what caused the tragic explosion on the offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico to ensure the integrity of the nation's offshore energy policy. "As we look to expand exploration off our nation's coasts, it's critical that we take every possible precaution to guard against similar accidents," Murkowski said. "It's imperative that we find out everything we can ab… Continue Reading
04.28.10
Wyden, Murkowski Bill Would Lift Restrictions on Fishermen’s Use of Capital Construction Accounts
Washington, D.C. - Recognizing changes in the commercial fishing industry and the need to create new jobs and prevent overfishing, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation today that will give America's fishermen greater flexibility in how they can use money set aside in special capital construction funds. "The Capital Construction Fund program was created in 1976 to help modernize the American fishing industry so it could compete with highly efficient foreign … Continue Reading
04.28.10
Sen. Murkowski Welcomes Permitting Decision on Cape Cod Wind
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar's decision to allow the Cape Wind development to advance. "After nearly a decade of rigorous and unprecedented environmental review, I'm pleased to see Cape Wind has finally won federal approval," Murkowski said. "Increasing our use of renewable energy, including wind generation, is vital to improving our nation's energy security." Cape Wind will be the nation's first offshore wind proje… Continue Reading
04.27.10
Murkowski Comments on Financial Regulatory Reform Votes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the Senate for a second time this week rejected a move to take up the Democrats' financial regulatory reform bill. All Republican senators, along with Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, voted against a parliamentary motion to debate the bill. "I strongly support bipartisan financial regulatory reform legislation, and my two votes this week against moving to floor consideration of the bill we… Continue Reading
04.22.10
Murkowski Emphasizes Interior Military Concerns at Senate Appropriations Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A top Air Force official today told U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, that a coal-to-liquid plant at Eielson Air Force Base is still under consideration. Murkowski questioned Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations Terry Yonkers about the issue at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Military Construction Subcommittee. "We've heard that the concept of coal-to-liquids, which was really quite popular in the last administration, has kind of now gone out of vo… Continue Reading
04.22.10
Murkowski on Gulf of Mexico Tragedy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after learning that the Deepwater Horizon rig has sunk into the Gulf of Mexico: I was dismayed to learn that the Deepwater Horizon rig has now sunk into 6000 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico. We do not yet know how this development will affect the marine environment, but I understand all emergency spill response units in the Gulf have been mobilized. My thoughts and prayers remain with the missing… Continue Reading
04.21.10
Sen. Murkowski’s Web Site Wins Platinum Mouse Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Web site of U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was recognized today by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) for having the best Senate Member Web site in Congress. CMF analyzed all 620 congressional Web sites, including those of all Senate and House Members, committees (both majority and minority sites), and official leadership sites. Sen. Murkowski's Web site, https://www.murkowski.senate.gov, was one of only four Web sites to receive a Platinum Award from CMF i… Continue Reading
04.21.10
Sens. Murkowski and Inhofe Ask Defense Secretary Gates to Consult with Alaska Natives and Indian Tribes on 8(a) Contracting Issue
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, today asked Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to hold formal consultations with federally recognized Indian tribes and Native stakeholders on the development of new federal regulations regarding Alaska Native Corporation sole source contracts. The Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization bill included language requiring a new government-wide justification and approval process for sole source contracts above $20 … Continue Reading
04.21.10
Citing Icelandic Volcano Eruption, Murkowski Urges Passage of Her Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today said the eruption in Iceland that has disrupted air travel across Europe underscores the threats posed by volcanic activity and she called for passage of her National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System bill that awaits Senate action. "Given what has been happening to thousands of international aviation flights since last week with the eruption of Iceland's volcano, we've all had a very recent reminder of the economic disrupti… Continue Reading
04.21.10
Murkowski Congratulates Elmendorf on Commander-in Chief’s Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In remarks published in the Congressional Record, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, congratulated Elmendorf Air Force Base for winning the 2010 Commander-In-Chief's Award for Installation Excellence. Established by the President in 1984, the Commander-in-Chief's award recognizes the efforts made to enhance base services, facilities, operations and quality of life. "Elmendorf has truly had a banner year. Having won the Collier Trophy, Raytheon Trophy, Maintenance excellence… Continue Reading
04.20.10
Murkowski Comments on Alaska Joining Health Care Law Suit Against Federal Government
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following comment after Gov. Parnell announced that Alaska is joining 19 other states in a lawsuit against the federal government over the new health care. The 19 states are challenging the legal requirement for everyone to purchase health insurance and the Medicaid mandate on states. "I am looking for ways to repeal the most egregious parts of the law - the tax hikes, Medicare cuts and increased premiums - and replace them w… Continue Reading
04.20.10
Senators Murray, Klobuchar, Begich and Murkowski Introduce Bi-Partisan Comprehensive Veterans Employment Bill
(Washington, D.C.) -Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, joined with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark Begich (D-AK), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), veterans, and veterans service organizations to unveil the Veterans Employment Act of 2010. The bill, which was introduced in the Senate today, is the first legislation that takes a comprehensive approach to addressing skyrocketing veterans unemployment rates. The bill includes a series of prop… Continue Reading
04.16.10
Alaska Delegation Announces Grants to Alaska Programs
Washington, D.C. - The Alaska Congressional Delegation is pleased to announce the following grants awarded to communities in the State of Alaska: U.S. Department of Agriculture: • $675,000 to South Denali, Denali State Park to purchase two tracts of land. Funds are provided through the Forest Legacy Program to help protect working forests that are in danger of becoming fragmented or disappearing altogether.• $1,200,000 from the Rural Development's Water and Environmental Program to t… Continue Reading
04.15.10
Murkowski Questions Veterans Secretary on Why VA Sends So Many Alaska Vets to Lower 48 for Medical Procedures
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Top VA health care officials today promised U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, that they would look into why the VA sends so many Alaska veterans to the Lower 48 for medical procedures when those services could be purchased from providers in Alaska. Murkowski told Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki that she knew of veterans in Fairbanks who were sent down to Seattle for six-week chemotherapy treatments despite the fact that there are accredited cancer tre… Continue Reading
04.15.10
Murkowski Issues Tax Day Statement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following Tax Day statement: "That phrase 'the taxman cometh' is always an apt one every April 15, tax filing day, but it's particularly fitting this year with the recent enactment of the health care reform law which is going to levy hundreds of billions of dollars in new taxes and penalties on millions of individuals and small businesses across the country. Besides the half trillion dollars in additional taxes, the new hea… Continue Reading
04.13.10
Murkowski Questions Coast Guard About Assets in Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today raised concerns that the Obama Administration has failed to provide enough funding for the Coast Guard to fulfill its missions in Alaska, particularly as they relate to operating in the Arctic. Murkowski raised the issue with Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad W. Allen, who was testifying before the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, on which Murkowski sits. "Our heavy icebreakers are reaching the end of their ser… Continue Reading
04.07.10
Sen. Murkowski Welcomes Second Open Season Filing for Alaska Pipeline
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following statement regarding the BP-ConocoPhillips joint project Denali's filing of an open-season plan for an Alaska natural gas pipeline to the Lower 48 with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): "Denali's open-season filing marks an important milestone in the development of a viable natural gas pipeline," Murkowski said. "We now have two separate projects vying to commercialize our North Slope resources. I'm… Continue Reading
