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 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
04.05.10
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: On March 30, 2010, the Secretary of Agriculture announced the following loan guarantees for Alaska to provide economic opportunities and promote job creation. The funding is made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act): • The Auction Block Company; Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.: $1,26… Continue Reading
04.01.10
Murkowski Congratulates Shell on Receiving Air Permit
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow Shell to explore for oil and natural gas in the Chukchi Sea this summer. "The EPA made the right decision for Alaska and the country," Murkowski said. "This decision will allow Shell to move forward with exploration vital to our energy security. Given the president's recent support for increased offshore drilling, this decision truly drives home the point that… Continue Reading
03.31.10
Sens. Murkowski and Begich Welcome New Plan for Federal Waters
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich today released the following statement in response to the Obama administration's updated plan for offshore oil and natural gas development. Sen. Murkowski: "I appreciate the department's decision to allow valid existing rights to explore Alaska's huge offshore oil and gas reserves to go ahead," Murkowski said. "I will work with the administration on proceeding with important future lease sales off Alaska's coast, as well as along t… Continue Reading
03.30.10
Murkowski Calls for Protection of Electrical Grid
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today called for cyber protection of the nation's electrical grid after comments by a senior Obama administration official that "the cyber threat can be an existential threat - meaning it can challenge our country's very existence, or significantly alter our nation's potential." This warning comes on the heels of a recent overseas report that detailed how to attack a small U.S. power grid sub-network in a way that would cause cascading fail… Continue Reading
03.29.10
Murkowski: EPA Continues to Avoid the Tough Questions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today requested a meeting with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to clarify the impacts that EPA regulation of greenhouse gases will have on the nation's economy. Sen. Murkowski sent Admin. Jackson a letter March 5th with 13 questions on EPA's efforts to expand the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases. Admin. Jackson did not respond until March 26th, and then only answered two of the senator's 13 questions. EPA's formal announcement toda… Continue Reading
03.26.10
Murkowski Announces Sealaska Lands Bill Meetings
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced two community meetings on the Sealaska lands bill to be held on Prince of Wales Island. "These meetings will allow those most affected by the Sealaska bill to have their concerns fully heard," Murkowski said. "I'm hopeful this effort will help us improve the legislation." Murkowski is sending her staffer Arne Fuglvog to conduct meetings at the communities of Edna Bay and Port Protection. Meetings scheduled in the communitie… Continue Reading
03.25.10
Murkowski Opposes Health Care Reconciliation Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Senate passed a companion reconciliation bill to the health care legislation President Obama signed into law earlier this week. Murkowski voted against the reconciliation bill which passed 56 - 43, with all Republicans, and three Democrats, opposing it. "We are now on the way to spending $2.6 trillion on a health care bill signed into law earlier this week and a companion 'reconciliation' measu… Continue Reading
03.24.10
Murkowski Meets with Coast Guard Commandant Nominee
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The nominee for Commandant of the Coast Guard told U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today that he fully recognized the critical importance of Coast Guard missions in Alaska. In a courtesy visit to Murkowski's office prior to a Senate confirmation vote on his nomination, Vice Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., told Alaska's senior senator that a previous Coast Guard assignment in Alaska gave him a first-hand understanding of the weather and resource challenges Coast Guard personn… Continue Reading
03.24.10
Murkowski, Johnson Introduce Bill to Address and Reduce Fetal Alcohol Disorders
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Tim Johnson, D-South Dakota have introduced legislation to strengthen and improve prevention, research, and support services to individuals and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The bill, called The Advancing FASD Research, Prevention, and Services Act, seeks to balance the distribution of federal resources to both prevention activities and to services for individuals and families living with FASD. The legis… Continue Reading
03.23.10
Murkowski Presses Defense Department on Case Last Year Involving Illegal Immigrants Working at Elmendorf
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today pressed a senior Defense Department official for details on what the service has done to close a loophole that allowed illegal immigrants to work on Elmendorf Air Force Base last year before the security breach was discovered. Murkowski questioned Dr. Dorothy Robyn, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment, at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Military Construction Subcommittee. Last October, acting on… Continue Reading
03.22.10
Murkowski: Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Bill Includes Provisions Important to Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced today that the Senate passed a $34.5 billion Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that contains several provisions important to Alaska, including one that would help ensure continued operation of Alaska flight service stations. Flight service stations provide vital air traffic and weather information to pilots. In the Lower 48, flight service stations are run by a single private contractor, while in Alaska, the FAA… Continue Reading
03.21.10
Murkowski Issues Health Care Statement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement tonight after the House of Representatives passed health care legislation: "Proponents of the partisan health care bill say that the public will like the bill once it is passed. Will they like the fact that Americans will have to pay four years of taxes before they get the benefits? That's like making mortgage payments for four years before you can move into your new home. Will they like that the legislation c… Continue Reading
03.18.10
Murkowski Reacts to House Health Care Strategy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement today on the unveiling of the revised Democratic health care bill, the latest CBO estimate of the measure and the U.S. House of Representatives' strategy regarding passage of the legislation. The legislation also includes another major government takeover - this one aimed at the federal student loan program. "The Senate-passed health care bill was bad enough, with its half trillion dollars in Medicare cuts and… Continue Reading
03.18.10
Murkowski Remarks to Arctic Parliamentarians Group
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today addressed the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region during the group's meeting in Washington. The Conference of Arctic Parliamentarians is the larger body of legislators and NGOs from around the Arctic and the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region is the head of that body. Every two years the Arctic Parliamentarians hold a conference on relevant issues important to all the Arctic nations. Be… Continue Reading
03.17.10
Murkowski Comments on Administration’s Proposed Overhaul of No Child Left Behind
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today raised questions about the administration's proposed reform of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), saying proposals to help the lowest-performing schools improve won't work in states with lots of rural and remote communities such as Alaska. Murkowski made her comments at a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing to consider the administration's recently released NCLB reform blueprint. Education Secretary… Continue Reading
03.17.10
Murkowski Responds to Auto Industry Letter
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement in response to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers' letter regarding Environmental Protection Agency climate regulations: "Two weeks ago, it was reported that automakers were pressured to weigh in against the bipartisan, bicameral disapproval resolutions that have been introduced to halt EPA climate regulations. Today, we see a letter that stems from that pressure," Murkowski said. Before the cur… Continue Reading
03.17.10
Murkowski Blasts Army Corps of Engineers for Refusal to Re-Evaluate NPR-A Permit
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today criticized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for refusing to reconsider its denial of ConocoPhillips' permit to place fill for a bridges and road to the CD-5 drill pad in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell had earlier this month requested the Corps re-evaluate its decision on the permit. The Anchorage commander of the Corps denied the Governor's request. "I'm disappointed that the Corps continues to… Continue Reading
03.16.10
Murkowski Congratulates Lance Mackey and His Team on Winning the Iditarod
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today congratulated Lance Mackey and his team on winning their fourth Iditarod Sled Dog Trail Race: "I congratulate Lance and his team on their fourth consecutive win of Alaska's last great race. From cancer, to blowing snow, to frigid temperatures, Lance continues to demonstrate the tenacity and drive needed to win under the toughest of conditions. His team of four-legged athletes has performed exceptionally, carrying Lance to an historic … Continue Reading
