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 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
05.07.10
Murkowski Bill to Benefit National Law Enforcement Museum Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that the Senate has passed legislation she introduced to extend the deadline by three years for construction of the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C. Passed by Congress in 2000, the National Law Enforcement Museum Act granted land for construction of a new National Law Enforcement Museum. The legislation required the museum to be financed with private contributions and that construction commence before Novem… Continue Reading
05.06.10
Murkowski Quizzes Attorney General Holder on NYC Terrorist Suspect and 9th U.S. Circuit Court Split
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today asked Attorney General Eric Holder whether he was satisfied with the "takedown" of the suspected New York City terrorist bomber, questioning how Faisal Shahzad, after being placed on a 'no fly' list, got onto a Persian Gulf-bound jet that had pulled away from the gate at New York's Kennedy Airport before authorities made an arrest Monday night. "I come from a state where ... we've got a level of scrutiny at our little airports ... whe… Continue Reading
05.06.10
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
