03.16.10

Murkowski Congratulates Pat Gamble on Being Named President of the University of Alaska System

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement congratulating Pat Gamble on being named President of the University of Alaska System: "From his service in the Air Force, rising to the rank of general, to serving as the chief executive officer of the Alaska Railroad, Pat has a proven track record of leadership from which our university system will greatly benefit," said Murkowski. "I congratulate Pat on his new position and look forward to working wit… Continue Reading

---

03.16.10

Sen. Murkowski Applauds Permit Extension for Red Dog Mine

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision to grant the owners of the Red Dog Mine in Northwest Alaska a new mining permit. "Today's decision will extend the life of the Red Dog Mine, which provides badly needed jobs and tax revenue for the Northwest Arctic Borough," Murkowski said. I'm happy to see the Corps supporting responsible development in Alaska." The Red Dog Mine, owned by Teck Alaska Inc., a division of Teck Comin… Continue Reading

---

03.16.10

Murkowski Critical of Efforts to Drop Yucca Mountain from List of Options on Nuclear Energy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following speech on the Senate floor regarding the U.S. Department of Energy's motion to withdraw the Yucca Mountain license application: "Mr. President, recently the Department of Energy submitted a motion to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to withdraw its license application to construct a spent nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain. The latest rationale? Because we need it too much. … Continue Reading

---

03.12.10

Delegation Meets With NOAA and NMFS Administrators

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Don Young, Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Senator Mark Begich met this morning with Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Eric Schwaab, the Assistant Administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service. This meeting was called to discuss a variety of issues under NOAA's purview that will affect Alaska, including the proposed Critical Habitat for the Cook Inlet beluga whale, the upcoming biological opin… Continue Reading

---

03.11.10

Murkowski: Three Alaska Female Aviators Recognized for their World War II Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced that three women from Alaska who flew planes during World War II have been honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the United States Congress. About 200 Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, including Ellen Campbell of Juneau, were at the United States Capitol on Wednesday for the medal presentation ceremony. The other two Alaskan WASPs, Virginia Wood and Nancy Baker, both of Fairbanks,… Continue Reading

---

03.09.10

Murkowski Insists on Regulatory Certainty in Electricity Markets

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today said that Congress must work to provide regulatory certainty to the electricity markets. "It doesn't matter if we're talking about climate change policy, energy legislation or banking reform - stakeholders need to understand what the rules are so they can plan accordingly," Murkowski said. At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the regulation of financial transmission rights and other electricity market mechani… Continue Reading

---

03.08.10

Murkowski Statement on Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference, issued the following statement in observance of Women's History Month and International Women's Day: "The achievements of women throughout our nation's history remind us that America is a great land of democracy, hope and opportunity. This nation's female trailblazers have transformed our communities, our country and the world for the better. "In my home state of Alaska, we recently cheered o… Continue Reading

---

03.05.10

Murkowski Sends Flag from U.S. Capitol to BP Ice Art Championships for Display on Ice Flag Pole

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Artists at the 2010 BP Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks will sculpt a 15- foot tall flag pole from ice and display from it a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol sent by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Sen. Murkowski visited the Ice Park while in Fairbanks last month and noticed no flag was flying among the detailed and elaborate carvings. "The BP Ice Art championships have drawn hundreds of competitors to Fairbanks from around the world to show off their talents and skill… Continue Reading

---

03.04.10

Murkowski Announces Sealaska lands bill Meeting in Ketchikan

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced a Ketchikan town meeting on the Sealaska lands bill. The meeting is part of a series held on Prince of Wales Island and in Southeast Alaska the week of March 8. "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." Staff from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee are holding the fol… Continue Reading

---

03.04.10

Sen. Murkowski Comments on Rockefeller Bill to Delay EPA Climate Regulation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding legislation introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V., to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating stationary sources of greenhouse gases for two years - twice as long as the delay sought by Sen. Murkowski last September: "Senator Rockefeller's legislation is further evidence of the growing, bipartisan, and bicameral resistance to EPA's back-door climate regulatio… Continue Reading

---

03.04.10

Murkowski Welcomes UAA Climate Science Center

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today applauded the announcement of a Climate Science Center at the University of Alaska Anchorage. "Alaska is ground zero for climate change and natural choice for a Climate Science Center," Murkowski said. "I am excited for the new center to build on the work already being done by scientists and researchers at the University of Alaska." Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the University of Alaska Anchorage as the first … Continue Reading

---

03.03.10

Murkowski Comments on the President’s Latest Health Care Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following comments after President Obama unveiled his latest version of a Democratic health care reform plan: "I was pleased that the President has acknowledged some of the health care reform suggestions raised by Republicans at last week's summit. But the inclusion of these ideas into the President's latest version of health care reform doesn't make this a bipartisan proposal or process that I can support. The proposal under… Continue Reading

---

03.03.10

FAA Awards $32 million to Alaska Airports

Washington, D.C. - The Alaska Congressional Delegation is pleased to announce that airports in Alaska have been awarded $32 million in grants through the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Provided to public-use airports, AIP funds in Alaska will be utilized for runway rehabilitation projects and efforts to improve airport safety. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport will receive four grants totaling $17.5 million. Airports in Barrow, Kotzebue, Was… Continue Reading

---

03.02.10

Automobile Organization’s Letter Supports Murkowski’s Disapproval Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the National Automobile Dealers Association's (NADA) support for her efforts to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from imposing economically-harmful climate regulations. The letter from NADA Chairman Ed Tonkin clearly refutes arguments that passage of Sen. Murkowski's disapproval resolution would block stronger fuel economy standards and create uncertainty for the auto industry. "The Department of Transportation… Continue Reading

---

03.01.10

Murkowski Speaks at Arctic Policy Roundtable at New York Council on Foreign Relations

NEW YORK - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, helped lead a discussion on U.S. Arctic policy at a roundtable forum today at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. Also participating in the discussion was U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, a number of Arctic policy experts and several Alaskans, including Mayor Edward Itta of the North Slope Borough. Following is a text of Sen. Murkowski's remarks as prepared for delivery: "Good afternoon. It is my distinct pleasure to be back at the C… Continue Reading

---

02.26.10

Sen. Murkowski Announces Sealaska Lands Bill Meetings

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced a series of town meetings on the Sealaska lands bill to be held on Prince of Wales Island and in Southeast Alaska the week of March 8. "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." Staff from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee are holding the following meetings at the requ… Continue Reading

---

02.26.10

Murkowski Applauds House Disapproval Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, applauds the introduction of a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives to disapprove the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) endangerment finding. Reps. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Collin Peterson, D-Minn., Chairman of the Agriculture Committee and Emerson, and Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, yesterday introdu… Continue Reading

---

02.26.10

Murkowski Urges Senate to Start Over on Health Care Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement expressing disappointment at this week's health care developments: "It seems clear to me, after reviewing the White House health care proposal and watching Thursday's health care summit, that President Obama and congressional Democrats are intent on forcing a health care bill through Congress that the American people in poll after poll have roundly rejected. "The White House 'proposal' was little more t… Continue Reading

---

02.24.10

Murkowski Criticizes Obama Administration ACUSHNET Decommission Proposal and Raises Transportation Worker ID Program with Secretary Napolitano

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today told Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano that she is "greatly concerned" about the Obama administration's proposal to decommission the Ketchikan-based Coast Guard Cutter ACUSHNET. Murkowski noted that the Coast Guard covers 3.5 million square miles of ocean around Alaska and that decommissioning the ACUSHNET will make it "exceptionally difficult for the Coast Guard to meet an already challenging mission it faces… Continue Reading

---

02.24.10

Murkowski Calls for Action to Help Tongass Timber Industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today called on the U.S. Forest Service to take immediate action to help Southeast Alaska timber industry transition to a second-growth forest products economy by allowing already-approved traditional timber sales in the Tongass National Forest to go forward. "While we go through your budget proposal, another small forests-product company faces having to auction off its equipment," Murkowski said at a hearing Wednesday on the Forest Service… Continue Reading