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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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