01.15.10

Murkowski Heads Up Letter To Majority Leader Reid Asking Him to Drop Health Care Provision That Unfairly Targets Small Construction Firms

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, authored a letter signed by 17 other senators that asks Majority Leader Harry Reid to remove a provision from a pending health care bill that unfairly singles out small construction firms. While the Senate-passed health care bill mandates that all small businesses with 50 employees or more provide health care insurance to their employees, the provision under question requires that small businesses in the construction industry with as few as… Continue Reading

---

01.15.10

Murkowski Welcomes Fisheries Disaster Declaration

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement regarding the announcement by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke that a disaster declaration will be issued for the Yukon River Chinook salmon fishery for 2008 and 2009: "I am pleased that the Department of Commerce has determined a commercial fishery failure for the Yukon River Chinook salmon run. The poor runs in 2008 and 2009 have had a devastating impact on the commercial and subsistence fisheries and the decla… Continue Reading

---

01.13.10

Murkowski Statement on the Haiti Earthquake

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following comment regarding the devastating earthquake in Haiti: "I am deeply saddened by the news of the devastating earthquake which struck Haiti yesterday and my sincere condolences are with the Haitian people during this difficult time. My heart goes out to the families of those who have died and to those who are still waiting for information on the status of their loved ones. Those with missing family or friends in Haiti… Continue Reading

---

01.10.10

Murkowski Travels to Afghanistan and Pakistan

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, met with the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as with senior U.S. military officials over the weekend as part of a congressional delegation trip to the region. According to their itinerary, the lawmakers spent today at several remote desert U.S. and allied forward operating bases in Afghanistan's Helmand Province meeting with British and American military commanders, including U.S. Brigadier General Lawrence Nicholson, Commanding… Continue Reading

---

01.07.10

Murkowski Comment on EPA Issuance of Air Permits for Chukchi Sea Exploration

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed approval of air-quality permits for Shell's planned exploration of the Chukchi Sea. "The EPA's decision to approve an air-quality permit for Shell's Chukchi Sea exploration have been a long time coming," Murkowski said. "Today's decision represents progress. While several additional hurdles remain, the agency's action offers some reassurance that exploration for oil and gas resou… Continue Reading

---

01.05.10

Murkowski Announces 2010 Service Academy Nominees

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced she has nominated 43 young Alaskans for appointment to the U.S. military service academies for the class of 2014. "We received numerous applications from talented and gifted students across Alaska. It is unfortunate that there are never enough openings to accommodate all of our nominees," said Murkowski. "These are stellar candidates who have demonstrated excellent leadership capabilities and strength of character. It is a p… Continue Reading

---

01.05.10

Alaska Students Selected for United States Senate Youth Program

Washington D.C. -- U.S. Sens. Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski today announced that two high school students -- Haley Nelson of Juneau and Anum Qadir of Anchorage -- have been selected as delegates to the 48th Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) to be held March 6-13, 2010, in Washington, D.C. Nelson and Qadir were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be part of the group of 104 student delegates who will attend the week in Washington. In addition, both will receive a $5,000 underg… Continue Reading

---

12.24.09

Murkowski Votes Against Raising Debt Ceiling

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement regarding her vote on a bill to raise the federal debt ceiling: "Our nation's credit card is maxed out, and while many Alaskans are tightening their belts and cutting back on excess, politicians in Washington are spending like there's no tomorrow. Last year's deficit was $1.4 trillion - the highest level measured against GDP since World War II. Now we are being forced to raise the debt ceiling for the second t… Continue Reading

---

12.24.09

Murkowski Comments on Passage of Democrats’ Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voted against the Democrats' $2.5 trillion health care legislation and issued the following statement: "President Obama promised that health care reform would slow the growth of health care costs, reduce premiums and not raise taxes on the middle class. He also said the debate would be open and above board, even broadcast on C-SPAN, though this bill was written in secret, behind the closed doors of the Majority Leader's office. Those … Continue Reading

---

12.23.09

Murkowski Says Construction Industry Unfairly Singled Out in Health Care Bill and That Oil and Gas Industry Could be Particularly Affected

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, says that the construction industry has been unfairly singled out - and penalized -- in the health care bill that the Senate is expected to pass on Thursday. Murkowski, who plans to oppose the health legislation, said the construction industry provision was tucked deep inside the 2,733-page bill, and apparently had not drawn any scrutiny until she raised it in a floor speech Tuesday evening. Murkowski said she became aware of the provision … Continue Reading

---

12.21.09

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: National Endowment for the Humanities: $750,000 to the Pratt Museum, of Homer, for capital improvements to expand, preserve, interpret, and share humanities collections. $6,000 to the Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center, Inc., of Haines, for a condition survey of the museum's artifact collection. $5,832 to the Alutiiq Heritage Foundation, of Kodi… Continue Reading

---

12.19.09

Murkowski Comments on Unveiling of Final Democrat Health Care Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement today regarding the Majority Leader's unveiling of the final Democrat health care package: "The Majority Leader has finally unveiled his manager's amendment that only a handful of Democrats have seen because it was assembled behind closed doors. The Democrats' $2.5 trillion health care bill will impact one sixth of our nation's economy, yet most senators, much less the American people, have not even seen the m… Continue Reading

---

12.19.09

Murkowski comment on conclusion of Copenhagen conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding the nonbinding climate deal agreed to by President Obama in Copenhagen. "Much has been made of the Senate majority's failure to prioritize a climate bill ahead of the negotiations in Copenhagen, but the past two weeks have made clear that domestic legislation will not resolve the full range of fundamental, international disagreements," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. "Emissions cuts and re… Continue Reading

---

12.19.09

Murkowski: Senate Passes Defense Appropriations Bill That Includes $27.94 Million for Alaska Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate today passed a $636 billion defense appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010 that includes $27.9 million for key Alaska projects, according to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Included in the bill is $19.58 million for enhancements to the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex in Interior Alaska. The bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 88 - 10, now goes to President Obama who is expected to sign the measure. "… Continue Reading

---

12.16.09

Sen. Murkowski Applauds Committee Approval of Three Alaska Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that several Alaska lands bills cleared the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, of which she is the ranking Republican. The Salmon Lake Land Selection Resolution Act ratifies a settlement between the state of Alaska, the Bureau of Land Management and the Bering Straits Native Corp., completing land conveyances promised in the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. "Alaska Natives have spent decades fighting fo… Continue Reading

---

12.15.09

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 Health and Human Services: $385,170 to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services for the Alaska Tuberculosis elimination and laboratory project. U.S. Department of Transportation: The U.S. Department of Transportation has selected the following projects to share in $32 million of funding for publ… Continue Reading

---

12.14.09

Murkowski Seeks to Halt EPA Endangerment of U.S. Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced her intention to file a disapproval resolution to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Murkowski's resolution comes in the wake of the agency's recent endangerment finding, which will result in damaging new regulations that endanger America's economy. "I remain committed to reducing emissions through a policy that will protect our environment and str… Continue Reading

---

12.12.09

Murkowski Says Democrats' Health Care Bill Doesn't Solve Medicare Access Problem in Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said today that she was contacted by an Anchorage family practice doctor earlier this week who is opting out of treating Medicare patients, citing the Democrats' health care bill under consideration in the Senate. Murkowski, vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference Committee, appeared at a news conference with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and several other senators to talk about the Democrats' $2.5 trillion hea… Continue Reading

---

12.11.09

Sen. Murkowski Welcomes Cantwell-Collins Bill to Climate Debate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding Sens. Maria Cantwell and Susan Collins' Carbon Limits and Energy for America's Renewal (CLEAR) Act: "I am encouraged by Sen. Cantwell's bipartisan effort to advance a more sensible approach to greenhouse gas emission reductions. A great deal of work remains to find consensus on legislation, and ensure that both the economy and the environment are protected, but this bill is intellectually ho… Continue Reading

---

12.09.09

Murkowski Says that ATG Members Should See Restoration of Full Retirement Benefits by End of the Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Defense today told U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, that the 23 surviving members of the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) whose military pensions were reduced by a Pentagon policy change last January should see their full pension payments resumed by the end of December. The announcement came after Sen. Murkowski prodded the Pentagon to expeditiously implement language in the National Defense Authorization Act which directs the military to count service in t… Continue Reading