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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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02.22.10

Murkowski Comments on Senate Jobs Bill Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after voting against a procedural motion to move to a $15 billion jobs package. "I was disappointed that the Senate did not take this opportunity to vote on a bipartisan bill, crafted by Sens. Grassley and Baucus, that would have addressed a number of expiring federal laws tied to job creation. The bill written by the Majority Leader left out a number of other jobs-related provisions that were in the bip… Continue Reading

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02.22.10

Murkowski Response to Democratic Senators' Letter on EPA Regulation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement on Democratic senators' letter to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the economic threat of greenhouse gas regulations: "Last Friday, eight Democratic senators sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describing many of the same concerns I have been raising about that agency's attempt to impose back-door climate regulations under the Clean Air Act. "I welcome my colleagues… Continue Reading

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02.22.10

Sen. Murkowski: EPA Delay Still Ignores Economic Consequences

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's announcement that it will adopt greenhouse gas regulations this spring, but delay implementation regarding stationary sources until January. "While the delay in implementation is a small forced step in the right direction, the Clean Air Act continues to be the wrong tool for the job, and EPA's timeline continues to create significant and ongoing uncertain… Continue Reading

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02.18.10

Sen. Murkowski's Remarks to the Alaska State Legislature

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today delivered the following remarks to the Alaska State Legislature in Juneau: REMARKS OF SENATOR LISA MURKOWSKI TO THE ALASKA LEGISLATUREFEBRUARY 18, 2010JUNEAU, ALASKA**** AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY ****________________________________________ President Stevens, Speaker Chenault, my friends in the Alaska Legislature, I'm glad to be home. And to our fellow Alaskans who are watching on Gavel to Gavel and listening on APRN and KTOO, than… Continue Reading

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02.16.10

Murkowski Response to Nuclear Loan Guarantee

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the Department of Energy's announcement that it was offering the first conditional federal loan guarantee for new nuclear plant construction to Southern Co. "I applaud the Obama administration and the Department of Energy for moving forward on a loan guarantee agreement that could see construction of the first new nuclear power project in this country in more than 30 years," Murkowski said. "While there remain significant cha… Continue Reading

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02.14.10

Murkowski Statement on Death of Jim Bowles

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski R-Alaska, today issued the following statement on the tragic death of Jim Bowles, President of ConocoPhillips Alaska: "I am very saddened to hear of the tragic death of Jim Bowles. Jim was a great partner in the responsible development of Alaska's natural resources. He truly loved Alaska and spending time outdoors. I'm deeply saddened by his untimely death and send his family my deepest condolences" ###… Continue Reading

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02.11.10

Murkowski on Obama’s Conflicting Energy Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today spoke on the Senate floor on the disconnect between President Obama's remarks on energy during his State of the Union Speech and the priorities indicated in the budget request. Below is a copy of her remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. President, when President Obama delivered his first State of the Union Address two weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised by his remarks on energy policy. In addition to calling for bipartisan legisla… Continue Reading

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02.08.10

Murkowski Applauds Three Year Exemption for Iditarod Air Force

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted the Iditarod Air Force a three year exemption to fly in support of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, according to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. The all-volunteer Iditarod Air Force has been flying in support of the race for more than 20 years, but has had to apply for exemptions from the FAA for the past two years to do so. FAA regulations prohibit volunteer pilots from accepting any cost deferments such as fuel, acc… Continue Reading

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02.05.10

Murkowski slams denial of Conoco NPRA permit

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today reacted to the Obama administration's denial of Conoco Phillips' permit to construct a bridge to access what would have been the first oil and gas lease in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve (NPRA), insisting the company instead use directional drilling for the development. For decades, those who oppose developing ANWR or Alaska's offshore fields have continually cited the 23 million-acre NPRA as the area where development should occ… Continue Reading