02.02.10

Murkowski on Rob Heun's Confirmation as U.S. Marshall for Alaska

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Senate tonight confirmed by unanimous consent former Anchorage Police Chief Rob Heun as the U.S. Marshal for Alaska. Following is a statement from U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, congratulating Chief Heun. "President Obama could not have picked a more appropriate man for the job. Law enforcement is a team sport. It works best when federal, state and local agencies are on the same page. Nobody knows this better than Rob Heun who spent 23 years on the Anch… Continue Reading

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02.02.10

Sen. Murkowski Supports Persily for Alaska Gas Pipeline Coordinator

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement regarding Larry Persily's nomination to be Federal Coordinator of the Office for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects. "I'm pleased that President Obama has moved quickly to fill this important position," Murkowski said. "I've known Larry for years and I'm confident he will work tirelessly to see that a North Slope gas pipeline becomes a reality." If confirmed as federal coordinator, Persily wou… Continue Reading

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02.02.10

Delegation Announces Grants and Contracts 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 Transportation: • $367,500 to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for the purchase of transportation vehicles and equipment.• $274,000 to the Municipality of Anchorage for the purchase of a replacement bus.• $945,680 to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to move a … Continue Reading

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02.01.10

Murkowski Comments on President’s Budget Proposal

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement today after President Obama released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2011: "The President released his proposed budget today for the Fiscal Year that begins October 1, 2010. Although I have not yet had a chance to study the document in detail, there are a few areas of concern, including an elimination of the $10 million fund for Denali Commission health care facility construction and the U.S. Department of… Continue Reading

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01.29.10

Sen. Murkowski Applauds Open Season Filing for Alaska Pipeline

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following statement on the beginning of TransCanada and Exxon Mobil's open season for an Alaska natural gas pipeline to the Lower 48: "The start of an open season on a gas line represents real progress," Murkowski said. "This marks the first time Alaska has seen a major producer come together with a pipeline company to solicit binding commitments for the transport and delivery of North Slope natural gas to markets in the L… Continue Reading

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01.29.10

Murkowski Welcomes Announcement of Blue Ribbon Commission and Increased Loan Guarantees

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following statement regarding the Obama administration's announcement of a 15 member blue-ribbon commission to study spent nuclear fuel policy options and the expansion of the loan guarantee program for nuclear energy: "Our efforts to expand the nuclear energy industry in the United States have been in doubt since the Obama administration cut funding last year for the licensing of the Yucca Mountain repository without offerin… Continue Reading

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01.28.10

Murkowski Statement on Confirmation of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to a Second Term

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement today regarding her vote to confirm Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke for a second term: "Stability is a key factor in our economic recovery. This week, the Federal Reserve held its quarterly meeting and elected to keep interest rates between zero and .25 percent. This move by the Federal Reserve will help provide our economy with continued certainty. While I don't agree with every decision the Chairman ha… Continue Reading

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01.28.10

Murkowski Votes Against Raising Debt Ceiling

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement on her vote against a $1.9 trillion increase in the debt ceiling: "At a time when Alaskan families are cutting back on spending, Congress today voted to increase the nation's debt ceiling by an astounding $1.9 trillion dollars. Last night President Obama told the nation that we must get a handle on our debt, yet today's debt ceiling increase to $14.3 trillion is bigger than the last three debt ceiling in… Continue Reading

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01.24.10

Murkowski Blasts Democrat Proposal to Raise Debt Ceiling by $1.9 Trillion

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate this week may vote on a Democrat proposal to raise the federal debt ceiling by $1.9 trillion. Sen. Murkowski announced today that she will oppose the measure. "Our nation's credit card is beyond its limit. The budget deficit for the last fiscal year reached $1.4 trillion - roughly three times the previous single year record. Now, rather than move forward with fiscally responsible policies, the Democrat leadership has chosen to bring to the floor legislation that wo… Continue Reading

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01.21.10

Sen. Murkowski Offers Disapproval Resolution to Block EPA Endangerment of Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced a bipartisan disapproval resolution to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Murkowski's resolution - co-sponsored by 35 Republicans and three Democrats - comes in the wake of the EPA's recent endangerment finding, which will result in damaging new regulations that endanger America's economy. "As the EPA moves closer and closer to issuing these regu… Continue Reading

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01.19.10

Murkowski Congratulates Senator-Elect Scott Brown on his Victory in Massachusetts

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference, issued the following statement regarding Republican Scott Brown's U.S. Senate special election win in Massachusetts: "I congratulate Senator-Elect Scott Brown's impressive victory in the Massachusetts special election. The people of Massachusetts have sent a clear message that they want a representative in Congress who will pull back the government takeover of health care, enact policies to ge… Continue Reading

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01.19.10

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: Minerals Management Service: • $2,150,000 to the Alaska Monitoring and Assessment Program, to conduct an environmental monitoring and assessment program survey of the condition of the Chukchi Sea coastal region. Funding provided through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program. U.S. Department of Energy: The following grants were awarded through … Continue Reading

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01.18.10

Murkowski Comments on Exxon Tanker Incident in Prince William Sound

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement today regarding the Exxon tanker that lost power Sunday in Prince William Sound and had to be towed to safety by two tugs: "The incident yesterday morning, where a fully laden oil tanker exiting Prince William Sound lost power and had to be towed to safety, is a direct reminder that these incidents still happen and we must maintain the Prince William Sound Dual Escort Vessel Marine Safety System. Even with a… Continue Reading

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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