Press Releases
Media Requests: Members of the media can contact the press office by emailing Joseph_Plesha@murkowski.senate.gov or by calling 206-302-8317 and asking for the press office.
Sen. Murkowski Issues Veterans Day Message
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In observance of the Veterans Day holiday, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement: "In Alaska we have the distinct pleasure and honor of having the largest per capita percentage of veterans of any state in the Union. We call them our neighbors, our co-workers, and our friends. Our communities benefit from the experience and expertise which they've brought home with them from their time in the service of our Nation. "As we reflect on the service o… Continue Reading
11.06.09
Murkowski Statement on Fort Hood Tragedy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement regarding the mass shooting at Fort Hood: "My heart goes out to the victims of the horrible mass shooting at Fort Hood as well as their families. Alaska is fortunate to have some of the finest military installations in the world, so we in Alaska can identify and empathize with the Fort Hood community as it tries to deal with this senseless tragedy. To have such an incident occur at a military base on American … Continue Reading
11.05.09
Murkowski Announces Town Hall Meeting on Health Care in Chugiak
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that she will hold a town hall meeting in Chugiak on health care reform next Wednesday, November 11, 2009, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Mirror Lake Middle School. "In my efforts to keep Alaskans informed about the health care debate in Washington, I will hold a health care town hall meeting in Chugiak next week," Sen. Murkowski said. "I continue to hear from Alaskans on this critical issue. The opportunity to share with my … Continue Reading
11.05.09
Murkowski Announces Senate Passage of Funding Bill That Includes Resources for Alaska Fisheries Research and Management
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, a member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced that the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill which includes a number of important projects for Alaska. The bill now goes to a joint House-Senate conference committee to reconcile differences in each chamber's version of the bill. "This bill provides important resources for fisheries research and manage… Continue Reading
11.04.09
Murkowski Statement on Unemployment Insurance Extension and Tax Relief Bill Vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement on her vote in favor of an unemployment insurance extension and tax relief bill that passed the Senate today 98 - 0. "Like the rest of the nation, Alaska is seeing job losses as the result of the economic crisis," Murkowski said. "Recent data from the Alaska Department of Labor shows that 2,749 Alaskans would be eligible for unemployment benefits under the Senate-passed legislation. It is important to ensure t… Continue Reading
11.02.09
Ranking Republicans Seek Satisfactory Analysis of EPW Climate Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, all six ranking Republicans of the Senate committees with jurisdiction over portions of the "Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act" called for an analysis of the bill. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., has announced plans to mark up the bill in the Environment and Public Works Committee starting tomorrow, despite concerns that a full accounting of the bill's projected impact on the nation's economy has not been completed. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, ranking member o… Continue Reading
10.30.09
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 Agriculture: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the following nine communities will receive funds through the Rural Alaska Village Grant Program. According to Sec. Vilsack, these funds will "help improve water service, provide 21st century waste disposal system and continue our efforts to retire the use of 'honey buckets' … Continue Reading
10.30.09
Important Information for Military Families from TRICARE about H1N1 Immunizations
FALLS CHURCH, Va. - Immunizations against the H1N1 virus will soon be available, and people are eager to take precautions. TRICARE Prime, Standard and Extra beneficiaries can get their shots from network and non-network providers without paying a deductible or making a co-payment. A temporary waiver allows non-active duty TRICARE Prime enrollees to get the H1N1 immunization from non-network providers without a referral or authorization, eliminating point-of-service charges. Prime enrollees will … Continue Reading
10.29.09
Murkowski Announces Interior Funding Bill Approved by Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, a member of the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced that the Senate passed a $32.24 billion Fiscal Year 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations conference report. Following today's action, the bill will go to President Obama, who is expected to sign it. "This bill includes resources for key programs and projects in Alaska," said Murkowski. "I am pleased to see that the conference recognizes the import… Continue Reading
10.29.09
Alaska Lawmakers Call on Air Force Brass to Brief Delegation on Eielson Decision
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Alaska congressional delegation today wrote to top Air Force officials requesting a briefing on why the Air Force dropped Eielson Air Force Base from a short list of potential installations to base the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The letter is attached. # # #… Continue Reading
10.29.09
Murkowski Disappointed in Air Force Decision Not to Base the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter at Eielson Air Force Base
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Air Force made it known that Eielson Air Force Base has been removed from a short list of potential installations to base the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: "At this time last year Eielson was on a short list of six bases under consideration for the F-35. In fact, the Air Force had scheduled scoping meetings in the Interior in November 2008 to begin preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement … Continue Reading
10.28.09
Murkowski Cites Analysis that says Alaska Health Insurance Premiums Would Spike Under Senate Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said today that a large portion of Alaskans would see their health insurance premiums increase by as much as 161 percent under a Senate Finance Committee proposal that Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada could use to help craft a new massive health care overhaul measure. Reid has merged the Finance bill with another health care reform measure passed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Reid has yet to unveil the n… Continue Reading
10.28.09
Legislation That Restores ATG Retirement Benefits and Ensures Fair Retirement Benefits for Federal Workers in Alaska Signed into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Despite opposition from the Obama administration to restoring retirement benefits for Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) members, President Obama today signed into law a wide-ranging defense bill that resumes payment of the retirement benefits, announced U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. The 2010 Fiscal Year Defense Authorization bill that Obama signed also will ensure pay and retirement equity for federal employees in Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. territories. "I have worked… Continue Reading
10.23.09
Murkowski Comments on Federal Review of Subsistence Management Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, made the following statement in response to Interior Secretary Salazar's announcement today that the Interior Department will begin a review of federal subsistence management in Alaska: "Subsistence is of critical importance, and I think the review announced today by Interior Secretary Salazar is appropriate. As the senior Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Interior Department, I… Continue Reading
10.23.09
CRS: America's Combined Energy Resources Largest on Earth
Washington, D.C.-Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released a preliminary government report today showing America's combined recoverable natural gas, oil, and coal endowment is the largest on Earth. America's recoverable resources, Congressional Research Service (CRS) shows, are far larger than those of Saudi Arabia (3rd), … Continue Reading
10.22.09
Murkowski Comments on Proposed Polar Bear Critical Habitat Designation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) proposal to designate 200,000 square miles in Alaska for polar bear critical habitat. The announcement opens a 60-day public comment period on the proposal. The polar bear was listed as threatened last year under the Endangered Species Act due to a loss of sea ice habitat caus… Continue Reading
10.22.09
Defense Conference Bill Would Restore ATG Retirement Benefits and Ensure Fair Retirement Benefits for Federal Workers in Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced today that the Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2010 $680.2 billion Defense Authorization bill that would restore retirement benefits for Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) members and ensure pay and retirement equity for federal employees in Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. territories. The Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization conference bill was approved by the Senate and now goes to President Obama who is expected to sign it into l… Continue Reading
10.21.09
Murkowski Statement on Medicare Reimbursement Vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following statement after a strong bipartisan Senate majority rejected a Democrat Medicare physician reimbursement fix that would have added a quarter trillion dollars to the deficit: "I fully support fixing the Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors, but this was an irresponsible proposal that would simply have added $250 billion to the record-high federal deficit with no plan to pay for it. Given the recent news that the … Continue Reading
10.21.09
Murkowski on Allowances in Cap and Trade Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today gave the following opening statement at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the costs and benefits for energy consumers and energy prices associated with the allocation of greenhouse gas emission allowances: "Good morning. I'd like to welcome our witnesses to the third in an ongoing series of hearings about some very complex issues related to climate policy. "Our Committee's conversation has been constructive s… Continue Reading
10.20.09
Murkowski Comments on the Impact of Democrat Health Care Bills on Women
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference, said today that women across America are paying attention to the health care reform debate because they are often the ones tending to the doctors' bills and making medical appointments for their families. "Women are paying attention to the issue of health care reform, and they should be. They're the ones that, in most of the households are taking the kids to the doctor, they're paying the bill… Continue Reading
