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.
Murkowski Disappointed Over Obama Administration's Opposition to Helping Alaska Territorial Guard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement in response to President Obama's Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) regarding the Fiscal Year 2010 Senate Defense Appropriations bill. The administration objects to language in the bill, included by Murkowski and U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, that would reinstate retirement benefits to members of the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) for their service during World War II. The Senate bill would restore militar… Continue Reading
09.24.09
Murkowski Statement on the Passing of Former Anchorage Mayor George Sullivan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement on the passing of former Anchorage Mayor George Sullivan: "I am saddened to hear of the passing of George Sullivan. George's accomplishments live on as examples of a life dedicated to public service. "George worked tirelessly for our state. I recall George when he represented Alaska in Washington during congressional consideration of the Alaska lands act that eventually passed in 1980. At that time, I was wor… Continue Reading
09.24.09
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 full Senate has approved funding for a number of important projects for Alaska in the Fiscal Year 2010 Department of the Interior and Environment appropriations bill. Following today's action, the Senate bill must be reconciled with a House version of the bill in a joint conference committee, of which Sen. Murkowski has been named a member. "This … Continue Reading
09.24.09
Majority Blocks Consideration of Amendment to Fix Problematic EPA Regulations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Democratic leaders today blocked an effort by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to forestall dangerous regulations that threaten efforts to revive the American economy. Murkowski, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, sought a vote on her amendment to the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill that would have prohibited the Environmental Protection Agency from racing ahead of Congress to regulate stationary sources of carbon dioxid… Continue Reading
09.23.09
Murkowski Seeks Vote on Amendment on EPA Regulation of Carbon Dioxide
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced an amendment to the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill that would give Congress the time it needs to develop a responsible response to climate change. Murkowski plans to ask that her amendment be considered for a vote on the Senate floor this afternoon, immediately following the 4:15 stacked votes. Murkowski, the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and a strong proponent of mo… Continue Reading
09.22.09
Murkowski Urges Senate Not to Rush Health Care Legislation to Meet an Arbitrary Deadline
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today urged the Senate to slow down its consideration of health care reform legislation and take the time to "get it right." The Senate Finance Committee today opened hearings on the legislation, with Committee Chairman Max Baucus of Montana saying the full Senate could begin debating it as soon as next week if the committee approves its version this week. Senate Democratic leaders have also threatened to cancel a Columbus Day recess unless… Continue Reading
09.18.09
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 - $197,783 to the University of Alaska Anchorage as a part of the USDA's Rural Cooperative Development Grant program. The grant will be used for technical assistance, research, and informational materials to help rural residents form cooperative businesses or improve the operations of existing cooperatives. - $220,000… Continue Reading
09.17.09
Senate Passes Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate today approved a $122 billon Transportation and Urban Development Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010 that includes $200,000 for the Abused Women's Aid in Crisis, or AWAIC, shelter in Anchorage, according to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who secured the AWAIC funding. "This funding will help AWAIC make needed structural repairs to its facility so they can continue providing a safe haven for victims of domestic violence," said Murkowski, a member of … Continue Reading
09.17.09
Murkowski Raises Alaska TRICARE Problems with Senior Defense Official
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today pressed her request that the Defense Department delay the implementation of a new policy that requires military retirees enrolled in TRICARE's Prime Option who live more than 30 minutes or more than 100 miles from a military health facility request and obtain a waiver in order to continue receiving care on base. In a letter to Rear Admiral Christine Hunter, deputy director of the TRICARE Management Activity at the Defense Department, earlier this … Continue Reading
09.17.09
Sen. Murkowski responds to President Obama's Missile Defense Reversal
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today made the following statement regarding President Obama's decision to drop the Bush administration's plan for a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe. "For the second time this year the Obama administration has reversed course on previous decisions to protect the American homeland and our allies from long range missile threats. I'm deeply disappointed. The threat environment from Iran and North Korea continues to rise. Yet the admin… Continue Reading
09.16.09
Rep. Young and Sen. Murkowski Express Concern Over Obstruction of Logjam Timber Sale
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Don Young and Senator Lisa Murkowski sent the attached letter to Denny Bschor, Regional Forester for the Alaska Region of the U.S. Forest Service, today to express their concern over the appeals filed on the Record of Decision for the Logjam timber sale. "Once again the extremists have put their own selfish concerns and fundraising goals ahead of the good of people, and I find it disgraceful," said Rep. Young. "Failure to approve this timber sale will result in j… Continue Reading
09.16.09
Murkowski Comments on Senate Finance Committee Health Care Proposal
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement on the Senate Finance Committee release of a new health care proposal: "While I commend Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus for working on a bipartisan basis with three Republican committee members to craft meaningful legislation, the Baucus proposal released today falls far short of that goal because it lacks any Republican support. Today's outcome didn't result from a fallout in discussions, or from … Continue Reading
09.16.09
Murkowski on the Administration's Cost Estimate for Cap and Trade
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Treasury Department's estimate that cap and trade legislation would cost American taxpayers up to $200 billion annually. "It's becoming apparent that the administration knew all along how much their cap and trade program would cost, yet they continue to claim it will cost no more than a postage stamp a day," Murkowski said. Murkowski, the ranking Republican on the Senate Ener… Continue Reading
09.15.09
Murkowski Says Public Concerned about a ‘Tsunami of Government Intrusion’
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said today that Americans are not only concerned about the Democrats' health care proposals, but the "cumulative effect" of federal spending that is increasing the national debt by trillions of dollars. "I think one of the things that we cannot lose sight of here in Congress is what our constituents have clearly not lost sight of, and that is the cumulative effect of what is happening here in Washington, D.C. - the ever-growing debt," Murko… Continue Reading
09.11.09
Delegation Announces Grants to Alaska Programs
Washington, D.C. - The Alaska Congressional Delegation is pleased to announce the following awarded to communities in the State of Alaska: U.S. Department of Energy: $2,688,900 to the City of Anchorage under the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Program which will allow strategies to be implemented in order to reduce fossil fuel emissions . $450,000 to the University of Alaska in order to assist with the characterization of the dynamics of climate systems and identification of mi… Continue Reading
09.11.09
Murkowski Comments on Anniversary of September 11 Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement regarding the eighth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks: "Eight years ago today, our nation was shaken to the core by the horrific events of September 11th, 2001" said Sen. Murkowski. "The wide scale taking of innocent life was a dark and tragic moment for our nation. Today, as we grieve and remember the victims of that day, we do so as a strong and resilient nation standing united in our … Continue Reading
09.10.09
Murkowski Amendments Accepted as Part of Tribal Law and Order Act of 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs today approved the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2009, a bill that would improve law enforcement on Indian lands and Alaska Native communities afflicted by high rates of violent crime, according to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. The Committee accepted three amendments offered by Sen. Murkowski that would address the lack of law enforcement in rural communities. "We have a very challenging situation in rural Alaska," said Sen. Mur… Continue Reading
09.09.09
Murkowski Secures $21.4 Million for Interior Alaska Training Range and Permanent Fix for Alaska Territorial Guard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has secured $21.4 million for enhancements to the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex in Interior Alaska as part of a $636.3 billion Fiscal Year 2010 military appropriations bill that cleared the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee today. "With these funds, the U.S. Military will be able to accomplish a number of projects including improving the road infrastructure throughout the compl… Continue Reading
08.28.09
Murkowski Welcomes 9th Circuit Court Ruling on 2007 Beaufort Sea Oil and Gas Lease
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service's oil and gas lease sale in the Beaufort Sea in 2007 was valid. "This decision is good news for Alaska and for the nation's energy security," Murkowski said. "I've always felt that the MMS met the 'hard look' standard in their environmental assessment of the 2007 lease sale." The court's decision will allow Shell Alas… Continue Reading
08.28.09
Murkowski Welcomes Lifting of Moratorium on Medicaid Applications for CMS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the decision by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to lift the moratorium on Medicaid applications for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) program in Alaska. On June 29, Sen. Murkowski called and urged HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to address the moratorium swiftly. At the time, there was a 2,000 case patient evaluation backlog that was deemed unlikely to be solved by September 1, 2009, w… Continue Reading
