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.
SENATOR MURKOWSKI SPEAKS ON BEHALF OF EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL PLAINTIFFS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today made a statement on the Senate floor supporting the victims of the Exxon Valdez oil spill: Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear the appeal of the ongoing litigation between Exxon Mobil and commercial fishermen and other plaintiffs whose livelihoods were negatively impacted by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef at 12:04AM on March 24, 1989, spilling 11 million gallons of oil - about the same size as 125 Olymp… Continue Reading
02.14.08
ALASKAN SENATORS URGE UPGRADE OF INDIAN HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski, the Vice-Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, today urged passage of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2007. The legislation would reauthorize and update the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which governs the operation of the American Indian and Alaska Native health care delivery system. The Senate will resume consideration of the bill on Monday, February 25. "This bill is intended to bring new hope for Indian health, to … Continue Reading
01.30.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI INTRODUCES THE ROBERT JAMES ACT OF 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski last night introduced the Robert James Act of 2008. This legislation, which is co-sponsored by Senator Stevens, fixes an inequity in the Social Security Disability Insurance system by allowing the five month waiting period for disability compensation to be waived if an individual diagnosed with a terminal illness can demonstrate financial hardship. "My legislation would give the Social Security Commissioner the discretion to waive the arbitrary five month wa… Continue Reading
01.25.08
Alaska's Congressional Delegation Files Supreme Court Brief in Support of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Victims
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska's Congressional Delegation, Senator Ted Stevens, Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Don Young, today filed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the victims of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in the case Exxon Shipping Co. and Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Grant Baker, et al. In the brief, the Delegation discusses the origins and legislative history of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the federal law that is central to the controversy. The brief incorporates l… Continue Reading
01.23.08
SENATOR MURKOWSKI URGES PASSAGE OF INDIAN HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today offered the following remarks on the need to pass the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2007: I rise to join my colleague Senator Dorgan on S.1200, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2007. As Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, we join to offer this legislation as a culmination of considerable bi-partisan efforts over several Congresses by Members on both sides of the aisle. We have worked th… Continue Reading
01.16.08
DELEGATION ANNOUNCES INCREASED FUNDING FOR HEATING ASSISTANCE IN ALASKA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Murkowski and Stevens and Congressman Young today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will release $3,558,253 to Alaska for the Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This nationwide program is designed to help low-income families and senior citizens pay home energy costs. “The cost of energy is having a detrimental impact across the state, particularly in rural areas,” said Senator Murkowski. “This increase to LIHEAP … Continue Reading
12.14.07
MURKOWSKI PRAISES PASSAGE OF SENATE ENERGY BILL
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today welcomed final Senate passage of major energy legislation. “This is a great step in reducing energy costs for Alaskans and the nation,” said Senator Murkowski. “While the bill is not the total solution to our country’s energy needs, it does make major advances in aid for renewable energy and promotes greater energy efficiency in vehicles, buildings and appliances. The bill does not contain the provisions many of us wanted to include to increas… Continue Reading
12.14.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI WINS PASSAGE OF EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL TAX LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today won Senate approval of tax legislation to give individual plaintiffs in the Exxon Valdez oil spill litigation ability to increase retirement contributions and to provide tax relief through income averaging. The legislation was included as an amendment to the Senate Farm Bill, which passed this afternoon. The legislation provides tax relief to all of the individual plaintiffs in the oil spill settlement, 80 percent of whom are commercial fishermen. … Continue Reading
12.05.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI JOINS COLLEAGUES IN INTRODUCING TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION RESOLUTION
WASHINGTON, D.C.—In an annual effort to raise awareness of the crime of teen dating violence nationwide, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York), Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut), and Joe Biden (D-Delaware) joined together to introduce a Resolution declaring February 4 - 8, 2008, “National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week.” This marks the third year that the United States Senate has introduced a resolution declaring the first … Continue Reading
12.04.07
HARKIN-MURKOWSKI AMENDMENT WILL UPDATE DECADES- OLD NUTRITION STANDARDS IN SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that they plan to offer an amendment to the pending Senate farm bill to update decades-old nutrition standards in schools. The amendment, the result of months of negotiation with both the public health community and the food and beverage industry, seeks to establish appropriate school nutrition standards for foods and beverages offered in school vending machines, school stores and other venues outside of the… Continue Reading
11.14.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI SUPPORTS HEAD START
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today joined her colleagues in the Senate in passing the conference report to the Head Start School Readiness Act. Head Start prepares low-income children for school by providing comprehensive, early childhood development services including educational, health, nutritional and social activities. “The Head Start program is an important part of our children’s educational development,” said Senator Murkowski. “This legislation includes many priorities of… Continue Reading
11.14.07
SENATORS MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS HONOR MILITARY FAMILIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Murkowski and Stevens today won final passage of a resolution recognizing and thanking military families for the tremendous sacrifices and contributions they have made to the Nation. “Military families bear a profound burden when their loved ones are away defending our Country,” said Senator Murkowski. “They serve their country every bit as much as their loved ones do. I deeply appreciate the contributions and sacrifices they make to help keep our soldiers strong… Continue Reading
11.09.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI COMMEMORATES VETERANS DAY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today issued the following statement to commemorate Veterans Day: On the 11th hour, on the eleventh day of this eleventh month each year --the point at which the First World War ended -- communities across America are pausing to remember those who have defended our Nation’s freedom over these past 231 years. As Alaskans we have much to be thankful for this Veterans Day. In early October some 600 members of the Third Battalion, 297th Infantry Brigade of… Continue Reading
11.08.07
MURKOWSKI AND STEVENS VOTE TO OVERRIDE VETO OF WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Senate today voted 79-14 to override President Bush’s veto of H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The House took similar action on Tuesday which means the Act will now become law. Congress authorizes specific Army Corps of Engineers projects in WRDA, including studies, before appropriating funds to them. Congress has not completed a WRDA since 2000. “Passage of a Water Resources bill is long overdue,” said Senator Murkowski. “I appl… Continue Reading
11.07.07
Alaska's Congressional Delegation Vows to Defeat Anti-Development Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Alaska’s Congressional Delegation, Senator Ted Stevens, Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Don Young, today released the following statement in response to Senator Joe Lieberman’s (ID-Conn.) newly introduced bill to designate Alaska’s Coastal Plain as wilderness. “With the price of oil approaching $100 per barrel and with our energy dependence on hostile foreign nations at a record high, now is not the time to cut our country off from the resources held in Alaska’s C… Continue Reading
11.06.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI SUPPORTS TRAINING FOR AN ALASKA NATURAL GASLINE WORKFORCE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today reiterated her support for construction of the Pipeline Training Facility in Fairbanks at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on workforce labor shortages. “We must ensure we have the workers to build and operate a gas pipeline in Alaska,” said Senator Murkowski. “We need to jumpstart efforts to recruit and train workers, before we find ourselves with a shortage of workers throughout the entire energy industry at a time when we… Continue Reading
11.01.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI SUPPORTS CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today joined her colleagues in the Senate in supporting the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). CHIP provides comprehensive health care coverage to low-income and uninsured children. “The Children’s Health Insurance Program extends vital health insurance to the most vulnerable segments of our population - low income children and children of the working poor,” said Senator Murkowski. “This CHIP bill will provide performance bonuses to states that … Continue Reading
10.30.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI ADDRESSES ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES CONVENTION
FAIRBANKS, AK - Senator Murkowski today addressed the delegates at the 2007 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention. Her remarks, as prepared, follow. Respected Elders, Tribal Leaders, Delegates and Friends. Good afternoon. Good afternoon to all in the Carlson Center. Good afternoon to our friends and families in the villages and around the world who are watching on cable television and the Internet or listening on KNBA Radio. We come together this week in the Interior of Alaska … Continue Reading
10.23.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI STRESSES THE NEED TO QUICKLY ASSIST AMCHITKA WEAPONS EMPLOYEES
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today called for speedier processing of compensation payments for illnesses contracted by who workers labored on United States nuclear programs like the former one on Amchitka Island. “Developing a compensation program is difficult, but in all too many cases the nation’s nuclear workers are dealing with horrible health consequences as a result of the occupational exposures they faced,” said Senator Murkowski during a Senate Health, Education, Labor … Continue Reading
10.19.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI WINS PASSAGE OF RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING U.S. – MONGOLIA RELATIONS
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator Murkowski yesterday won final passage of a resolution celebrating twenty years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Mongolia. “The United States-Mongolian relationship is dynamic and growing with over one hundred U.S. and U.S. Mongolian joint ventures in oil exploration, textiles, animal husbandry, tourism, mining and banking,” said Senator Murkowski. “I look forward to not only increased economic ties between our two countries, but also to greater … Continue Reading
