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 APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF ‘RED RIBBON WEEK’ RESOLUTION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski yesterday won passage of a resolution dedicating the week of October 23-31 as “Red Ribbon Week.” The resolution, sponsored by Senator Murkowski, commemorates anti-drug efforts and will guide states, Parent Teacher Associations, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Governors and Attorneys General nationwide in partnering in an effort to call attention to the dangers of drug usage. “I encourage all Americans to wear the Red Ribbon next week as a symbol of ze… Continue Reading
10.16.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI ANNOUNCES MAJOR GRANT TO TEST ALTERNATIVE ELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM OIL PRODUCTION
ANCHORAGE, AK - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded a major grant to Chena Power, a subsidiary of Chena Hot Springs Resort located outside of Fairbanks, to prove the feasibility of generating alternative electricity from the hot water separated from fossil fuels during production at oil and gas wells. The grant could have major implications for geothermal energy development nationwide since there are thousands of working oil and gas wells in … Continue Reading
10.05.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI’S OCTOBER RECESS SCHEDULE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced her public schedule for the upcoming October Recess. During her travel, the Senator will travel to southeast and meet with Alaska fishermen, visit schools, and hold public meet and greet receptions in Wrangell, Petersburg, Ketchikan, Craig, and Metlakatla. In addition, Senator Murkowski will be in south-central Alaska where she will attend a health fair at the Mat-Su Regional Hospital, and make remarks to the Anchorage Chamber. Th… Continue Reading
10.03.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI CONDEMNS THE PERSECUTION OF BURMESE PROTESTORS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today co-chaired a Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs hearing on Burma’s Saffron Revolution and made the following remarks. I was pleased to join with you Chairman Barbara Boxer and the other members of the Senate Women’s Caucus on Burma in expressing our solidarity with the protestors in Burma and calling on the international community to place greater pressure on the military junta to restore democracy in the nation. It … Continue Reading
10.03.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI CHAMPIONS ENERGY EFFICIENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski is pleased to support Energy Star Change a Light Day - a national challenge to encourage every American to change one regular, inefficient light bulb to an Energy Star rated light bulb. “The simple task of replacing one light bulb with an energy efficient bulb can have a huge impact on energy savings,” said Senator Murkowski. “Though changing a light bulb may be perceived as having little impact, it is in fact an important step in a balanced approach towa… Continue Reading
09.27.07
Senators Stevens and Murkowski Welcome Funding for Heating Assistance in Alaska
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today praised the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for releasing $1.7 million to Alaska for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This nationwide program is designed to help low-income families and senior citizens pay home energy costs. Today’s allocation represents a $320,000 increase over the total funding distributed to Alaska last year. “Last winter, some Alaskans w… Continue Reading
09.27.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI CHAMPIONS AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE WOMEN’S SAFETY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today co-chaired a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on violence against Indian women. The hearing was partly in response to the Amnesty International Report “Maze of Injustice: The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in the USA.” “I am greatly troubled that American Indian and Alaska Natives face such unacceptably high levels of domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Senator Murkowski. “Yet I am inspired by their strengt… Continue Reading
09.27.07
Republican Senator's Support Children's Health Insurance Program
WASHINGTON — Sens. Chuck Grassley and Orrin Hatch said there is significant support among Republicans for bicameral legislation to reauthorize the children’s health insurance program. The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act under consideration today maintains all of the key policy provisions of the bill passed by the Senate in August, including a cap on new spending of $35 billion. Grassley and Hatch helped to draft the legislation as Ranking Member of the Senate Commi… Continue Reading
09.27.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI REITERATES HER SUPPORT FOR GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - At a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing today, Senator Murkowski continued to highlight her support for investing in geothermal energy. “Unfortunately geothermal energy has not gotten the attention that other renewable energy sources have,” said Senator Murkowski. “Along with ocean energy it received relatively little federal assistance in the Energy Bill two years ago. If we encourage geothermal development it will pay big dividends to the nation. If we … Continue Reading
09.26.07
Women's Burma Caucus Calls on International Community to Keep up Press on Military Junta
Washington, DC - The Senate Women’s Caucus on Burma, led by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), today expressed solidarity with the tens of thousands of pro-democracy protestors who have taken to the streets in recent days to speak out against the country’s illegitimate military junta. The bipartisan group of women Senators applauded President Bush for his remarks before the United Nations on Tuesday, where he called for new international sancti… Continue Reading
09.25.07
BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS OFFERS RESPONSE TO NSL ABUSES
Washington, D.C. - A bipartisan group of senators is introducing legislation today to address the serious misuse of the FBI's national security letter (NSL) authorities. In an effort to continue protecting the civil liberties of all Americans, Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), John Sununu (R-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) introduced the National Security Letter Reform Act to correct the misuses and Constitutional concerns surrounding the u… Continue Reading
09.24.07
SENATE PASSES WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Senate today passed a Senate-House conference report of H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The legislation passed the Senate on May 16, but due to changes made to the original House bill, it was sent to a conference of Senate and House negotiators. The new version of the legislation has now been approved by both the Senate and the House and will be sent to the President. Congress authorizes specific Army Corps of Engineers projects in… Continue Reading
09.21.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE SHUTDOWN OF THE GRAVINA ISLAND BRIDGE PROJECT
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today issued the following statement regarding the State’s decision to shutdown the Gravina Island bridge project: “The community of Ketchikan has made safe and reliable access to the airport a priority for over 30 years. When the State of Alaska requested resources to build a bridge, the Congressional Delegation worked hard to secure funding. It is unfortunate for the people of Ketchikan that the State has chosen to reprioritize its support of this pr… Continue Reading
09.20.07
SENATORS MURKOWSKI AND CASEY CALL FOR A CIVILIAN AND DIPLOMATIC SURGE IN IRAQ
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today joined Senator Casey of Pennsylvania in introducing an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Act calling for a civilian and diplomatic surge in Iraq. “Military progress alone will not provide for the conditions for a stable and secure Iraq,” said Senator Murkowski. “We need a civilian and diplomatic surge to go with the military surge. I am pleased to join Senator Casey to urge the Administration to place a greater emphasis on these … Continue Reading
09.12.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI URGES THE SENATE TO PASS INDIAN HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C. - At a rally in the Capitol today, Senator Murkowski, the Vice-Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, joined the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), to urge the Senate to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. More than a dozen Alaskans attended the rally. The Indian Health Care Improvement Act was last authorized in 1992 and expired in 2001. In June 1999 a National Steering Committee, including many prominent Alaskan Native leaders, … Continue Reading
09.11.07
STATEMENT OF SENATOR MURKOWSKI ON TESTIMONY FROM GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS AND AMBASSADOR RYAN CROCKER
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Lisa Murkowski today offered the following statement after hearing testimony in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker: “I am encouraged that General Petraeus believes the situation on the ground in Iraq will allow us to reduce forces to pre-surge levels by mid-summer 2008 without jeopardizing security plans. I urge the Administration to accept General Petraeus’ recommendations. I am concerned, however, that … Continue Reading
09.07.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI JOINS COLLEAGUES INCREASING COLLEGE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today joined with her colleagues in passing the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007. The bill increases students’ access to affordable education in college or through job training by increasing the amounts of Pell grants, putting a cap on student loan payments, providing for loan forgiveness and funding the new College Access Partnership Program. “This legislation makes higher education more affordable and accessible for students,” said Senator Murkowski.… Continue Reading
09.07.07
MURKOWSKI URGES GREATER AWARENESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF DRINKING DURING PREGNANCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In commemoration of National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Awareness Day, Senator Lisa Murkowski urges all Americans to spread the word that no amount of alcohol is safe to consume during the nine months of pregnancy. Senator Murkowski sponsored the resolution designating September 9th 2007 as National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Awareness Day. Tragically, Alaska has the highest rate of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in the nation. Furthermore, among Alaskan Native communiti… Continue Reading
09.06.07
Senators Stevens and Murkowski Champion Rural Veterans Amendment
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate has approved an amendment sponsored by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. Senator Dan Inouye (D-Hawaii) cosponsored the amendment which requires the Veterans Administration (VA) to produce a report on the need to improve access to locally-provided care in areas far away from VA facilities. The Senate passed the FY08 Military Constructio… Continue Reading
08.30.07
SENATOR MURKOWSKI ENCOURAGED BY SECRETARY SPELLINGS’ TRIP TO ALASKA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Murkowski and Stevens today concluded a two-day trip with United States Department of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings in which they visited with students, educators, administrators and policymakers. The No Child Left Behind Act, the Administration’s key education policy, is up for reauthorization in Congress this year. Senator Murkowski has introduced legislation that will make changes to the law to address Alaska’s needs. “I was encouraged that Secr… Continue Reading
