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.
Access Denied: BLM To Revoke 2021 Public Land Orders, Keep Alaska Lands in Highly Restricted Status
Anchorage, AK—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, issued the following statements criticizing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) after it released a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) recommending the revocation of five Public Land Orders (PLOs) signed in January 2021 that would return 28 million acres of Alaska lands to federal multiple use status, and instead maintain a series of restrictive, long-obsolete encumbrances. Leaving PLOs in place across Alaska se… Continue Reading
07.03.24
Alaska Delegation Rebukes Park Service for Implementing Unlawful, Unwarranted Rule with Hunting Restrictions
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska), today condemned the National Park Service’s (NPS) finalized rule that will impose new restrictions on hunting and trapping in 22 million acres of National Preserves in Alaska. The Alaska congressional delegation wrote to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in March urging her to withdraw the proposed rule, noting it was put forward without any consultation with the State of … Continue Reading
07.01.24
Murkowski Congratulates AFN on Newly Elected President Ben Mallott
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement in response to Benjamin Mallott being elected as the Alaska Federation of Native’s (AFN) future president. Ben is the current Vice President of External Affairs for AFN, having worked over 11 years for the organization. Ben formerly served as Senator Murkowski’s Legislative Assistant for Alaska Native and Indian Affairs in her Washington DC office. “Cong… Continue Reading
06.29.24
Murkowski Welcomes Supreme Court Decision to Rein in Federal Administrative State in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo
Anchorage, AK—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today issued the following decision after the Supreme Court of the United States issued its decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. Signed by a six-Justice majority, the decision overturns the Chevrondoctrine and restricts’ federal agencies’ ability to promulgate regulations that depart from federal law. “It’s hard to express how important this decision is for the future of our country. For too long, agencies have amassed power to r… Continue Reading
06.28.24
Delegation Condemns “No Action” Decision on Ambler Road
Anchorage, AK—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, and U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola, D-Alaska, today issued the following statements condemning the U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior) for selecting the “no action” alternative in its Record of Decision (ROD) for the Ambler Access Project (Ambler). The ROD rejects Ambler, a private haul road that would provide economic benefits in Alaska and facilitate domestic supplies of key minerals, after the project… Continue Reading
06.28.24
Murkowski, Sullivan Celebrate Significant Investments in Rural Alaska
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) welcomed the announcement of over $53 million in grants for rural Alaska from the United States Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program. These awards are part of the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, and aim to revitalize freight and transportation infrastructure. “These grants provide critical assistance to rur… Continue Reading
06.13.24
Murkowski Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Shore Up Funding For Crime Victims Fund
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation to shore up funding for the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), established by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), which supports state victim compensation and assistance programs. The proposal would transfer remaining funds collected through the False Claims Act (FCA) that currently go to the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury to the CVF. “The Crime Victims Fund plays a critical role in funding service organ… Continue Reading
06.13.24
Murkowski speaks on Chugach Land Exchange, Cape Fox Entitlement, and Alaska Native Vietnam Vet Allotments during Senate Energy Hearing
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) a senior member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, participated in a Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee Hearing to receive testimony on 20 bills, including three Alaska-specific bills which are either sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Murkowski. S. 4310, to exchange non-Federal land held by the Chugach Alaska Corporation for certain Federal Land in the Chugach Region, and for other purposes; S. 3617, t… Continue Reading
06.11.24
Congressional Delegation Introduce Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) and U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK) introduced the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act to direct a land exchange between the federal government and Chugach Alaska Corporation (Chugach). This exchange would resolve conflicts that exist between the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council’s Habitat Protection Program (the “Program”) goals for habitat conservation of surface lands imp… Continue Reading
06.05.24
Murkowski, Sullivan Call for Five Year Tribal BABA Waiver
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate on Indian Affairs (SCIA), and U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) expressing their concern with the implementation of the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act and the impact on infrastructure development in Native communities. In the letter, the Senators note that Native communities continue to face challenges with infrastructure construction due to … Continue Reading
06.03.24
Murkowski Introduces Legislation Amending the Tribal Forest Protection Act to Work Better for All Tribes, Including in Alaska
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced S.4370, the Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2024, to promote greater indigenous stewardship of Federal and Indian forest and rangelands. The 2004 TFPA law was intended to protect Indian forest lands and resources from various threats, including wildfires, by allowing Tribes to enter into agreements with the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management to… Continue Reading
05.22.24
Murkowski, Schatz introduce legislation to make transportation more cost-effective for disabled veterans
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced legislation that would expand transportation access for veterans with disabilities. S.4372, the Deliver for Veterans Act, would expand a Veterans Affairs (VA) grant program to cover shipping costs for disabled veterans who require modified vehicles for transportation. Currently, eligible veterans can receive roughly $25,600 toward specially altered vehicles, equipped with modifications such as van lif… Continue Reading
05.13.24
Congressional Delegation Introduce Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) and U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK) introduced the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act to direct a land exchange between the federal government and Chugach Alaska Corporation (Chugach). This exchange would resolve conflicts that exist between the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council’s Habitat Protection Program (the “Program”) goals for habitat conservation of surface lands … Continue Reading
05.10.24
Murkowski: Alaska’s Minerals are Fundamental America’s Security and Prosperity
Fort Knox, Alaska - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement on Alaska Mining Day. “Alaska Mining Day is an opportunity to recognize the mining industry’s importance to both our state and our nation. “We’re fortunate to have several major mines in Alaska, from Red Dog to Usibelli to Greens Creek. Those projects support thousands of high-paying jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues each year, and local community needs through philanthropy, schola… Continue Reading
05.09.24
Murkowski Celebrates Wins for Alaska in FAA Reauthorization
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today voted in favor of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, legislation that will improve traveler safety while addressing the unique needs of the FAA Alaska Region. The bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) through Fiscal Year 2028, providing policy direction, certainty, and authority to hire and train air traffic controllers, establish … Continue Reading
05.09.24
Murkowski, Cortez Masto Urge DOJ for Timely Implementation of Savanna’s Act
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), pressing the Department to expedite their efforts to finalize implementation of Savanna’s Act. The letter listed specific questions aimed at clarifying the DOJ’s efforts to implement the law. The letter also strongly encourages the DOJ to take into consideration the recently released recommendations from the Not Invisible Act Commission, which were publish… Continue Reading
05.08.24
Murkowski Looking at Cuts to Interior’s Budget After Repeated, Unlawful Resource Restrictions in Alaska
Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today suggested she would seek to cut the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) budget, unless and until the Department stops targeting responsible resource development in Alaska and returns to following federal law and the balanced management it provides for the state’s federal lands. Haaland appeared at a hearing held by the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, where Murkowski is Ranking Member, to testify about the Biden administration’s bu… Continue Reading
05.07.24
Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Improve Services for Alaska Native Elders
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) introduced the Enhancing Native Elders’ Longevity, Dignity, Empowerment, and Respect (Native ELDER) Act legislation that will improve federal programs and services for Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian Elders. The legislation will be introduced in May, in light of the national observance of Older Americans Month, a time to recognize the important role and contributions of Alaska Native … Continue Reading
05.02.24
Alaska Delegation Introduces FISHES Act to Bolster Disaster Relief for Fisheries
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senators Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced legislation to improve the federal process associated with delivering fishery disaster relief. Representatives Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) and Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives last year. The Fishery Improvement to Streamline Untimely Regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Act (FISHES… Continue Reading
05.02.24
Senator Murkowski Introduces Historic New Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Menopause Research, Expand Training and Awareness Around Menopause
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Patty Murray (D-WA), along with Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced comprehensive bipartisan legislation that would be the most expansive effort so far to boost federal research on menopause and would—for the first time—coordinate the federal government’s existing programs related to menopause and mid-life women’s health. The Advancing Menopause and Mid-Life Wom… Continue Reading
