Press Releases
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Currently showing results related to Alaska's Fisheries
Millions in Fishery Relief Heading to Alaska
The Alaska Congressional Delegation announced $50 million in fishery assistance will be heading to Alaska. The funds are part of a $300 million fishery assistance fund that was included in the CARES Act, as a result of the efforts of Alaska's delegation, to make direct assistance available to subsistence, commercial, and charter fishery participants, processors, fishery-related businesses and fishery-dependent communities that have been negatively affected by the economic and other impacts of CO… Continue Reading
05.04.20
Alaska Delegation Welcomes $20 Million USDA Purchase of Alaska Pollock
Today, the Alaska Congressional Delegation welcomed a $20 million purchase of Alaska Pollock by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Section 32 program. "The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chains and severely impacted industries throughout our economy, including Alaska's vibrant seafood sector," said the Alaska Congressional Delegation. "Food security across our country is essential in these unprecedented times. Alaska produces 60 percent of America's seafood, an… Continue Reading
02.28.20
Bipartisan Group of Senators Send Letter Urging DHS To Provide Immediate Relief For Seafood Industry
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) was joined by six of his Senate colleagues in calling on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release the additional H-2B visas needed to support local seafood businesses in Virginia and states like Alaska, Maryland, and North Carolina. The letter, signed by Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dan Sullivan (D-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), urges the DHS to quickly authorize additional visas for temp… Continue Reading
02.27.20
Alaska Congressional Delegation Welcome Disaster Relief for Alaska Fisheries
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-Alaska), today welcomed an announcement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that the agency approved $24.4 million to restore losses for Alaska fisheries impacted by the 2018 Pacific cod fishery disaster and $10.3 million for the 2018 sockeye salmon failure in Chignik. The NOAA-approved funds will now be administered by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the agency tasked with dis… Continue Reading
11.14.19
Murphy, Murkowski Applaud Committee Passage of Save Our Seas 2.0
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) applauded committee passage of Save Our Seas 2.0, bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) to combat marine debris. Murphy and Murkowski are both cosponsors of the bill. The legislation includes a Murphy-Murkowski drafted provision to fund a Genius Prize for Save Our Seas Innovation to be given out for the development of projects to rep… Continue Reading
07.24.19
Alaska Congressional Delegation Commends USDA Purchase of Alaska Pollock Products for Food Nutrition Assistance Programs
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-Alaska), today commended the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) approval of a Section 32 purchase of up to $41 million of surplus Alaska Pollock Products. USDA's purchase of Alaska Pollock will be distributed to various food nutrition assistance programs, including charitable organizations. "With a wide range of health benefits and its popularity among consumers, Alaska Pollock is one of the most valuab… Continue Reading
07.02.19
Alaska Congressional Delegation Welcome Disaster Relief for Alaska Fisheries
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-Alaska), today welcomed an announcement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that the agency approved $53.8 million to restore losses for Alaska fisheries impacted by the 2016 Gulf of Alaska pink salmon fishery disaster. NOAA approved and transferred the funds to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the agency tasked with distributing the relief payments to fishermen and their deckha… Continue Reading
11.03.18
Murkowski, Sullivan Applaud USDA for Approving $30M Purchase of Alaska Pollock for Nutrition Assistance Programs
Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) applauded the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) approval of a Section 32 purchase of up to $30 million of Alaska Pollock for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. This decision comes following a letter written by Senators Murkowski and Sullivan in September, urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, to exercise his authority to initiate a purchase of Alaska Pollock products. "Alaska Pollock is a… Continue Reading
09.18.18
Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement Announced
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today welcomed the announcement of the Pacific Salmon Treaty agreement between the U.S. and Canada that determines shared harvest levels for B.C., Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. For the first time since the creation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty in 1985, the 59-member Alaska Treaty Team unanimously supported the Alaska position contained within the ten-year conservation and harvest agreement. "Coming to an agreement like this no easy task, so to know tha… Continue Reading
09.07.18
Murkowski Questions International Trade Administration on Alaskan Seafood Industry Concerns
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) participated in a Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee hearing yesterday, to review the President's Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) funding request for the Bureau of Industry and Security, the International Trade Administration, and the United States International Trade Commission. Witnesses participating in the hearing included: Nazak Nikakhtar, Assistant Secretary for Industry and Analysis at the International Trade Administration (ITA); … Continue Reading
07.27.18
Murkowski Questions Administration on Impacts of Seafood Tariffs
During a Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee hearing recently, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) questioned Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative, on the administration's plans to ensure our trade policy allows seafood producers to thrive, citing China's recently announced 25 percent tariff on American seafood imports. "It has clearly rattled my state. Our seafood industry is the number one private industry in terms of the jobs and the economic… Continue Reading
06.20.18
Alaska Delegation Welcomes $56 Million in Disaster Relief for Alaska Fisheries
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, (all R-Alaska), today welcomed a funding allocation announcement by the Secretary of Commerce for states and territories affected by recent fishery disasters. Alaska is receiving $56,361,332 in disaster funding, which will support compensation, recovery, and relief for fishermen, communities, and stakeholders affected by the 2016 Gulf of Alaska pink salmon fishery disaster. "The news of this disaster relief funding for Alaska is incre… Continue Reading
06.15.18
Murkowski Supports a Safer and More Prosperous Alaska
The Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations bill, which contains several priorities U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski secured for Alaska. As a member of this subcommittee, Murkowski included provisions to strengthen Alaska's world-class fisheries, protect Alaskan ocean wildlife, improve Arctic infrastructure and research, and support other significant programs such as the National Sea Grant Program. In … Continue Reading
05.25.18
Murkowski Works to Support Critical Nutrition Programs, Alaska’s Fisheries, and Rural Development
The Senate Appropriations Committee this week approved the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bill, sending it to the full U.S. Senate. The funding bill contains a number of priorities U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) secured for Alaska that will support Alaska's vital fishing industry and farmers, address hunger, and improve water and wastewater systems in rural Alaska. These provisions include an import ban for g… Continue Reading
05.01.18
Murkowski Statement on New U.S. Genetically Engineered Salmon Facility
Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved the application for an AquaBounty Salmon Facility in Indiana last week. AquaBounty Technologies has been developing genetically engineered (GE) salmon since 1996 and received an FDA approval in 2015 to sell it for human consumption. Due to Senator Murkowski's efforts, an import alert for GE salmon remains in place preventing U.S. production. "While AquaBounty continues… Continue Reading
02.09.18
Murkowski, Sullivan Applaud Emergency Relief for Communities Affected by Fisheries Disasters
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today applauded the inclusion of funding for fisheries disasters in the Bipartisan Budget Act, which established funding levels through the end of Fiscal Year 2019. The bill passed the Senate in a vote of 71-28. Last month Senators Murkowski and Sullivan called on their colleagues to include disaster funding for coastal communities affected by longstanding and ongoing fisheries disasters, as Congress considered a relief package for U.S… Continue Reading
01.12.18
Murkowski, Sullivan Seek Emergency Relief for Communities Affected by Fisheries Disasters
As Congress considers a relief package for U.S. communities impacted by hurricanes and wildfires, Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, along with a bipartisan group of senators representing Washington, Oregon, and California, called on their colleagues to also include disaster funding for coastal communities affected by longstanding and ongoing fisheries disasters. The senators urged swift action to provide emergency funding to communities that depend on resilient, sustainable, and healthy… Continue Reading
09.19.17
September Designated “Alaska Wild Salmon Month”
The Senate passed U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski's resolution recognizing September as "Alaska Wild Salmon Month," which was cosponsored by U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan. The resolution celebrates and raises awareness of the sustainable Alaska wild salmon industry and its contributions to the health and economy of the nation. "Alaskans are tremendously proud of our wild salmon. This bountiful resource has helped sustain our entire state for thousands of years. Alaska's fisheries remain the most abund… Continue Reading
08.01.17
Murkowski’s Appropriations Work Strengthens Alaska’s Communities, Fisheries
The Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations bill, which contains several priorities U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski secured for Alaska. As a member of this subcommittee, Murkowski included provisions to strengthen Alaska's world class fisheries, improve Arctic navigation and infrastructure, and support for critical initiatives such as the National Sea Grant Program. "The funds contained in this bill includ… Continue Reading
07.21.17
Murkowski Works to Support Food Security, Alaska’s Fisheries, and Rural Development
The Senate Appropriations Committee this week unanimously approved the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations bill, sending it to the full Senate for consideration. The bill contains a number of priorities U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) secured for Alaska, including provisions that will both protect American consumers and support Alaska's vital fishing industry. These provisions include a labeling mandate for genetic… Continue Reading
