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 Introduces Legislation to Permanently Exempt Alaska-Bound Cruises from the PVSA, Boosting Economies and Jobs
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced new legislation, the Cruising for Alaska's Workforce Act, to provide a permanent exemption from the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) for cruises transporting passengers to Alaska from the rest of the U.S. In an effort to support U.S. shipbuilders and Alaska's tourism industry, this waiver will end once there is a U.S.-built ship that carries more than 1,000 passengers. Senator Murkowski previously introduced the Alaska Tourism Restoration A… Continue Reading
09.22.21
DoD Selects Senior Advisor for Arctic Security Affairs
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today congratulated Major General (Ret.) Randy "Church" Kee on his selection by the Department of Defense (DoD) to serve as the Senior Advisor for Arctic Security Affairs. In this role, Kee will oversee the establishment of the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, the sixth DoD Regional Center and the only one specifically focused on the Arctic. Named in honor of the late U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, the Stevens Center will support and strengthen advances DoD … Continue Reading
09.21.21
Senators Reintroduce Bill to Ensure Fair Medicare Payments, Make Cost-Of-Living Adjustment For Alaska, Hawai‘i Nursing Homes
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today reintroduced legislation that will provide for fair Medicare payments for nursing facilities in Hawai'i and Alaska. The bipartisan Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act will authorize a cost-of-living adjustment at skilled nursing facilities in those states to take into account the higher costs of delivering care. "Nursing homes are on the front lines of this… Continue Reading
09.16.21
Murkowski and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Taxpayer Rights and Privacy
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and colleagues introduced the Tax Gap Reform and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Enforcement Act, a bill to protect taxpayers and provide guardrails at the IRS while ensuring that the IRS has the tools and personnel it needs. The legislation is led by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-Texas). "I support enforcement of our tax laws to ensure that taxes owed are p… Continue Reading
09.16.21
Murkowski Applauds Public Safety Funding Awarded to Alaska
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the announcement that the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is awarding $861,716 to the Alaska Department of Public Safety through the Fiscal Year 2021 Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program. The focus of the grant program is to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to help turn the tide on rising numbers of violent crimes against women, as well as to … Continue Reading
09.15.21
Murkowski Announces Bill to Protect Alaska Tourism Industry
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced new legislation to provide a permanent exemption from the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) for cruises between the Lower 48 and Alaska. During her keynote speech at the Southeast Conference Annual Meeting in Haines, Senator Murkowski unveiled the details of her proposal, which will be introduced next week. "While the PVSA is well-intentioned to protect American jobs and businesses, it had the unintended consequence of putting Alaskan businesses a… Continue Reading
09.10.21
Alaska Delegation Responds to EPA’s Announcement to Reinstate the 404(c) Determination Process
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, issued the following statements after the EPA announced it is seeking to reinstate the process to make a Clean Water Act Section 404(c) determination over what it the agency called an effort to "protect certain waters in Bristol Bay, Alaska." "A year ago, the Army Corps of Engineers denied a section 404 permit for the proposed Pebble mine project. This denial came after years of study, including the preparat… Continue Reading
09.01.21
Murkowski on Last American Troops Leaving Kabul, Ending 20-Year War in Afghanistan
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after President Biden addressed the nation to further explain his administration's decision to completely withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan: "The final U.S. military evacuation flight departed the Kabul airport Monday, ending America's longest war at nearly 20 years. Ending the war in Afghanistan is a milestone that has left many of us with mixed emotions: relief that American troops are able to safely return to the United St… Continue Reading
08.31.21
Murkowski Announces Completion of Phase Two of Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Exchange
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced the closing of the final portion of phase two of the Alaska Mental Health Trust land exchange. The equal value exchange, between the USDA Forest Service and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA), was conducted in two phases with the second phase further divided into two portions. Yesterday, the final portion of the land exchange closed, following an agreement signed by the Trust Land Office and the Forest Service outlining all remaining del… Continue Reading
08.30.21
Murkowski Introduces Bill to Reauthorize the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently introduced S. 2648, the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act. The Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area (KMTA NHA) is the first and only NHA in Alaska and just one of 55 in the country. The KMTA NHA was created in the Omnibus Lands Act of 2009, a bill Senator Murkowski championed, with the intent to preserve the area's history, and to promote local recreation and tourism in Southcentral Alaska. Without… Continue Reading
08.30.21
Vice Chairman Murkowski Announces New Committee Staff
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), welcomes additional staff to the Committee and provided the following statement. "I am pleased that Amber Ebarb and Lucy Murfitt have transitioned over to the Committee. They provide a depth of knowledge and skill that will complement the Committee's work to advance the lives of American Indian and Alaska Native people. Both women are familiar with the many issues affecting Indigenous peoples and… Continue Reading
08.28.21
Murkowski Statement on U.S. Counterterrorism Operation against ISIS-K
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after the U.S-launched airstrike against ISIS-K, the Islamic State affiliate that claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing outside Kabul airport, which killed 13 U.S. service members. "This week, the world has watched in horror as the situation in Afghanistan continues to escalate. Thirteen American military members were tragically killed in the support of evacuation efforts. America is taking direct and necessary action … Continue Reading
08.27.21
Murkowski Statement on Attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement after two bombings took place near Kabul's international airport, which killed 13 U.S. service members and wounded as many as 18 more: "I have long supported withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan, but the manner in which the drawdown has taken place has been chaotic and irresponsible and led to the horrific scenes we have witnessed over the last 12 days. It is devastating to see that American troops were targeted, injured, and k… Continue Reading
08.23.21
Murkowski, Young Applaud Native Children’s Commission Extension Bill Heading to President’s Desk
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 325, a bill to amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes. The bill, introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and co-sponsored by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Jon Tester (D-MT), now heads to the President to be signed into law. A House compani… Continue Reading
08.23.21
Murkowski, Hickenlooper Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Medical Forensics for Victims of Violence
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced S. 2655, the Ensuring Forensic Care for All Victims Act. This legislation that builds upon the work of the Alaska Comprehensive Training Forensic Academy, which is a pilot program run through the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). The bill authorizes demonstration grants to provide an evidence-based and trauma-informed care approach for a broad group of providers, including emergency service providers, registered nurs… Continue Reading
08.20.21
Alaska Delegation Condemns Court Ruling on Alaska’s North Slope Willow Project
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, released the following statements in response to an Order of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska scraping an essential permit for the Willow Project, a multi-billion dollar expansion of ConocoPhillips's oil and gas operations in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). The Willow Project was approved only after years of analysis and public input, including a robust environmental impact st… Continue Reading
08.17.21
Senator Murkowski Hosts Secretary of Energy in Alaska
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently hosted U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, in Alaska for a visit focused on the state's immense energy potential including a number of cutting-edge, Alaska driven initiatives. Senator Murkowski helped educate Secretary Granholm on an array of renewable energy projects within the state, including hydropower, wind energy, geothermal energy, and energy efficiency. "Alaska is leading the way when it comes to responsible energy development. The be… Continue Reading
08.16.21
Murkowski on Situation in Afghanistan
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement on Afghanistan: "I have been closely watching the rapidly deteriorating situation unfolding in Afghanistan. It is clear that conditions have quickly turned from a controlled withdrawal to a full-on emergency. I am gravely concerned for the Americans that remain on the ground, embassy staff, Afghans that have helped the U.S. Government, and the millions of innocent Afghans-particularly Afghan women and girls who are experiencing uni… Continue Reading
08.13.21
Murkowski Welcomes New Staff Members to D.C. and Anchorage Offices
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced new staff members to both her Washington D.C. and Anchorage offices. "I work hard every day to represent all Alaskans. Our state has so many unique and often challenging needs that must be met, so having a strong staff behind me that really understands Alaska is pivotal," said Senator Murkowski. "I'm proud to add a number of new individuals to my team-each of whom comes with a specific set of skills and experience that I'm confident will be of grea… Continue Reading
08.12.21
Murkowski Directs Significant Funding for Alaska
The Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations bills for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs; Energy and Water Development; and Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. As a senior member on the Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) worked to invest in programs and projects critical to Alaskans, including utilizing the opportunity to fund local projects through Congressionally Directe… Continue Reading
