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.
Delegation Welcomes Over $20 Million in Funding to Improve Rural Alaska Airport Infrastructure
Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, announced that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded over $20 million to the Robert Curtis Memorial Airport in Noorvik, and the Togiak Airport in Togiak Village. This funding was made available under the FAA's Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which allocates funding for airports to make capital improvements, enhance public safety, and restore aging or debilitated infrastructure. … Continue Reading
07.01.21
Murkowski Receives Congressional Award from Small Business Council of America
In recognition of her efforts to support small businesses, in Alaska and across the nation, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was presented the 38th Annual Congressional Award from the Small Business Council of America (SBCA). For over forty years, the SBCA has advocated for more than 100,000 privately-held and family-owned organizations on a number of issues, including employee benefits, taxes, and health care. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. And that backbone suffered a m… Continue Reading
06.28.21
Cantwell, Murkowski Introduce Bill to Incentivize Hydropower Upgrades, Restore River Flow
Last week, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced Senate Bill 2306, the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectric and River Restoration Act of 2021, that would create new federal tax incentives to encourage safety, environmental, and grid resiliency upgrades for hydropower dams. This will help ensure that existing hydroelectric facilities are able to continue to provide emissions-free, affordable electricity to millions of Pacific Northwest ratepayers. The bill wo… Continue Reading
06.26.21
VICE CHAIRMAN MURKOWSKI CONTINUES DIALOGUE ON KEY NATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE POLICIES
This week, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA), discussed important infrastructure development in Native communities with key tribal leaders and stakeholders during a SCIA roundtable on "Concrete Solutions: Building a Successful Foundation for Native Communities' Infrastructure Development." Murkowski began her remarks by discussing a virtual roundtable she previously hosted with members of the Association of Alaska Housing Authorities. … Continue Reading
06.25.21
Supreme Court Rules Alaska Native Corporations Eligible for CARES Act Tribal Relief
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today welcomed a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Yellen v. Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation that upholds the decades-long inclusion of Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) as "Indian tribes" under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDA)-also known as ISDEAA, confirming ANC eligibility for the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) tribal set-aside within Title V of the Coronav… Continue Reading
06.25.21
Murkowski, Klobuchar, McCollum, Young Address Enduring Public Health Issue
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Don Young (R-AK) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Advancing FASD Research, Services, and Prevention Act of 2021 (FASD Respect Act). The bill addresses prenatal substance exposure through early intervention-by providing support through programs and funding for prevention efforts and for individuals and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). FASDs inclu… Continue Reading
06.24.21
Senators’ Joint Statement & Framework on Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal
U.S. Senators Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.… Continue Reading
06.24.21
Murkowski Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators to Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Access to Telehealth Services
U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), and Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), led a bipartisan group of Senators - including Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) - in announcing the introduction of their Rural and Frontier Telehealth Expansion Act. This bipartisan legislation would increase Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funding for telehealth se… Continue Reading
06.23.21
Murkowski Outlines Concerns on Election Overhaul Bill
Prior to a failed procedural vote on the For the People Act, the election overhaul bill before the Senate, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) spoke on the Senate floor to express her concerns with the legislation. She noted some aspects of the bill she does support, such as allowing for early voting, easier voting registration, and no-excuse absentee voting, but that the bill overall contains provisions that go too far, are bad policy, or are simply beyond the power of Congress to regulate. Murk… Continue Reading
06.21.21
Murkowski Honored for Efforts to Support Tourism Industry
The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) presented U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) with the 2021 Global Travel Advocate Award for her efforts to support the travel and tourism industry-critical to Alaska's economy-as well as her efforts to keep travel agencies and businesses open through a number of provisions in multiple COVID-19 relief packages. On May 24, 2021, the President signed into law the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, led by Senator Murkowski and the rest of the Alaska Congre… Continue Reading
06.18.21
Murkowski, Smith Introduce Bill to Protect Children from Human Trafficking
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Tina Smith reintroduced legislation to help students, parents, teachers, and school personnel to understand, recognize, prevent, and respond to signs of human trafficking-the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act of 2021. The legislation would provide grants to non-profit organizations and schools to develop and implement age-appropriate, culturally competent, and gender-responsive curriculum, all while prioritizing geographic areas with the … Continue Reading
06.17.21
Murkowski Urges Senate to Pass VOCA Fix Act
Today, U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) spoke on the U.S. Senate floor, urging her colleagues to take up and pass the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act (VOCA Fix Act). In March 2021, Senator Lisa Murkowski joined her colleagues, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), in introducing critical legislation to strengthen the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) by re-… Continue Reading
06.16.21
Murkowski Presses Interior Secretary on Resource Development in Alaska
U.S. Senator Murkowski, Ranking member on the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, today raised Alaska specific priorities with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland during a hearing on the Interior Department's budget for Fiscal Year 2022. Building on a number of previous conversations with the Secretary, Senator Murkowski made very clear that Alaska has proven itself capable of safe, responsible resource development and pressed the Secretary on her commitment to following the law regardi… Continue Reading
06.16.21
Murkowski Raises Domestic Critical Mineral Supply Chain to Secretary of Energy
Today, during a U.S. Senate Energy Committee hearing on the Department of Energy's (DOE) budget, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined a number of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle in emphasizing to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm the importance of capitalizing on America's domestic energy and critical mineral supply chain. Senator Murkowski called on the Biden administration to pursue opportunities for domestic mining and production of critical minerals. Click here for video of… Continue Reading
06.15.21
Manchin, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Improve Efficiency, Reduce Carbon Footprint of Buildings
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Investing in New Strategies for Upgrading Lower Attaining Efficiency (INSULATE) Buildings Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide grants to states and territories, through the State Energy Program, to establish revolving loan funds for energy audits and efficiency upgrades, giving businesses and homeowners the resources they need to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and facilities. The bill would also pri… Continue Reading
06.15.21
Duckworth, Murkowski, Re-Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Coverage for Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors
U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today re-introduced legislation to ensure breast cancer patients and survivors who have experienced a mastectomy are able to access custom breast prosthetics under Medicare. The Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act of 2021 would provide coverage for custom fabricated breast prostheses-which, unlike other prosthetic devices, are not currently covered by Medicare-to the more than 100,000 women who undergo mastectomies annually. Senators Du… Continue Reading
06.12.21
HELP Committee Advances Legislation to Curb Child Abuse and Neglect
During a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Executive Session, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of S. 1927, Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) Reauthorization Act of 2021. The committee reported the bill favorably out of committee to the full Senate. This legislation provides key funding to States in support of prevention, assessment, prosecution, and treatment activities and also provides grants to public agencies and nonprofit organizations. … Continue Reading
06.11.21
Murkowski Announces Alaskan to Lead Indian Affairs Committee
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced that Kristi Nuna'q Williams is joining her team as Staff Director and General Counsel of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, of which Murkowski is Vice Chairman. Kristi Williams will be the first Alaskan to hold this position. Kristi previously served as Senator Murkowski's lead staff member on the Senator's work on the Committee, before working at the Department of the Interior, a national law firm specializing in tribal rights advocacy, and mos… Continue Reading
06.11.21
Alaska Delegation Responds to Biden Administration Actions to Suppress SE Alaska’s Economy
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Biden administration published its Agenda of Regulatory Actions calling for repeal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) final rule published in October 2020, "Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Alaska;" to exempt the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Rule. "In Southeast Alaska, where the Tongass makes u… Continue Reading
06.10.21
Bill to Boost Tech Competitiveness with China Passes Senate
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, previously known as the Endless Frontier Act, which passed the Senate in a 68-32 vote. The bipartisan legislation counters China by confronting the nation's economic and geopolitical power and invests in science, technology, and U.S. manufacturing, including reliable supply chains for critical minerals. The bill contains Arctic priorities championed by Senator Murkowski. To ensure that the United State… Continue Reading
