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.
Manchin, Murkowski Call for Bipartisan Reauthorization of Voting Rights Act
Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23) urging them to advance the bipartisan reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act through regular order. "Since enactment, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been reauthorized and amended five times with large, bipartisan majorities. Most r… Continue Reading
05.14.21
Alaska Congressional Delegation Applauds Historic USDA Purchase of Seafood for Food Assistance Programs
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, applauded the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) approval of a Section 32 purchase of up to $159.4 million in domestically produced seafood, fruits, legumes, and nuts for distribution to food assistance programs in Alaska and across the country. "Whether it is farmers, ranchers, food workers, seafood harvesters or others, the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for Alaska's farm and… Continue Reading
05.14.21
Vice Chairman Murkowski Emphasizes Importance of the Tourism Industry to Alaska Native Communities
This week, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, underscored the importance of tourism to Alaska Native communities and the entire Alaskan economy at a hearing, "Examining the COVID-19 Response in Native Communities: Native Tourism Economies One Year Later." "Native Tourism touches on so many extraordinary aspects of Indian Country and our Alaska Native communities, of Native Hawaiians: vibrant cultures and languages, economic empowerment, resil… Continue Reading
05.13.21
Murkowski, Sullivan Successful in Push to Provide Economic Recovery Opportunity for Small Business Owners and Alaskan Communities
This afternoon the U.S. Senate passed S. 593, the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act (ATRA), legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). The bill provides a way for cruise ships to bring passengers to Alaska, despite the Canadian prohibition on passenger vessels traveling through Canadian waters en route to Alaska. It will give Alaskans, small business owners, and Alaska's statewide economy an opportunity to have some semblance of a tourist season. Bo… Continue Reading
05.13.21
Murkowski Blue Economy Bill Advances in Senate
Yesterday the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee advanced Senator Murkowski's (R-AK) bipartisan bill with U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)-both co-chairs of the Senate Oceans Caucus-which invests in data collection and monitoring in support of America's blue economy. The Bolstering Long-Term Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries Act, or BLUE GLOBE Act, harnesses innovation, takes action to strengthen the federal maritime work… Continue Reading
05.12.21
Murkowski, Sullivan Urge U.S. and Canada Leaders to Advance Efforts to Resume Cruise Ship Industry Operations to Alaska
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Senator Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) called on the United States and Canada to address the urgent need to advance efforts to address Canada's recent cruise ship ban and the negative impacts it will have on Alaska's economy. Senators Murkowski and Sullivan wrote letters urging Canada to reconsider the prohibition for passenger vessels in Canada's ports and waters, and calling on the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to accept technical stops in Canada t… Continue Reading
05.12.21
Murkowski Joins Rubio, Senate Republicans In Urging POTUS To Stand With Israel And To Not Provide Iran With Sanctions Relief
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined 43 Republican colleagues in a letter, led by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), urging President Joe Biden to stand with our closest ally in the region, Israel. As Israel is under attack from Iranian-back terrorists, the Biden Administration is negotiating and potentially offering sanctions relief to Iran, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. The Senators called on President Biden to immediately end negotiations with Iran, and make clear that sanctio… Continue Reading
05.12.21
Murkowski Introduces Strategic Energy and Minerals Initiative
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Strategic Energy and Minerals Initiative (SEMI) Act, which enables U.S. companies to better compete in global markets by promoting the responsible, domestic production of oil, gas, and minerals. The bill positions the United States to compete in global energy and critical mineral markets by supporting an all-of-the-above energy strategy, pushing back against multilateral development banks restricting fossil fuel and coal development, and promotin… Continue Reading
05.12.21
Murkowski Presses CDC Officials on Frustrations over Mask Mandates on Fishing Vessels and Guidance for Resuming Cruise Ships
In a U.S. Senate HELP Committee hearing focused on the federal government's COVID response efforts, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) pressed CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to implement common sense, safety-focused face mask standards for fishing vessels. Senator Murkowski also spoke to the negative repercussions to Alaska's tourism industry and overall economy due to the CDC's inefficiency in finalizing guidance for cruise ship companies to resume operations in U.S. waters. Click here for v… Continue Reading
05.07.21
Murkowski Works to Improve Access to Rural Health Care For New & Expecting Moms
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently joined U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) in introducing bipartisan legislation that would help ensure that new and expecting moms living in rural communities get the care they need. More than half of rural counties nationwide lack hospitals with labor and birthing services, and the disparity in access to care and worse health outcomes disproportionally affects people of color. Rural counties with more Black residents are at greater risk of losing their l… Continue Reading
05.06.21
Murkowski Recognizes National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls
The U.S. Senate previously passed by unanimous consent S.Res.196, a resolution cosponsored by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recognizing today, May 5, 2021 as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls (MMIWG). Yesterday, Senator Murkowski joined the Kenaitze Tribe and members of the Kenai community for a prayer vigil honoring missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, their families, and the communities who have fallen victim to the crisis. "My… Continue Reading
05.03.21
Murkowski Responds to CDC’s Clarified Guidelines for U.S. Cruise Industry
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) clarified several requirements in its Framework for Conditional Sailing Order, which outlined the guidelines that cruise companies must adhere to in order to resume operations in U.S. waters. "Alaska's economy has been decimated by the damage caused by COVID-19 travel restrictions. The 2020 summer season was nearly non-existent, and Alaskans who rely on tourism and cruis… Continue Reading
05.01.21
ICYMI: Murkowski Continues Fight to Restore Alaska’s Economy
The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated Alaska's tourism industry. The lack of cruise ship passengers traveling to the state has severely impacted Alaskans, small business owners, and Alaska's economy overall. In support of struggling Alaskans, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) this week spoke on the U.S. Senate floor to urge her colleagues to consider and pass S. 593, the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act (ATRA), legislation she introduced, with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) as a cosponsor. Their bill … Continue Reading
04.30.21
Murkowski Joins Introduction of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) in introducing the bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to protect pregnant workers and new mothers from workplace discrimination. This legislation, which is closely modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), would require employers with 15 or more employees to make reasonable accommodations to allow employees who are pregnant, ha… Continue Reading
04.30.21
Murkowski, Sullivan Speak on Alaska Tourism Restoration Act
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-AK, spoke on the Senate floor to urge their Senate colleagues to consider and pass S. 593, the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act (ATRA). Their bill works to provide a path forward for communities who rely on tourism by temporarily alleviating the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) restrictions for cruise ships transporting passengers between the State of Washington and the State of Alaska. Their bill would allow cruise ships to sail to Alaska … Continue Reading
04.29.21
Murkowski Introduces Bill to Protect America’s Electric Grid
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)-with colleagues Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), James Risch (R-ID), Angus King (I-ME), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV)-reintroduced S. 1400, the Protecting Resources On The Electric grid with Cybersecurity Technology (PROTECT) Act, which enhances electric grid security by incentivizing electric utilities to make cybersecurity investments. The bill also establishes a Department of Energy (DOE) grant and technical assistance program to deploy advanced cybersecurity technolog… Continue Reading
04.28.21
Murkowski’s Response to President Biden’s Address
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) tonight released the following statement after President Joe Biden delivered his first address before a joint session of Congress: "This evening, President Biden formally spoke to Congress for the first time. It was an opportunity for the President to lay out his administration's priorities and his vision to support the nation's continued recovery from the COVID pandemic. "The pandemic has taken an unprecedented toll on our country. Alaskans understand that … Continue Reading
04.28.21
Murkowski Fights Back on Administration’s Efforts to Pause Oil and Gas Leasing on Public Lands, Public Land Orders
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing that evaluated the status of the Department of the Interior's onshore oil and gas leasing program pause and review. During the hearing, Senator Murkowski questioned Nada Culver, Deputy Director of Policy and Programs at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on a number of issues critical to Alaska, including the Willow project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) and Public Land Orde… Continue Reading
04.26.21
Murkowski, Casey Introduce Bill to Support Survivors of Domestic Violence
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Bob Casey (D-PA) recently introduced S.1275, legislation to improve the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA). This legislation would enhance and expand support, protection, and prevention for Americans affected by family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. Through FVPSA, survivors receive services such as emergency shelter, crisis counseling, safety planning, and assistance recovering from financial abuse and housin… Continue Reading
04.23.21
Murkowski Announces Strategic Energy and Minerals Initiative
In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced her legislative efforts to enable U.S. companies to better compete in global markets by promoting the responsible, domestic production of oil, gas, and minerals. The Strategic Energy and Minerals Initiative (SEMI) Act will position the United States to compete in global energy and critical mineral markets by supporting an all-of-the-above energy strategy, pushing back against multilateral development banks restricting … Continue Reading
