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 Supports National Security Supplemental
Washington, DC - This evening, the Senate overwhelmingly passed H.R.815, the vehicle for a package of supplemental national security measures, through a bipartisan vote of 79-18. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voted for the package, which provides long-awaited support for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and Indo-Pacific allies while simultaneously rebuilding domestic defense capacities. “Despite my frustration and the real-world consequences of the delays associated with this critical assistan… Continue Reading
04.19.24
Murkowski Slams Biden Administration’s Decisions in Senate Floor Speech
Washington, DC - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) delivered a speech on the Senate Floor detailing the negative impacts of the Biden Administration’s decisions that will prevent responsible resource development in Alaska. The Department of the Interior (DOI) released a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) today for the Ambler Access Project (AAP), selecting the “no action” alternative to deny the project’s re-approval. DOI today also finalized its “Proposed Rul… Continue Reading
04.19.24
Delegation Slams Biden Decisions to Further Restrict, Deny Resource Development in Alaska
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) today slammed President Biden and his administration for making two more major adversarial decisions—on top of dozens of others over the past three years—that will prevent responsible resource development in Alaska. Earlier today, the Department of the Interior (DOI) released a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Ambler Access Project (AA… Continue Reading
04.18.24
Alaska Delegation Leads Effort to Delay Alaska Air National Guard Cuts, Protect Defense in the Arctic
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) today applauded the announcement that the Air National Guard will delay the implementation of full-time leveling actions in the state of Alaska that would impact or eliminate nearly 80 Active Guard Reserve positions and threaten the United States homeland defense mission in Alaska and beyond. The delay moves implementation from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, allow… Continue Reading
04.15.24
ICYMI: What Alaskans Are Saying About Investments Made Through FY24 Appropriations
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, announced significant investments for Alaskans for the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations package. The final package passed on March 23rd, 2024. Alaskans have expressed their appreciation for Senator Murkowski’s work to deliver these strategically targeted investments. What They’re Saying Anchorage: $2 million for the Alaska Rail… Continue Reading
04.15.24
Murkowski-Led Update to WIC Food Package Brings Healthy Alaskan Salmon to America’s Children and Mothers
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today applauded the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for including Alaska salmon into more Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages. Murkowski has advocated for expanded inclusion of healthy, nutritious Alaskan salmon in WIC food packages since 2014, when the process to update WIC food packages began. “It is great news for America’s mothers and their children who rely on WIC that the USDA is including… Continue Reading
04.11.24
Alaska Congressional Delegation selects Julie Kitka to lead Denali Commission
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) and Representative Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) today announced that they have passed along their recommendation for Julie Kitka to serve as the Denali Commission Federal Co-Chair. If approved, Kitka would replace Jocelyn Fenton who started serving in the role of Interim Federal Co-Chair on March 6, 2024. “Alaskans know what Julie Kitka can deliver when she’s taking the lead,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “For 33 years, she served as the … Continue Reading
04.09.24
Murkowski and Sullivan Welcome Significant Investments to Make Rural Alaska More Resilient
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) welcomed the United States Department of Transportation’s announcement of over $50 million in grants for the state of Alaska through the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROJECT) program. These grants are part of the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act, and aim to bolster community resilience efforts, secure funding for at-risk coastal infrastructure, as… Continue Reading
04.03.24
Alaska Delegation Continues to Make the Case Against Proposed NPR-A Rule
Anchorage, AK—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) and U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) today released a letter they sent to Secretary Deb Haaland last week, urging the Department of the Interior (DOI) to withdraw a misguided rule targeting the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). In their letter, the delegation called attention to four recent developments that “reinforce why DOI must change its approach and withdraw this unlawful rule”: 1. … Continue Reading
04.02.24
Murkowski, Sullivan Applaud Implementation of Cold Weather Pay for Alaska Air and Space Forces
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) applauded the implementation of cold weather special duty pay for Air and Space Forces service members based in certain locations, including Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, and Clear Space Force Station in Anderson. This announcement, effective April 1, 2024, follows two letters sent by Senators Murkowski and Sullivan and the North Dakota Senate delegation in M… Continue Reading
03.27.24
Murkowski Announces Tongass National Forest providing the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski joined the U.S. Forest Service in announcing that the Alaska Region of the Forest Service, which features the Tongass and Chugach National Forests, has been selected to provide the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. An annual symbol of hope and celebration, the tree offers an opportunity to showcase Alaska's majestic landscape, unique culture, rich traditions, diverse ecosystems, and abundant resources. The tree will symbolize Alaskans’ connection to the lands t… Continue Reading
03.23.24
Murkowski Announces Significant Investments for Alaska in Final FY 2024 Appropriations Package
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced more wins for Alaska within the second (and final) package of appropriations bills for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. Earlier this morning, the Senate passed H.R. 2882, the vehicle for those appropriations bills, by a vote of 74-24. The package contains the FY 2024 bills for Defense; Financial Services and Genera… Continue Reading
03.22.24
Alaska Delegation Secures Funding for Commercial Icebreaker
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) and Representative Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) today announced they have successfully secured federal funding for the purchase of a Commercially Available Icebreaker. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Homeland Security Appropriations Act includes $125 million to purchase the icebreaker. The delegation has also secured commitments from the Coast Guard that the icebreaker will be homeported in Juneau, Alaska to afford the vessel gr… Continue Reading
03.20.24
Murkowski Welcomes More Than 40 Awards for Climate Projects in Tribal Communities Across Alaska
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today welcomed the announcement of more than $30.4 million for 42 climate resilience projects in tribal communities in Alaska. These awards, made through funding provided by Congress through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and the annual appropriations process, will help tribal communities across the state adapt and bolster their resilience to climate change. “The se… Continue Reading
03.18.24
Murkowski Announces Longtime Alaskan Garrett Boyle as Chief of Staff
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced that Garrett Boyle will be returning to her Washington, D.C. office as Chief of Staff. He will replace the departing Chief of Staff, Kaleb Froehlich. “I am very pleased to announce Garrett Boyle as my new Chief of Staff, and welcome him back to my team” said Senator Murkowski. “His strong background in rural development and policy issues on both the federal and state side make him uniquely qualified to serve in this new role. Having … Continue Reading
03.13.24
Murkowski Announces Big Wins for Alaska in Six-Bill Appropriations Package
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced big wins for Alaska within H.R. 4366, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024. The measure combines six of Congress’ 12 funding bills for Fiscal Year (2024) and passed the Senate on Friday evening through a bipartisan vote of 75-22. “After months of unnecessary delay, Congress has finally taken a big ste… Continue Reading
03.11.24
ICYMI: Biden Targets Alaska’s Petroleum Reserve
Washington, DC -The Hill recently published an opinion piece from Alaska’s bipartisan congressional delegation, outlining how the Biden administration is targeting the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A) with sweeping restrictions that are designed to prevent future development. The delegation argues these restrictions are unfair, unlawful, and will hurt Alaska’s economy and West Coast energy security while doing nothing to address climate change. Despite this, the Biden administration’s … Continue Reading
03.08.24
Murkowski urges movement on Dr. Mike Sfraga’s nomination for Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus, appeared in front of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to urge the committee to move on Dr. Mike Sfraga’s nomination for Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic region. Senator Murkowski was the lead proponent on the creation of the position, which the State Department established in August 2022. Dr. Sfraga was nominated to the ambassadorship on February 13, 2023. “As Senator to the only Arcti… Continue Reading
03.06.24
Murkowski, Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Require Transparency in Political Ads with AI-Generated Content
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the bipartisan AI Transparency in Elections Act to require disclaimers on political ads with images, audio, or video that are substantially generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The legislation requires political ads created or altered by AI to have a disclaimer, except when AI is used for only minor alterations, such as color editing, cropping, resizing, and other immaterial uses. The bill also requires the Federal Ele… Continue Reading
03.05.24
Murkowski, Sullivan, and Colleagues Urge Service Secretaries to Implement Cold Weather Pay for Servicemembers
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led a group of her Senate colleagues in two letters urging U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth to begin implementing the cold weather special duty pay for servicemembers based in certain locations, a provision Senator Murkowski led in the Fiscal Year 2023 NDAA aimed at addressing mental health in the military. The letter was also signed by Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).… Continue Reading
