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 Joins Senate Hearing On COVID-19 Vaccinations
In light of ongoing efforts to develop a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing entitled, "Vaccines: Saving Lives, Ensuring Confidence, and Protecting Public Health". At the hearing, witnesses discussed the importance of continuing to receive recommended vaccines during the coronavirus pandemic, including for influenza, as well as the need for ongoing vaccine research and developmen… Continue Reading
09.09.20
Sullivan, Murkowski & Young Welcome Major Tariff Relief for Alaska Fishermen
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today thanked President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for authorizing approximately $530 million for fishermen and the U.S. seafood industry impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments, including fishermen in Alaska. "Working alongside Alaska fishermen across our state, I have been relentlessly pushing the administration to ensure that our fishermen are provided relief fr… Continue Reading
09.09.20
Murkowski Announces Appointment of Special Counsel
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that Patrick J. McCormick III has returned to the staff of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where he will serve as Special Counsel. McCormick will provide counsel and advocacy on matters within the committee's jurisdiction especially as they bear on the security, adequacy, reliability, and affordability of the nation's energy supply and delivery infrastructure. "I'm very excited to have Pat back at the committee," Murkowski said. "H… Continue Reading
09.03.20
Murkowski Joins Van Hollen, Inhofe in Bipartisan Push to Expand Aviation Workforce Training
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined a bipartisan group of over twenty colleagues, led by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), in sending a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging the agencies to fully implement two aviation workforce grant programs authorized in the 2018 FAA Reauthorization bill that invest in and expand the development of the next generation of aircraft pilots and maintenance tec… Continue Reading
09.01.20
Alaska Delegation Urges Alaskans to Participate in the Census
As the deadline to participate in the 2020 Census rapidly approaches, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all (R-AK), are calling on Alaskans to do their part and participate. New data released by the Census Bureau shows Alaska's self-response rate remains ranked among the lowest in the nation, with only Puerto Rico at a lower self-response rate than Alaska. The deadline to participate in the 2020 Census questionnaire is September 30, 2020. "While we've all pu… Continue Reading
08.28.20
Alaska Delegation Applauds Opening of Cold Case Office in Anchorage
The Alaska Congressional Delegation, alongside other federal, state, tribal, and local leaders, helped kick off the opening of the Operation Lady Justice Task Force Cold Case Office in Anchorage. The office will be dedicated to solving cold cases involving missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Anchorage office is one of seven of its kind being established across the nation to handle such cold cases and will be staffed by law enforcement, tribal law enforcement, special ag… Continue Reading
08.28.20
Schatz, Murkowski, Spanberger, Wagner To Defense Secretary: Fight Online Child Sexual Exploitation, Protect Vulnerable Children, Punish Offenders
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Lisa Murkowsi (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Anne Wagner (R-Mo.) this week called for Defense Secretary Mark Esper to provide updates on how the Defense Department (DoD) is preventing and combating child sexual exploitation. Their call comes eight months after Senators Schatz and Murkowski's legislation to fight online child exploitation on the DoD's network was signed into law as Section 550D of the National Defense… Continue Reading
08.27.20
ICYMI: Murkowski Attends Opening of Cold Case Office In Anchorage
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined other federal, state, tribal, and local leaders, for the official opening off the Operation Lady Justice Task Force Cold Case Office in Anchorage. The new office, which will be dedicated to solving cold cases involving missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives, was secured through collaborative efforts between federal, state, local, and tribal leaders, including years of work by Senator Murkowski to address the nationwide crisis of missing… Continue Reading
08.26.20
Alaska Congressional Delegation Continues to Fight for Bypass Mail Program in Alaska
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Representative Don Young, all R-Alaska, issued the following statement after taking part in a call with U.S. Postmaster General DeJoy, regarding his previous statements on the Bypass Mail program, while testifying at a Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on August 21. "After a productive and educational meeting with Postmaster General DeJoy earlier this week, we are pleased to see that he has come to recognize the… Continue Reading
08.24.20
Alaska Congressional Delegation Announces Unemployment Assistance Relief Grant
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-AK), today announced that FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved the State of Alaska for a FEMA grant of $19,902,565 under the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program from the Disaster Relief Fund. The LWA funds are made available to states and territories, providing financial resources to help those who have lost work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are receiving unemployment benefits. This grant funding will allow the … Continue Reading
08.24.20
Senators Murkowski and Sullivan Comment on Army Corps Decision on Pebble Mine
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today released the following statements after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) announced that the Pebble mine project in southwest Alaska cannot be permitted as currently proposed. The Corps released its decision after finding the project would likely result in significant environmental degradation and have significant adverse effects on the Bristol Bay ecosystem. Senator Murkowski released the following statement: "I strong… Continue Reading
08.21.20
Alaska Delegation Responds to Postmaster General re: Bypass Mail Program
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, issued the following statement in response to the Postmaster General's testimony today regarding Alaska's bypass mail program: "We must be clear: the USPS is a vital lifeline to countless Alaskans, from our population centers to the farthest reaches of our vast state. Throughout the years, the Alaska delegation has defended mail delivery to rural Alaska. We've done it before and we'll do it again. Simply put, the bypass … Continue Reading
08.20.20
Alaska LNG Project Secures Final Authorization to Export Natural Gas
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today released the following statements after the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a final, unconditional order authorizing the Alaska LNG project to export liquefied natural gas (LNG). Murkowski participated in a video teleconference with DOE Deputy Secretary Mark Menezes, DOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steve Winberg, and Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) President Frank Richards to make the ann… Continue Reading
08.17.20
Major Milestone for Alaska’s 1002 Area: BLM Issues Record of Decision for Oil and Gas Program
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its Record of Decision (ROD) for an oil and gas program in the non-wilderness Coastal Plain (1002 Area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). "This is a capstone moment in our decades-long push to allow for the responsible development of a small part of Alaska's 1002 Area. I appreciate the significant work of Secretary Bernh… Continue Reading
08.14.20
Alaska Congressional Delegation Introduces Legislation to Support Economic Development for Alaska Native Communities
The Alaska Congressional Delegation introduced landmark legislation to make tax-exempt financing more accessible for the economic development projects of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Such financing, known as Tribal Economic Development, or TED Bonds, is currently available only on a limited basis that benefits only a limited number of tribal entities. The legislation evens the playing field by changing the rules for TED Bonds in several critical ways to make this tax-exempt financing muc… Continue Reading
08.14.20
Alaska Delegation Welcomes Final Environmental Impact Statement for Willow Project
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, issued the following statements on the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) final Environmental Impact Statement for the Willow Master Development Plan in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). "As Alaskans work to rebuild our economy, it's essential for significant projects to make steady progress through the permitting process," said Murkowski, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "Willow… Continue Reading
08.13.20
Senator Murkowski Comments on Governor Dunleavy Approving Extension of Federal UI Benefits for Alaskans
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement on Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy's authorization of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development to begin the FEMA application process and utilize state UI Trust Funds for an extension of federal unemployment insurance benefits. Alaskans who receive UI benefits will now be given a $300 weekly increase. "COVID-19 is an unprecedented situation which has created anxiety and stress on far too many individuals and famili… Continue Reading
08.13.20
Senator Murkowski Makes Statement on UAE-Israel Peace Agreement
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement regarding the President's announcement that the United States has brokered an agreement to normalize relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel: "The President arranging an agreement to normalize relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel is welcomed news. Establishing peace between two of the Middle East's most dynamic societies will increase their opportunities for economic development-including trade and to… Continue Reading
08.12.20
Braun, Murkowski, Perdue, and Scott Honor Essential Workers with Disabilities in Senate Resolution
U.S. Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), David Perdue (R-GA), and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced a Senate resolution recognizing the contributions of essential workers with disabilities to keep America running during the COVID-19 pandemic, and thanking them for continuing to provide vital services to Americans during these difficult times. This resolution comes as the United States commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and celebrates the vital con… Continue Reading
08.11.20
Schatz, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Group Of 48 Senators In Calling For Extension Of Census Deadlines To Give Census Bureau Enough Time For Full And Accurate Count Amid Delays Due To Pandemic
U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today led a group of 48 bipartisan senators in calling for the extension of the statutory deadlines for the delivery of apportionment data and redistricting files following the 2020 Census. The senators urged House and Senate leaders to include the extension in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package. "Extending the deadlines for the delivery of these files in the next COVID-19 relief package will ensure that the Census Bureau ha… Continue Reading
