08.09.20

Murkowski Comments on Covid Relief

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today made the following statement after President Trump took executive action this weekend to extend federal unemployment benefits, defer payroll taxes, extend moratoriums on evictions, and defer student loan payments. "I'm disappointed that Congress could not reach an agreement this week to provide much needed relief to the American people, prompting the President to take these actions. These steps will help provide temporary relief to struggling Americans i… Continue Reading

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08.06.20

Murkowski Speaks on Alaska’s COVID-19 Heroes on the U.S. Senate Floor

During a speech on the U.S. Senator floor, U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) commended Alaska's unsung heroes of the COVID-19 response effort, including Alaska's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Anne Zink. CLICK HERE for video of Senator Murkowski's floor speech. SPEECH EXCERPTS: "There are many men and women across the country that are doing extraordinary work responding on the health side, as well as responding to the economic impact-the economic fallout-due to the COVID-19 pandemic." "As di… Continue Reading

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08.06.20

Murkowski Cosponsors Legislation to Provide Needed Certainty for Project Developers

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week cosponsored legislation introduced by Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, to reaffirm the Army Corps of Engineers' (Army Corps) Nationwide Permitting (NWP) program, including Nationwide Permit 12 (NWP-12). NWPs provide for expedited review of projects with minimal environmental impact but are threatened by a recent court ruling that could have significant economic consequences if left unaddressed. "The Army Corps has long used nationwide permits to au… Continue Reading

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08.05.20

Senators Stabenow, Murkowski Team Up to Reintroduce Bipartisan Food Supply Protection Act

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) reintroduced the Food Supply Protection Act to help protect the food supply after the COVID-19 crisis has put an unprecedented strain on farmers, workers, food banks, and families. "The COVID-19 crisis has continued to disrupt our nation's food supply chain, creating a ripple effect that's harming our families, farmers, and workers," said Senator Stabenow. "Our bipartisan bill will help strengthen our food supply by redirecti… Continue Reading

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08.05.20

Murkowski Convenes Hearing Focused on Latest Cyber Threats

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine federal and industry efforts to improve the cybersecurity of the energy sector, including efforts to improve collaboration on various cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection initiatives. In her opening remarks, Murkowski explained that cybersecurity must remain a priority even as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. "We all know the stakes here. A successful hack could shut down power - impacting … Continue Reading

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08.04.20

Senators Hassan, Braun, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Ensure Safety and Efficacy of Potential COVID-19 Vaccine

U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced bipartisan legislation to maintain critical safeguards to help assure the public that a potential COVID-19 vaccine that receives emergency use authorization is safe and effective. The Safe Authorization for Vaccines during Emergencies (SAVE) Act also aims to improve public confidence in a potential COVID-19 vaccine by increasing the transparency of the vaccine approval process. "As we work to get a poten… Continue Reading

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08.04.20

Murkowski Votes to Confirm Deputy Secretary of Energy

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after voting to confirm Mark Menezes to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE). The Senate confirmed Menezes through a bipartisan vote of 79-16. "Mr. Menezes has demonstrated that he has the knowledge and experience needed to succeed as Deputy Secretary of Energy and I congratulate him on his bipartisan confirmation," Murkowski said. "I am confident he will be a great second-in-command to Secretary Brouill… Continue Reading

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08.04.20

Murkowski on Rural Health and Telehealth Executive Order

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement after President Trump signed an Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access: "Improving access to quality, affordable health care has always been a priority of mine. For a rural state like Alaska, telehealth has been a crucial technology utilized in helping fill that gap and deliver care. I thank the Trump administration for taking these steps aimed at expanding telehealth and finding new ways of covering the co… Continue Reading

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08.04.20

ICYMI: Murkowski Speaks in Support of Mark Menezes

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday spoke on the Senate floor in support of the nomination of Mark Menezes to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy. Murkowski spoke just before the Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Menezes' nomination. That vote was successful - 78 to 14 - and a vote on final passage is scheduled for 11:30 am this morning. Click photo for video of Murkowski's floor statement Senator Murkowski's Remarks Mr. President, I've co… Continue Reading

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07.31.20

ICYMI: Murkowski Joins Heinrich, Daines Legislation To Extend Deadline For Tribes To Spend CARES Act Funding

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Steve Daines (R-MT) in introducing legislation that extends the coverage of Coronavirus Relief Fund payments allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to tribal governments from December 30, 2020, to December 30, 2022. The CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, allocated $8 billion for tribal governments under the Coronavirus Relief Fund. However, Indian Country did not… Continue Reading

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07.31.20

Indian Affairs Committee Advances Bills Focused on Health, Safety, Energy, and Cultural Repatriation

This week the Senate Indian Affairs Committee advanced four bills led by U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) - legislation to further uphold the Federal government's trust responsibilities to our nation's First Peoples, improve health care services, improve protections of Native American tangible culture heritage, and help tribal communities work with the Office of Indian Energy (OIE). The Committee advanced Murkowski's S. 2610, the Tribal Energy Reauthorization Act, legislation to reauthorize certai… Continue Reading

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07.30.20

Peters, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Effort to Support Veteran Workforce Development During COVID-19 Pandemic

U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced a bipartisan effort to support veteran workforce development during the COVID-19 pandemic. The senators introduced bipartisan legislation to extend GI Bill benefits for veterans whose registered apprenticeships were cut short or ended due to COVID-19. Currently, veterans must meet a minimum number of apprenticeship hours to receive their full Monthly Housing Allowance. However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many regis… Continue Reading

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07.30.20

Murkowski Joins Colleagues in Push to Aid the U.S. Postal Service

In an effort to help the United States Postal Service (USPS) overcome the detrimental impacts of COVID-19, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Doug Jones (D-AL), and Jon Tester (D-MT) as a cosponsor of S. 4174, the Postal Service Emergency Assistance Act. This legislation would provide USPS with up to $25 billion to help address revenue losses and cover operational expenses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemi… Continue Reading

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07.29.20

Murkowski, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Research and Development of Carbon Removal Technologies

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation, the Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise (CREATE) Act, which supports the development of innovative technologies that ensure cleaner air and a healthier environment. "Carbon removal technologies have significant promise and could someday present an opportunity to substantially reduce net levels of global greenhou… Continue Reading

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07.29.20

King, Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Enhance Testing, Tracing Protocols

U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have introduced legislation to establish a grant program through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help enhance coronavirus testing, contact tracing, and supported isolation efforts. The COVID-19 Testing, Reaching, And Contacting Everyone (TRACE) Act's grants could be used to support programs that use mobile health units or work through community-based organizations, provide coronavirus testing, conduct contac… Continue Reading

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07.28.20

Murkowski Joins Bennet, Young in Effort to Support Hard-Hit Businesses

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has worked well for many Alaskan businesses, but is often less effective for the businesses that should be receiving the most assistance - the smallest businesses or those who have seen revenues decline the most. Its limited duration will also leave many of the most-affected businesses without support in the difficult months ahead. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently joined Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) in cosponsoring the Revi… Continue Reading

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07.28.20

Murkowski Applauds Administration’s Actions to Address MMIW Crisis

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded the establishment of seven Cold Case Task Force offices across the nation, dedicated to solving cold cases involving missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. This week marked the opening of an office in Bloomington, Minnesota with an office scheduled to open in Anchorage, Alaska next month, on August 27. Other nationwide offices include: Rapid City, SD; Billings, MT, Albuquerque, NM, and Phoenix, AZ. Click here for more information.… Continue Reading

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07.27.20

Murkowski’s Mineral Bill Included in Recovery Legislation

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that her bipartisan American Mineral Security Act is included in new legislation to help the U.S. recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Murkowski's bill, which focuses on rebuilding domestic supply chains, addresses systemic weaknesses exposed by the pandemic and is critical to the future of U.S. manufacturing and competitiveness. "The COVID-19 pandemic has brought renewed attention to the fact that our nation is heavily dependent on imports … Continue Reading

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07.24.20

Shaheen, Murkowski Introduce New Legislation to Waive Provision in Law Preventing Smaller States from Accessing Necessary Financial Support for Community Services

U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation that would address the "maximum allotment" provision that is significantly limiting the amount of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act relief funds that can be awarded to smaller states through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program. The Senators' bill waives the provision for the purposes of the CARES Act and any future supplemental CSBG funding provided by Congress for the remai… Continue Reading

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07.24.20

Kaine, Murkowski, Sewell Introduce Legislation To Reduce Maternal And Infant Mortality, Address Racial Inequities In Maternal Health

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Mothers and Newborns Success Act, legislation to help reduce the egregious racial inequities in maternal and infant mortality. Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives today. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the maternal mortality rate for Black women in 2018 was more th… Continue Reading