05.27.20

As COVID-19 Death Toll Reaches 100,000 In U.S. Senators Call For National Moment Of Silence To Honor The Lives Lost

As more Americans tragically lose their fight to the COVID-19 pandemic and the death toll reaches 100,000, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) renewed their calls to pay tribute to the victims of COVID-19 with a moment of silence at 12 noon on Monday, June 1, 2020. Last week, the senators introduced legislation calling for a moment of silence. "The nation must mark this dark moment with unity and clarity," said … Continue Reading

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05.26.20

Senator Murkowski Shares Memorial Day Message

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following message in observance of Memorial Day. (Click here to watch video.) "For Alaskans, Memorial Day is typically our big kick-off for summer, with sunlight nearly all day and a long weekend to enjoy the great outdoors with our friends and family. It is also a day of tradition and ceremony as we honor the fallen who have served our nation. "This year is different for us as many of our Memorial Day ceremonies are cancelled or as we follow … Continue Reading

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05.22.20

Senator Murkowski Honors Alaska’s Class of 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life for all Alaskans, particularly our graduating seniors. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski has worked hard to send the message to graduates that while the end of their senior year and their graduation ceremony were not what they expected, she is very proud of their accomplishments, wants them to be recognized, and believes in their ability to build a bright future for Alaska. To further highlight Alaska's graduates and honor their hard work and this significant … Continue Reading

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05.22.20

Schatz, Murkowski, Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Expand Telehealth, Help More People Receive Health Care

U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Angus King (I-Maine), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Health Care Broadband Expansion During COVID-19 Act. The new bipartisan bill directs $2 billion to help health care providers increase their broadband capacity and expand telehealth services during the current public health crisis. "During this pandemic, telehealth services ar… Continue Reading

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05.21.20

Murkowski, Collins, and Tillis Urge Regulatory Relief for Renewable Energy Industry

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today led a group of senators in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urging additional regulatory relief for companies utilizing the energy investment tax credit (ITC) and production tax credit (PTC). Senators Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., also signed the letter. "At a time when the renewable energy industry is facing significant challenges, these steps will help protect American jobs and provide investor certainty as w… Continue Reading

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05.21.20

Senators Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill To Secure Funding For Rural Health Providers During The Covid-19 Pandemic

Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced the bipartisan Save Our Rural Health Providers Act which creates a new formula to ensure the Provider Relief Fund has a dedicated set-aside amount directed towards rural areas of America. Representatives Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM-02) and Jim Hagedorn (R-MN-01) will introduce the House of Representatives companion bill tomorrow. Formula Guidelines: A 20 percent Rural Benchmark in the Provide… Continue Reading

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05.21.20

Delegation: FERC Approval is Major Milestone for Alaska LNG Project

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today released the following statements after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation authorization to construct and operate the Alaska LNG project. "This is a capstone moment for Alaska LNG at the federal level, and it is the result of a robust and comprehensive review process," Murkowski said. "A final FERC certificate and order are immensely valuable assets … Continue Reading

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05.20.20

Murkowski: Menezes is a Great Choice for Deputy Secretary of Energy

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a full committee hearing to consider the nomination of Mark Menezes to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE). The Senate confirmed Menezes as Under Secretary for Energy by voice vote in November 2017. "As Under Secretary, Mr. Menezes helped create the Department's new cybersecurity office and has been responsible for many programs that are key to fostering energy innovation, including nuclear energy, fossil energy, and energy eff… Continue Reading

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05.20.20

Gillibrand, Murkowski Urge Congress To Prioritize Impact Aid Funding In Next Coronavirus Relief Package

U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led a bipartisan group of senators urging Congress to prioritize Impact Aid funding for federally impacted schools in the next coronavirus relief package. Federally impacted school districts educate some of the most vulnerable student populations - including Native American and military connected children and children living in federal low-rent housing - and rely on Impact Aid for resources. As these school districts struggle to r… Continue Reading

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05.19.20

Senators Urge Congressional Leaders to Support Vulnerable Students Amid Coronavirus Crisis

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Jon Tester (D-MT), in leading a bipartisan group of 40 senators, pressing congressional leadership to include in the upcoming coronavirus relief package significant funding for the Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO), which are integral to supporting vulnerable students and their families that have been impacted by the virus. The senators' letter comes as the economic fallout of the coronavirus c… Continue Reading

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05.19.20

Murkowski, Manchin, Udall to Vice President Pence: Secure PPE, Testing for Firefighters

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, and Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence urging the Coronavirus Task Force to help secure personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing kits for firefighters and federal law enforcement personnel tasked with wildfire response. Below are excerpts from the letter: "Peak fire season comes closer every day. However, it is our understanding that the supply of PPE in the Federal interagency inventori… Continue Reading

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05.18.20

Senators Propose $1.07 Billion to Assist Families, Youth, and Children in Crisis as a Result of COVID-19

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) are calling on the Senate to provide support for children, youth, and families in crisis or experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senators today sent a letter to Senate leadership, asking for dedicated funding to be included in future coronavirus relief in order to meet the unique and complex needs of homeless youth and families through the programs and systems that are b… Continue Reading

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05.18.20

Casey, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Aid Domestic Violence Prevention and Support Programs During COVID-19 Pandemic

At a time when organizations supporting survivors of family, domestic and dating violence are seeing an increase in need for services, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Protect Our Women and Waive Emergency Requirements (POWER) Act. The POWER Act would temporarily waive the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) requirement that organizations must match federal funding amounts through cash or in-kind donations. This bill is especially important … Continue Reading

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05.18.20

Alaska Delegation Applauds Homeland Security Rule Creating Flexibility for Seafood Industry

The Alaska Congressional Delegation today applauded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's announcement that it is implementing a temporary rule that will give seafood processors more flexibility to hire workers in H-2B status during the COVID-19 pandemic. This action creates parity with the H-2A program, which was granted similar temporary flexibility in April of 2020. The recently published rule will allow companies that are critical to the U.S. food supply to hire current visa holders alr… Continue Reading

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05.15.20

Murkowski Welcomes Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, welcomed the Department of Energy's (DOE) launch of an Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) within its Office of Nuclear Energy. The ARDP will partner with private industry to help demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors in the United States. "Over the past several years, I have worked with my Senate colleagues to develop a pathway for these important clean energy systems and have pushed my Nuclear Energy Leadership Act to reposition us as the undispu… Continue Reading

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05.15.20

ICYMI: Murkowski Delivers Speech to Alaska Graduates

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic drastically changing graduation ceremonies across the state, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski delivered a commencement speech in honor of Alaska's Class of 2020, which was livestreamed on her Facebook and Twitter accounts. Click here to watch the video. Speech Excerpts: "Who could have imagined that your graduation ceremony would be virtual or maybe that you wouldn't have one at all. That most of your last semester in school would not be spent with your classm… Continue Reading

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05.15.20

Senators Lead Bipartisan Request for Additional Measures to Ease Borrowing Costs for State and Local Governments Fighting COVID-19

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) co-signed a letter, led by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), asking Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Jerome Powell, to consider additional measures to ease the borrowing costs for state and local governments fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter was also signed by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). "State and local governments are on the frontlines in the fight against C… Continue Reading

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05.15.20

Senate Passes Legislation to Protect Civil Liberties and National Security

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after voting in favor of the USA Freedom Reauthorization Act, which passed the Senate in a 80-16 vote: "Even though the FISA Reauthorization did not go as far as I would like in terms of protecting Americans' civil liberties, it is an improvement over current law. The Inspector General report released in December detailed serious flaws and abuses taking place in the FISA application process that should concern every citizen of th… Continue Reading

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05.14.20

Never Again Education Act En Route to the President’s Desk

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, welcomed the Senate's passage of H.R. 943, the Never Again Education Act, which will help raise awareness of the Holocaust by providing educational resources for teachers and students. "The Holocaust is a scourge in world history, when racism and intolerance led to the murder of over 11 million people because of their Jewish heritage, ethnicity, religious or political views, and other differences," Murkowski said. "More than 70 years later, we have seen a re… Continue Reading

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05.13.20

Murkowski and Colleagues Push for More Support for Child Care Providers

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), alongside Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and 19 of their Republican and Democratic colleagues, are calling on the Senate to provide additional support to child care workers and providers across the country. In a letter to Senate leaders, the senators write: "…it is critical we provide additional support for the child care sector to ensure providers can maintain operations and continue to meet the needs of … Continue Reading