05.07.20

Senators Introduce Legislation to Extend Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today introduced legislation to extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for an additional 5 years, ensuring these essential hospitals do not face further budget instability during such challenging times. Companion legislation to the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Extension Act of 2020 was introduced today by Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) and Representative Don Young (R-AK) in the … Continue Reading

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05.07.20

Senators Aim to Give States, Cities Greater Flexibility with COVID-19 Relief Funds

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) yesterday introduced the Coronavirus Relief Fund Flexibility Act, legislation that would allow the federal relief funds provided to local governments in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to be used to replace revenue shortfalls resulting from the pandemic. The legislation would apply retroactive… Continue Reading

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05.07.20

Feinstein, Murkowski Resolution Designating Women’s History Month Passes Senate

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) yesterday passed a resolution designating March as "National Women's History Month." Consideration of the resolution was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. "Women have made extraordinary contributions to our country and I'm proud to pass a resolution that celebrates them," Senator Feinstein said. "As we celebrate 100 years of women's suffrage this year, it's remarkable how far we've come. When I first arrived i… Continue Reading

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05.06.20

Alaska Delegation: Treasury to Disburse $4.8 Billion to Tribes

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today released the following statements after the U.S. Department of Treasury announced it will disburse 60 percent of the $8 billion set-aside for tribal assistance appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to the formula released by Treasury, $4.8 billion will be distributed among tribes based on population size, as determined by the Department of Housin… Continue Reading

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05.06.20

Senators Braun, Hoeven, Loeffler, and Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Protect Small Businesses from Tax Liability for PPP Loans

Last week, the IRS issued guidance (Notice 2020-32) that any expenses covered by forgivable portions of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan will not be considered a business deduction, effectively levying an unforeseen tax on small businesses, completely contrary to the original intent of the CARES Act. On Monday, U.S. Senator Braun along with Senator John Hoeven, Senator Kelly Loeffler, and Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced the Safeguarding Small Business Act to remove all tax liability a… Continue Reading

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05.05.20

Murkowski Honors National Day of Awareness on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Building on her years-long effort to shine a light on the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) in introducing a resolution to designate May 5 as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The resolution acknowledges the lack of data on the number of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women and calls upon Americans to commemorate the lives of those missing a… Continue Reading

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05.05.20

Alaska Delegation Reiterates Strong Support for Willow Project

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, this week wrote a letter urging the Department of the Interior to finalize the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for ConocoPhillips' Willow Master Development Plan in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). Below are excerpts from the delegation's letter: "There is no doubt the COVID-19 crisis has introduced challenges to business operations, but we understand BLM has been extraordinarily responsive to … Continue Reading

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05.04.20

Alaska Delegation Welcomes $20 Million USDA Purchase of Alaska Pollock

Today, the Alaska Congressional Delegation welcomed a $20 million purchase of Alaska Pollock by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Section 32 program. "The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chains and severely impacted industries throughout our economy, including Alaska's vibrant seafood sector," said the Alaska Congressional Delegation. "Food security across our country is essential in these unprecedented times. Alaska produces 60 percent of America's seafood, an… Continue Reading

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04.27.20

Murkowski Welcomes Affirmation of Commitment on BP-Hilcorp Sale

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement after BP reaffirmed its commitment to sell its Alaska assets to Hilcorp this year. "As Alaskans navigate unprecedented challenges during these uncertain times, it is welcome news to hear that one of the most important deals for the state's largest industry remains on track," Murkowski said. "BP has affirmed its commitment to complete the sale of its Alaska assets to Hilcorp, and Hilcorp has affirmed its commitment to the fu… Continue Reading

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04.27.20

Alaska Delegation Welcomes CARES Act Seasonal-Worker Rule Fix

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today welcomed a rule change released by the Treasury Department that enables seasonal businesses, to choose a different 12-week expense period when applying for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, a period that more accurately reflects their operating payroll. The Alaska Congressional Delegation has pressed the Trump administration for weeks, including in multiple conversations with President Trump and… Continue Reading

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04.25.20

Delegation Statement on Reductions in Alaska North Slope Production

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, released the following statement after Alyeska, the consortium that owns and operates the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, announced the temporary proration of North Slope crude oil production. "The impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and the oil price war have hit Alaska hard-prompting some difficult decisions. We have been in constant communication with Alyeska and our North Slope operators, and recognize this is… Continue Reading

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04.24.20

Murkowski Commends DOE’s Commitment to Advancing Nuclear Energy in the United States

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released its report outlining a number of activities to renew our nation's nuclear energy capabilities. "I welcome this report, which outlines key steps to move forward on nuclear energy. In order for the United States to have a viable nuclear energy industry and actually compete with countries like China and Russia, who are charging ahead, we need to step up. Expanding the globa… Continue Reading

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04.24.20

ICYMI: Alaska Delegation Speaks to Coronavirus Relief Eligibility of Alaska Native Corporations

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) this week penned an opinion editorial (Op-Ed) in the Anchorage Daily News to speak to the recent mischaracterizations of Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) and explain why ANCs are eligible for funding made available to tribes within the CARES Act. Read the Alaska Delegation's OpEd Below: During the last global pandemic, the 1918 Spanish flu, more people died per capita in Alaska than almost anywhere else in… Continue Reading

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04.22.20

Murkowski Joins Colleagues in Urging Loans to Protect American Energy Jobs

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, joined several of her Senate colleagues on a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell urging swift action to make loans accessible to domestic energy producers. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. led the effort. Below are excerpts from the letter: "We face a real and present danger of seeing hundreds, if not thousands of oil producers shuttering, an event that will profoundly and negatively impact the industry, its financ… Continue Reading

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04.21.20

Senate Passes Additional Coronavirus Relief Legislation

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, (both R-AK), today applauded unanimous Senate passage of a coronavirus relief package totaling $484 billion, which provides additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), COVID-19 testing, and added support for hospitals. The purpose of the majority of this funding is to provide a boost to programs that were previously authorized and funded from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act which was signed into law i… Continue Reading

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04.21.20

Alaska Delegation Celebrates Arrival of F-35s at Eielson AFB

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today welcomed the arrival of the first two F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to Eielson Air Force Base in Interior, Alaska. Fifty-four F-35As and roughly 1,300 personnel will be based at Eielson by the end of 2021. "The arrival of the first F-35s is truly an exciting day for our military, Interior Alaska, and for our state as a whole. This has been a long time effort by the Alaska Congressional Delegation… Continue Reading

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04.20.20

Alaska Delegation Urges Fast-Tracked Approval for Virtual SRS RAC Meetings

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Young, all R-Alaska, today sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue requesting that he allow Resource Advisory Committees (RACs) to meet virtually on an expedited timeline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is an excerpt from their letter: "Most RAC funding is used to improve natural resource and recreation infrastructure, which will be extremely important as Alaskans rally to salvage and restore our summer touri… Continue Reading

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04.17.20

Murkowski Joins Bipartisan Letter to HHS Secretary to Advocate for Relief for Senior Adult Communities and Health Care Workers

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) in a bipartisan letter, supported by 25 other Senators, to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to ensure that as HHS sets guidelines for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (PHSSEF), they not overlook certain health care providers. Specifically, their letter calls for HHS to not overlook the providers within nursing homes, skilled nursing centers, senior living communities, independent l… Continue Reading

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04.16.20

Murkowski Questions FCC Proposal to Open 6 GHz Spectrum

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow emergency responders and utilities to continue to have priority usage of the 6 Gigahertz (GHz) spectrum band. Murkowski's comments came in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. On April 1, the FCC published a draft rule to allow unlicensed devices to utilize the 6 GHz band, which is currently occupied by electric and natural gas utilities, along with other licensed users. "Allowing unlicensed devi… Continue Reading

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04.16.20

Alaska Delegation Responds to Slanderous Attacks on Assistant Secretary, Alaska Native Corporations

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young (all R-Alaska) today responded to misguided efforts seeking to prevent Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) from being eligible for tribal assistance appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The delegation also defended Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, Tara Sweeney, from baseless personal attacks over her status as an Alaska Native shareholder, which is part of… Continue Reading