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.
Congressional Delegation Applaud Milestone in Port of Nome Expansion Project
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), today applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ announcement of a Project Partnership Announcement (PPA) for the Port of Nome expansion project, which includes the construction of a new deep-water basin. The PPA, which legally binds the Government and the State of Alaska to execute the project, was marked by a signing ceremony held in Nome. $250 million through the bipar… Continue Reading
01.19.24
Alaska Congressional Delegation Introduces Legislation to Settle Cape Fox’s Land Entitlement
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK), and Representative Mary Peltola (D-AK), introduced legislation to settle Cape Fox’s remaining land entitlement under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). The measure has the support of a wide coalition of communities in Southeast, Alaska. The legislation waives an existing statutory requirement that would compel Cape Fox Corporation, an Alaska Native Corporation for the Village of Saxman, to use a portion … Continue Reading
01.17.24
Murkowski, Padilla Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Today, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) through Fiscal Year 2028. The bill would authorize a total of $175.4 million per year from FY 2024-2028 across the four federal agencies responsible for long-term earthquake risk reduction under NEHRP: the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Nati… Continue Reading
01.12.24
DHS Awards University of Alaska Anchorage $46M to Launch Center of Excellence for Homeland Security in the Arctic
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), welcomed the announcement that the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) was selected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to lead a consortium of U.S. academic institutions and other partners for a new Center of Excellence focused on Arctic research. The Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC-ARCTIC) will be awarded $46 million over a 10-year period to provide research… Continue Reading
12.22.23
Murkowski Welcomes Closure of Loophole in Russia Seafood Ban
Anchorage, Alaska - Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today released the following statement after President Joe Biden signed a new Executive Order, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury released new guidance and determinations, clarifying and affirming the U.S. prohibition on Russian-origin seafood imports regardless of where processing occurs. “In the midst of a truly difficult time for Alaska’s fishermen, these are stabilizing steps that will help end Russia’s evasion of sanctions and … Continue Reading
12.22.23
Alaska Delegation Continues Push for Federal Re-Approval of the Ambler Access Project
Anchorage, Alaska— U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) today sent a letter to Secretary Deb Haaland expressing their disappointment and frustration with the Department of the Interior’s (Department) politicization and continued delay of the Ambler Access Project (AAP), which is needed to facilitate road access to the world-class Ambler Mining District in northwest Alaska. The delegation’s letter coincides with the closure o… Continue Reading
12.20.23
Alaska Delegation Calls on Postal Regulatory Commission to Reject Unjust Postal Rate Increases for Alaskans
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) called on the Postal Regulatory Commission to reject consideration of the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) proposal to establish higher postal rates for mail delivered to the non-contiguous United States. In a letter sent today that was signed by the Alaska and Hawaiian Congressional delegations as well as delegates from each of the U.S. territories, the members of Congress warned that … Continue Reading
12.19.23
Senators Murkowski, Duckworth, Moran, and Rosen Lead Bill to Support Military Spouses and Families
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) introduced READINESS Act - legislation that supports military and foreign service spouses and their families by creating more job flexibility when a servicemember is deployed or transferred. The bill, which was developed by current and former federally employed military spouses, aims to encourage the retainment of military spouses across the federal governmen… Continue Reading
12.18.23
Murkowski, Hickenlooper Legislation to Expand Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Programs Passes HELP Committee
A negotiated version of U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and John Hickenlooper’s bipartisan Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Support Act passed out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee as a provision within the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act. More and more studies have highlighted the impact that peer-to-peer programs have in addressing mental health in youth. In Alaska, schools and … Continue Reading
12.15.23
Landmark: “Landless” Legislation Passes Committee for First Time in History
Washington, DC - For the first time ever, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has favorably reported a bill to right a historical injustice made when five Alaska Native communities were omitted from the 1971 settlement of indigenous claims in Alaska. The bill, the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act, amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) to grant the Alaska Native communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersbur… Continue Reading
12.14.23
Murkowski: Defense Authorization Bill Invests in Alaska Defense Capabilities, Bolsters Arctic Security, Supports Servicemembers
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voted in favor of the conference report for H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), supporting its passage in the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 87-13. The conference report passed the House Thursday morning by a vote of 310-118, and will now go to the President’s desk to be signed into law. This year’s NDAA authorizes $886 billion for national defense and border security, provides servicemembers with a 5.2 per… Continue Reading
12.13.23
Senator Murkowski secures key legislative wins in fight against opioids and fentanyl
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) secured several key provisions in legislation crafted to combat the opioid crisis in America. During yesterday’s Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing, Senator Murkowski supported the inclusion of several critical pieces of legislation in the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities, otherwise known as the SUPPORT Act. The SUPPORT Act passed through committee on a 19-1 … Continue Reading
12.13.23
Murkowski Joins Colleagues in Bipartisan Push Condemning United Nations’ Inaction on Hamas’s Sexual Violence Against Women
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) joined 30 of Senate colleagues in a letter condemning the inaction of the United Nations (UN) regarding Hamas’s widespread sexual violence, including mass rape and mutilation, against women in Israel on October 7, 2023. The Senators urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to open an independent investigation into Hamas’s acts of sexual violence and to hold the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) -- the organization dedi… Continue Reading
12.11.23
Schatz, Murkowski Lead Oversight Hearing On Federal Resources To Address Fentanyl In Native Communities
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, led an oversight hearing titled, “Fentanyl in Native Communities: Federal Perspectives on Addressing the Growing Crisis,” a continuation of the Committee’s oversight work on fentanyl. “Our hearing last month was important - not just for our work in this Committee and Congress, but also for the Executive Branch - to better understa… Continue Reading
12.07.23
Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce Congressional Review Act to Overturn EPA Avgas Regulations and Support Alaska Aviation
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution disapproving of the Environmental Protection Act’s (EPA) recent finding requiring the EPA to regulate the use of leaded avgas for aircraft pursuant to the Clean Air Act—an effort that ignores Alaska’s unique geographic reliance on aviation, and will cause real harm to indigenous and rural communities across the state by potentially increasing fuel costs and impacting flight availa… Continue Reading
11.30.23
$131 Million More in Infrastructure Funds to Support Rural Ferry Service
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today announced the Federal Transit Administration is awarding $131 million more in bipartisan infrastructure investments to support the Alaska Marine Highway System’s operations and recapitalize portions of the fleet. In January, Senator Murkowski announced $285 million in infrastructure funding to improve the reliability and service Alaska’s ferry system—an announcement she marked as a “big fat deal” for Alaska and… Continue Reading
11.30.23
$131 Million More in Infrastructure Funds to Support Rural Ferry Service
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today announced the Federal Transit Administration is awarding $131 million more in bipartisan infrastructure investments to support the Alaska Marine Highway System’s operations and recapitalize portions of the fleet. In January, Senator Murkowski announced $285 million in infrastructure funding to improve the reliability and service Alaska’s ferry system—an announcement she marked as a “big fat deal” for Alaska and… Continue Reading
11.27.23
Schatz, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan National Native American Heritage Month Resolution
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), vice chairman of the Committee, led passage of a Senate resolution recognizing November 2023 as National Native American Heritage Month. “In November we celebrate Native American Heritage Month to recognize American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian peoples and their diverse cultures, achievements, and contributions to the United States,” said Chairman … Continue Reading
11.17.23
Alaska Senate Delegation Welcomes $22 Million for Alaska Waste and Recycle Infrastructure
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska) welcomed the announcement of $22.4 million in in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grants from the bipartisan infrastructure law for Alaska. This funding will support Alaska’s solid waste infrastructure for recycling, trash processing, and solid waste collection. “The bipartisan infrastructure law continues to bring home significant investments that support Alaska’s infrastructure, and these awards to … Continue Reading
11.16.23
Murkowski Reintroduces Resolution Calling on U.S. Senate to Ratify Law of the Sea
Washington, DC - Yesterday, on the 29th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) entering into force, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced a resolution calling on the U.S. Senate to ratify UNCLOS. UNCLOS, which has been ratified by 168 nations and the European Union, details the rights and responsibilities of countries regarding the world’s oceans, including guidelines for businesses and the management of marine natural resources, and provides a legal … Continue Reading
