10.16.19

Murkowski, Smith Introduce Indian Energy Legislation

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Tina Smith, D-Minn., today introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and improve the Department of Energy's Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs (OIE). The bill, entitled the Tribal Energy Reauthorization Act (TERA), reauthorizes OIE and the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program (TELGP) through 2030, updates eligibility requirements for energy project grants, and encourages more locally and regionally based partnerships when providing technic… Continue Reading

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10.16.19

Senators Sullivan, Murkowski Praise Nomination of Joshua Kindred

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded President Donald J. Trump's announcement on his intent to nominate Joshua Kindred to serve as United States District Court Judge for the District of Alaska. "I congratulate Joshua on being nominated to serve on the federal bench for the District of Alaska," said Senator Sullivan. "With his extensive criminal and trial experience, combined with a deep understanding of Alaska and Alaska-centric federal l… Continue Reading

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10.15.19

Delegation Welcomes Draft of Tongass-Specific Roadless Rule

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (Forest Service) announced the release of its draft Roadless Rule for the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska. "I'm very pleased the administration has listened to Alaskans and is proposing a full exemption from the Roadless Rule as its preferred alternative," Murkowski said. "I thank President Trump, Secretary Per… Continue Reading

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10.08.19

Tester, Murkowski, Shaheen, Sullivan Spearhead Bill to Bring More Addiction Counselors to Communities

U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) recently introduced legislation to provide better access to treatment for substance use disorders by recognizing licensed addiction counselors (LACs) under Medicare. The Senators' Addiction Treatment Access Act would allow health care facilities to bill Medicare for LAC services. LACs are not currently recognized as providers by Medicare, which prevents them from receiving reimbursement a… Continue Reading

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10.03.19

Senators Call for Financial Certainty for Rural Counties

U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho and 27 of their Senate colleagues today requested that any end-of-year legislation include at least a two-year reauthorization of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) programs. In a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the senators wrote, " Congress has an obligation to ensure counties with lar… Continue Reading

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10.01.19

Murkowski Statement on the President’s Intent to Nominate James Danly for FERC

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the President announced his intent to nominate James Danly to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). "I welcome the President's decision to nominate a Republican commissioner and to fill a critical seat that has now been vacant for nine full months," Murkowski said. "We will need to receive both a formal nomination and all associated paperwork before proceeding to a hearing, which has not bee… Continue Reading

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09.30.19

Committee Approves FY2020 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations bill. As a member of the committee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) secured a range of initiatives to improve research and technology in the Arctic, strengthen public safety in rural Alaska, and ensure Alaska's fisheries continue to thrive. This legislation, which funds the U.S. Department of Commerce and Justice, the National Science Foundation, the Nat… Continue Reading

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09.27.19

Funding Bills Advance to Full Senate

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved both the Homeland Security and State & Foreign Operations Appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2020, sending them to the full Senate for consideration. As a member of the Committee, U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) worked to secure provisions to support the U.S. Coast Guard with the assets and infrastructure they need to keep our people and our waters safe, prioritize our nation's leadership in the Arctic, as well as invest in security and improving … Continue Reading

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09.27.19

Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Cybersecurity in Alaska and Across Rural America

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday introduced legislation to enhance the security of our nation's electric grid. The bill, entitled the Protecting Resources On The Electric grid with Cybersecurity Technology (PROTECT) Act, establishes a grant program at the Department of Energy to advance the cybersecurity defenses of rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in Alaska and throughout the nation. It also directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to incentivize cybersec… Continue Reading

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09.27.19

Murkowski Votes to Confirm Eugene Scalia as Labor Secretary

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after voting to confirm Eugene Scalia as Secretary of Labor: "After thoroughly vetting Eugene Scalia for the post of Secretary, I found him to be highly qualified. I had the opportunity to meet with him in person and speak on the phone about issues important to Alaskans. This gave me a chance to not only learn more about Mr. Scalia and his experience, but educate him on Alaska's unique issues and opportunities," said Senator Mu… Continue Reading

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09.26.19

Big Wins for Alaska in Interior Funding Bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee today advanced the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2020. The Interior Subcommittee is responsible for funding agencies that are charged with managing our public lands, ensuring clean water and clean air, meeting federal trust responsibilities for Native peoples, and funding cultural agencies and museums. As chairman of the Interior Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) crafted a bill with funding to st… Continue Reading

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09.26.19

Murkowski, Udall, Sullivan Introduce Bill to Protect Indian Health Service Funding During Lapses in Appropriations

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced the IHS Advance Appropriations Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation which amends the Indian Health Service Improvement Act to authorize advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service by providing two-fiscal-year budget authority, shoring up the gaps in the funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS), the agency responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Th… Continue Reading

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09.26.19

Murkowski, Jones, Cassidy Introduce Legislation to Give Patients Timely and Safe Access to Treatment

Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Doug Jones (D-AL), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), today introduced the Safe Step Act of 2019. This legislation would amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to require group health plans to provide an exception process for any medication step therapy protocol, tools used by health plans to control spending on patient's medications, to help ensure patients are able to safely and efficiently access treatment. Additional cosponsors of the legislation incl… Continue Reading

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09.25.19

Murkowski Votes to Uphold Separation of Powers

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after voting on S.J. Res. 54, the National Emergency Declaration Resolution of Disapproval: "My vote today is about ensuring we respect the separation and balance of powers that are fundamental to our democracy. The U.S. Constitution distinctly gives the legislative branch the power to appropriate. From the outset, I noted my opposition to this emergency declaration and what that meant, including my concern over diverting funds a… Continue Reading

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09.25.19

ENR Advances Consensus Energy Storage Legislation

Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Ranking Member Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., today advanced a comprehensive energy storage package to the full Senate during a business meeting held by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The package was reported as an amendment to S. 1602, the Better Energy Storage Technology (BEST) Act introduced by Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine. The committee chose to amend her bill as a reflection of her leadership on energy storage and clean energy technologie… Continue Reading

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09.24.19

Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent E-Cigarette Tampering

Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley, joined by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), today introduced new legislation to set safety standards in the design of e-cigarette and vaping devices. The Senators' legislation-the E-Cigarette Device Standards Act of 2019-follows a spate of hundreds of illnesses and eight deaths linked to vaping across the United States. In some of the most serious cases, victims reportedly may have fallen ill … Continue Reading

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09.24.19

Murkowski Interior Bill Advances to Full Committee

The Senate Interior-Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee today advanced its FY2020 appropriations bill with funding to strengthen the economy, improve water and wastewater infrastructure, and create safer and healthier communities across the state. As chairman of the Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) worked to address a range of challenges, needs, and opportunities in Alaska by securing provisions to develop infrastructure projects, improve access to Nativ… Continue Reading

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09.23.19

Funding Bills Head to Full Senate for Consideration

The Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved the Fiscal Year 2020 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration, & Related Agencies Appropriations Act and the Financial Services & General Government Act, sending both to the full U.S. Senate for consideration. The first bill funds programs and services important to Alaskans including nutrition, food safety, rural development, agricultural research, conservation, and more. The second includes the Departments of t… Continue Reading

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09.23.19

T-HUD Appropriations Bill Approved Unanimously by Committee

The Senate Appropriations Committee recently unanimously approved the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-HUD) Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations bill, which includes provisions secured by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to benefit Alaska. The legislation includes critical funds to support Essential Air Service, improve cold climate building technology, and increase access to quality, affordable housing. "Whether it is our harsh climate, rough terrain, or simp… Continue Reading

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09.20.19

Murkowski Joins Colleagues in Examining Ways to Simplify the FAFSA

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took part in a Senate HELP Committee hearing focused on fixing the burdensome and complicated Federal Student Aid Application (FAFSA), which students utilize to apply for federal student financial aid to help pay for college. The hearing explored legislative solutions to simplify and shorten the FAFSA, including making it easier for low-income families to qualify for federal Pell Grants. "We must do a better job of not only communicating to high school student… Continue Reading