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.
Murkowski Welcomes Updated EPA Section 401 Guidance
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released updated guidance for Section 401 of the Clean Water Act to clarify and improve the water quality certification process. "I welcome this announcement and hope EPA's new guidance will reduce abuse of the Clean Water Act to block infrastructure needed to provide reliable and affordable energy," Murkowski said. "EPA's updated guidance will maintain vital protections for … Continue Reading
06.06.19
Murkowski Welcomes New Hires and Summer Interns to Committee Staff
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that Spencer Nelson has joined her Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staff and that Abigail Hemenway has joined the committee's non-designated staff. She also welcomed four summer interns who are assisting the committee with various projects this summer - Lauren Eckl, Kaiwi Eisenhour, Alexander Jackstadt, and Nathan Solorio - and noted her appreciation for the time Samuel Burgess spent interning during the month of May. "I am very … Continue Reading
06.05.19
Murkowski Welcomes FERC Approval of Alaskan Marine Renewable Energy Project
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved the final installation and operation of a river marine renewable energy (MRE) project in Igiugig, Alaska, under a pilot permit. "I am so pleased this project will be able to move forward, reducing local diesel consumption and energy prices," Murkowski said. "Igiugig's efforts are blazing a trail for marine renewable energy and microgrid solutions around the world - when we prove thes… Continue Reading
06.05.19
Committee Reviews Nominee for Fish and Wildlife and Parks
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to consider the nomination of Robert Wallace to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior. This position oversees both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. Murkowski opened the hearing with a brief tribute to two Park Service employees who were tragically killed in a plane crash near Whitehorse, Canada last week whi… Continue Reading
06.05.19
Murkowski Commemorates Centennial of Women’s Right to Vote
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) spoke on the Senate floor today in honor of the 100th anniversary of Senate passage of legislation that cleared the way for state ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote. During her remarks, Senator Murkowski highlighted the work done and sacrifices endured by suffragists as they sought to gain the right to vote. Following her speech, the Senate passed unanimously Senator Murkowski's resolution she introduced, alon… Continue Reading
06.04.19
Murkowski: Energy Storage is Key to a Cleaner, More Resilient and Affordable Grid
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine opportunities for the expanded deployment of grid-scale energy storage. Murkowski opened by referencing the many hearings the committee has held this year focused on promoting innovation and clean energy technologies, including the policies needed to lower costs and increase deployment. "We need to come together on practical and effective solutions that will reduce our greenhous… Continue Reading
06.04.19
Murkowski Commends Commitment to Alaska LNG Project
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) announced a funding agreement to help complete the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) permitting process for the Alaska LNG project. "This is a welcome announcement and an important step for the Alaska LNG project, as they can now have confidence they have the resources to complete the FERC process," Murkowski said. "I appreciate this commitment and urge al… Continue Reading
06.04.19
Murkowski Hosts U.S. Attorney General William Barr in Alaska
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently welcomed U.S. Attorney General William Barr to Alaska for a visit focusing on law enforcement and public safety issues. During Attorney General Barr's four-day trip, Senator Murkowski facilitated meetings in both Bethel and Napaskiak to emphasize the public safety challenges faced across Alaska due to the lack of local law enforcement as well as to help shed light on the severity of the issue of missing and murdered Native women and girls. "It was an … Continue Reading
06.03.19
Alaska Congressional Delegation Applauds Justice Department Announcement on Initiative to Combat Violent Crime
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today all thanked the Department of Justice for selecting Anchorage, Alaska as one of ten new National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) sites. This program aims to support areas with elevated crime rates, providing a framework for increasing federal support for tribal, local, and state law enforcement officials. "Anchorage is facing alarmingly high rates of violent crimes and addressing this issue will take coor… Continue Reading
06.03.19
Murkowski Commends Commitment to Alaska LNG Project
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) announced a funding agreement to help complete the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) permitting process for the Alaska LNG project. "This is a welcome announcement and an important step for the Alaska LNG project, as they can now have confidence they have the resources to complete the FERC process," Murkowski said. "I appreciate this commitment and urge al… Continue Reading
05.31.19
Murkowski Leads Congressional Delegation Arctic-Focused Trip
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) this week led a congressional delegation to locations across the Arctic and North Atlantic to develop a better understanding of the region, further the United States' relationship with the other Arctic nations, and visit American troops in the Far North. As part of the trip, the delegation focused extensively on energy technologies and climate research activities. Joining Senator Murkowski, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, were committee Ra… Continue Reading
05.30.19
Alaska Congressional Delegation Welcomes Attorney General William Barr
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today welcomed Attorney General William Barr to Alaska. Attorney General Barr's itinerary includes a series of meetings at the federal, tribal, state and local level with a focus on law enforcement and public safety issues, particularly in rural Alaska. "Public safety and lack of law enforcement are both serious challenges across the state, particularly in Alaska Native communities that are disproportionately i… Continue Reading
05.24.19
Murkowski, Sullivan Applaud Senate Passage of Disaster Relief Supplemental
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, today applauded the Senate passage of a bipartisan supplemental disaster relief package. The $19.1 billion package passed the Senate with strong support, by an 85-8 vote. "Following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake and other disasters across the state, we've seen the incredible resilience of Alaskans. Like so many communities across the nation, in the face of hardship they came together to help their friends, family, neighbors, and even … Continue Reading
05.23.19
Murkowski Applauds Inclusion of Measure to Protect Firefighters from PFAS Chemicals in Annual Defense Bill
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded the Senate Armed Services Committee for including measures to address per-and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure within the Committee-approved annual defense bill. This week the Senate Armed Services Committee passed the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), sending it to the full Senate for consideration, which included Senator Murkowski and Senator Jeanne Shaheen's (D-NH) bill, the Protecting Military Firefighters from P… Continue Reading
05.23.19
Murkowski Stresses Importance of America’s Arctic Role
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who recently attended the Arctic Council Ministerial in Rovaniemi, Finland and the Arctic Circle Assembly forum in Shanghai, China spoke on the Senate floor to urge her colleagues to place a greater focus on the Arctic and ensure that the United States steps into its leadership role. While Senator Murkowski acknowledged recent progress, such as Congress appropriating full funding for the design and construction of a new heavy Polar Security Cutter (AKA icebrea… Continue Reading
05.22.19
Murkowski Questions Interior Secretary on Priorities to Benefit Rural Alaska
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) chaired an Interior Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to examine the Fiscal Year 2020 budget request for the Department of the Interior (DOI). During the hearing, Senator Murkowski questioned Interior Secretary David Bernhardt about areas that the administration and Congress can make progress in addressing the lack of reporting lack of reporting and substantive data surrounding the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Murkowski asked Secretary… Continue Reading
05.22.19
Schatz, Kaine, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Invest In Telehealth, Expand Health Care To Rural Areas
Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), introduced the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes Act of 2019 (ECHO 2019 Act), legislation to increase access to health care services in rural areas by expanding the use of technology-based collaborative learning and capacity building models. These education models, often referred to as Project ECHO, connect specialists with other health care professionals through the use of technology. This legi… Continue Reading
05.22.19
Hirono, Murkowski, Case, Young Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Reunite Filipino World War II Veterans with Their Families
Today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, a bill that would expedite the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawaii) and Don Young (R-Alaska) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. "During World War II, Filipino soldiers stepped up and answered the call to service, fighting and sacrificing alongside American servicemembers,… Continue Reading
05.21.19
Murkowski: Renewables, Efficiency Offer Real Opportunity
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine opportunities to advance renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts in the United States. Murkowski opened the hearing by acknowledging the significant progress made in both sectors in recent years. "Many renewables are now cost competitive without subsidies in certain parts of the country, and that's leading to greater investment. In 2018, U.S. corporations broke previous r… Continue Reading
05.20.19
Murkowski on Steel and Aluminum Tariff Announcement
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) made the following statement after the Trump administration lifted steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico: "I'm pleased to see the administration take the necessary step of lifting steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico. I had previously expressed concerns about the impact these tariffs would have on our nation's economy, trade relationships, and particularly on our nation's energy sector. In Alaska, steel and aluminum tariffs have the potent… Continue Reading
