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 Comments on New GAO Report on LWCF
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report on the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). "This report provides good information about how federal land management agencies have implemented a variety of programs supported by LWCF appropriations," Murkowski said. "Now that Congress has permanently authorized the deposit provisions of the LWCF, it is time to examine the program and the role it … Continue Reading
06.20.19
Murkowski: Geothermal Brings the Heat for America’s Energy Future
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine opportunities and challenges for advanced geothermal energy development in the United States. Murkowski opened by highlighting the capabilities of geothermal energy. "Whether it is used for heating our homes or keeping the lights on, geothermal provides clean and always-on energy that requires no external backup," Murkowski said. "We often hear about concerns with wind when it s… Continue Reading
06.20.19
Murkowski Supports Southern Border Emergency Supplemental Package
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today voted for a funding measure to address the immediate humanitarian and security crisis at the U.S. southern border. Since May, 2019, the average daily number of unaccompanied children in U.S. Customs and border Security has grown from 870 to more than 2,300. The emergency supplemental bill, which provides a total of $4.59 billion to address the border crisis, advanced out of the Senate Appropriations Committee on a vote of 30-1, sending it to the full Sena… Continue Reading
06.20.19
Indian Affairs Committee Considers Law Enforcement & Public Safety Bills
Today the Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a legislative hearing on bills, led by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and colleagues on the Committee, to address the epidemic of missing, murdered, and trafficked Indigenous women and focus on improving public safety and justice systems. Specifically, the Committee considered the following bills: S.227, Savanna's Act; S.982, the Not Invisible Act; S. 288, the Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act; S.290, the Native Youth and Triba… Continue Reading
06.18.19
Delegation Urges Administration’s Support for Seafood Industry Embroiled in China Trade Dispute
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young (all R-AK) sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue urging the Trump administration to provide relief for Alaskan fishermen and seafood processers, as it has for the domestic agriculture industry, from the devastating impacts of retaliatory tariffs inflicted on American products by China. In May, President Trump announced roughly $15 billion in aid, directed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for domestic far… Continue Reading
06.18.19
Murkowski, Manchin Issue Statement on PROMESA Nominees
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today released the following statement after President Trump formally nominated seven individuals to serve on the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) for Puerto Rico. All seven currently serve on the Board, but are subject to Senate confirmation in the wake of a recent court decision. "We appreciate the President's decision to nominate … Continue Reading
06.18.19
Murkowski Comments on Middle East Troop Deployment
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after the administration announced its deploying 1,000 more U.S. troops to the Middle East for defense purposes, in order to address threats in the region. "The administration has taken quick action in responding to the commander in the region's request for additional support," said Senator Murkowski. "We must maintain freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but we also need to proceed carefully because a stable, peaceful … Continue Reading
06.18.19
Murkowski: Maintenance Backlog Requires Comprehensive Fix
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine deferred maintenance needs and potential solutions on federal lands administered by the three major land management agencies within the Department of the Interior-the National Park Service (NPS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the U.S. Fish and Wildfire Service (FWS)-as well as the USDA Forest Service (FS). Murkowski opened by acknowledging the magnitude of deferred mai… Continue Reading
06.14.19
Murkowski Introduces Measure Recognizing 2019 as International Year of the Salmon
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced S.Res.251, recognizing 2019 as the International Year of the Salmon. The resolution aims to serve as a framework for collaboration across the Northern Hemisphere to recover and sustain salmon stocks through research, cooperation, and public action. The resolution was cosponsored by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA). "Alaskans … Continue Reading
06.14.19
Murkowski Welcomes Forest Service’s Efforts to Update NEPA Regulations
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the USDA Forest Service announced a proposed rule to update and modernize its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. "I support the Forest Service's efforts to streamline their environmental analysis and decision-making process," Murkowski said. "The agency has long struggled to clear its permit backlog for recreation and critical infrastructure, and is facing an urgent need to repair trails, campgroun… Continue Reading
06.14.19
Murkowski, Manchin, and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Efficiency in Federal Buildings
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation to formally authorize the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and establish energy and water usage reduction goals for federal buildings. S. 1857, the Federal Energy and Water Management Performance Act of 2019, is cosponsored by Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii. "Increasing energy efficiency is an idea we should all … Continue Reading
06.14.19
Klobuchar, Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Protect Consumers’ Private Health Data
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced new legislation today to protect consumers' private health data. While recent reports have highlighted how home DNA testing kits and health data tracking apps have given companies access to unprecedented levels of consumer health data, current law does not adequately address the emerging privacy concerns presented by these new technologies. The Protecting Personal Health Data Act addresses these health privacy concern… Continue Reading
06.13.19
Murkowski: Collaboration and Active Management Key to Mitigating Fire Risk
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine the outlook for the 2019 wildfire season and the nation's fire management programs. Murkowski opened the hearing by emphasizing that our forests and grasslands are increasingly susceptible to fire, which the National Interagency Fire Center expects to continue through this season. She listed some of the largest fires currently burning across the nation, including in Alaska, and d… Continue Reading
06.13.19
Western States Call for Action on Transboundary Issues
Today, the U.S. Senate delegations of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Washington sent a letter to Premier John Horgan of British Columbia (B.C.) urging attention and action on key issues related to transboundary mining practices. The letter, led by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), which was also signed by U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Risch (R-ID), Jon Tester (D-MT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Patty Murray (D-WA), encourages standards of oversight and a… Continue Reading
06.13.19
After Recent Department Of Defense Report Highlights Its Continued Failure To Address Crisis Of Military Sexual Assault, Gillibrand Leads Bipartisan Group Of Senators To Reintroduce Military Justice Improvement Act And Calls On Congress To Act
Five Years After Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey Said Military Was 'On the Clock' to Fix Military Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault Remains Pervasive and Many Service Members Still Have Little Faith in the System Bipartisan Legislation Would Create Impartial, Fair, and Accountable Military Justice System U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, today led a bipartisan group of Senators to reintroduce the … Continue Reading
06.11.19
Murkowski Applauds Rural Energy Storage Project
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, released the following statement celebrating Cordova's new battery energy storage system, and the hard work that made the system possible. "Energy storage systems like this are key to our clean energy future. I was pleased to be in Cordova, joined by innovators from both Alaska and the Department of Energy, for this ribbon-cutting ceremony," Murkowski said. "It's great to see this project become a reality, and I commend Cordova's dedication to meeting its ene… Continue Reading
06.11.19
Durbin, Capito, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Address Childhood Trauma
Building off sweeping federal legislation they passed in 2018 to help children exposed to trauma, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and U.S. Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL-07) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI-08) today introduced bipartisan legislation to increase support for children who have been exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma, such as witnessing violence, parental addiction, or abuse. The Resil… Continue Reading
06.10.19
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
