07.26.19

Murkowski, Casey Introduce Bill to Support Survivors of Domestic Violence

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Bob Casey (D-PA) recently introduced the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2019 (S. 2259), which would enhance and expand support, protection, and prevention for Americans affected by family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. Through FVPSA, survivors receive services such as emergency shelter, crisis counseling, safety planning, and assistance recovering from financial abuse and housing insecurity. More than 10 mil… Continue Reading

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07.26.19

Hirono, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Urging U.S. Approval of the Law of the Sea Treaty

Today, Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced S.Res.284, a resolution calling on the U.S. Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). UNCLOS, which has been ratified by 167 nations and the European Union, lays out the rights and responsibilities of countries related to the world's oceans, including guidelines for businesses and the management of marine natural resources. U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and Don Y… Continue Reading

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07.25.19

Cardin, Murkowski Lead Briefing on Removing the Deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today hosted a panel of bipartisan experts outlining why Congress should remove the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA has been ratified by 37 states, leaving it one state from ratification. Cardin and Murkowski are the lead sponsors of S.J. Res. 6, a bipartisan resolution that would remove the deadline placed on the 1972 ERA and allow for its ratification once the 38th state votes to ratify. This … Continue Reading

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07.25.19

Carper, Murkowski Reintroduce Bill Incentivizing Homeowner Transitions to Cleaner, More Efficient Wood Heaters

U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, reintroduced a bill today that would improve indoor and outdoor air quality and encourage manufacturing job growth by advancing the deployment of cleaner burning wood stoves, which are used by an estimated 11.5 million families throughout the United States. The Wood Heaters Emissions Reduction Act (WHERA) would … Continue Reading

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07.25.19

Committee Focuses on Links Between Energy Innovation, Economic Growth, and Competitiveness

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine the importance of energy innovation to economic growth and our country's long-term competitiveness. Murkowski opened the hearing by outlining the broad importance of innovation to our success as a nation. "Whether we are looking to bolster our energy supply or reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, innovation will need to be front and center and recognized as our best solution," Murkowski said. "In Alaska, we have already se… Continue Reading

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07.24.19

Murkowski Votes to Permanently Renew 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund

An original cosponsor of the Senate version, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. The bill authorizes permanent funding for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 and the World Trade Center Health Program, compensating and providing healthcare for the first responders and other individuals who have been injured from toxic and haz… Continue Reading

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07.24.19

Alaska Congressional Delegation Commends USDA Purchase of Alaska Pollock Products for Food Nutrition Assistance Programs

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-Alaska), today commended the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) approval of a Section 32 purchase of up to $41 million of surplus Alaska Pollock Products. USDA's purchase of Alaska Pollock will be distributed to various food nutrition assistance programs, including charitable organizations. "With a wide range of health benefits and its popularity among consumers, Alaska Pollock is one of the most valuab… Continue Reading

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07.23.19

Murkowski Comments on Budget Deal

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement regarding the budget deal reached by administration negotiators and congressional leadership: "While this budget agreement is far from perfect, it reflects real compromise. It prioritizes our nation's defense and our veterans and puts reasonable constraints on non-defense spending. It avoids controversial riders, reduces the prospect of a government shutdown, and allows us to move forward in the appropriations process. I comme… Continue Reading

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07.23.19

ENR Reviews U.S. Interests in the Freely Associated States

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine U.S. interests in the Freely Associated States (FAS), which include the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. Relations between the U.S. and FAS began during World War II, when the United States ended Japanese occupation of the region. Murkowski opened the hearing by outlining the important relationship the United States has with these nations. "The FAS nations are … Continue Reading

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07.23.19

Murkowski Votes to Confirm Mark Esper as Defense Secretary

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement today after voting to confirm Mark Esper as Secretary of Defense: "Mark Esper is a leader with a proven ability to make tough choices, a keen understanding of global security risks, and the focus to defend our country from current threats while always preparing for future adversaries. Esper not only has the qualifications to lead in the Defense Department, but he has the track record and expertise to follow suit. Esper is a tru… Continue Reading

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07.18.19

Van Hollen, Murkowski, Foster Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Create National Fab Lab Network

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-Ill.) recently introduced the National Fab Lab Network Act, legislation to expand Fab Labs across the country. These facilities are equipped with digitally-controlled tools that enable individuals to create and innovate new products. These tools range from laser cutters, to 3D printers, to automated knives - and training is also provided. To encourage the growth and expansion of new and cu… Continue Reading

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07.18.19

Bipartisan, Bicameral STOP Act To Safeguard Tribal Items Introduced

Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) reintroduced the bipartisan Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony (STOP) Act, a bill to prohibit the exporting of sacred Native American items and increase penalties for stealing and illegally trafficking tribal cultural patrimony. The House companion was introduced by Assistant House Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), Don Young (R-Alaska), and Tom Cole (R-Okla.). "I am p… Continue Reading

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07.16.19

Energy Committee Advances 22 Bills

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today held a business meeting to consider and report 22 energy-related measures to the full Senate. Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, thanked her colleagues for their bipartisan efforts to develop these measures and outlined the important work ahead on the Senate floor. "I'm excited to be moving legislation related to nuclear energy, mineral security, energy efficiency, and carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration out of committee," Murko… Continue Reading

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07.12.19

Murkowski Introduces Legislation to Aid Alaskan Communities

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), today introduced the Small County PILT Parity Act. The bill would amend the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which provides annual payments to local governments with federal lands in Alaska and across the country, to make its formula more equitable for large boroughs with small populations. Twelve boroughs or census areas in Alaska have populations under 5,000 and large tracts of federal lan… Continue Reading

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07.12.19

Murkowski Hosts Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen in Southeast Alaska

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this past weekend hosted USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) Chief Vicki Christiansen in Southeast Alaska. The trip gave Chief Christiansen a direct look at challenges and opportunities in the Tongass National Forest and an opportunity to hear from local stakeholders and tribal leaders about the need to build a strong, sustainable economy in the region. "I thank Chief Christiansen and her team for joining me in Southeast to see and experience our nation's la… Continue Reading

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07.11.19

Senators Hassan, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment for Substance Use Disorder

Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would help health care providers more effectively treat patients suffering from substance use disorder. The bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act would eliminate an outdated requirement that needlessly restricts health care providers from prescribing buprenorphine, a proven medication-assisted treatment that has helped countless Americans struggling with substance use disorder. C… Continue Reading

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07.09.19

Murkowski Welcomes Interns to the Alaska Report

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently hosted a Q&A with her first summer session of recent high school graduate interns for her annual recording of the "Alaska Report." Senator Murkowski provided her 10 interns the chance to close out their time in D.C. with a round of questions on her personal and professional experiences, including questions on her personal definition of success, opportunities to improve Alaska's justice system, her motivation to address the epidemic of missing and m… Continue Reading

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07.02.19

Alaska Congressional Delegation Welcome Disaster Relief for Alaska Fisheries

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, (all R-Alaska), today welcomed an announcement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that the agency approved $53.8 million to restore losses for Alaska fisheries impacted by the 2016 Gulf of Alaska pink salmon fishery disaster. NOAA approved and transferred the funds to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the agency tasked with distributing the relief payments to fishermen and their deckha… Continue Reading

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07.02.19

Murkowski, Schatz Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Impact of the ANSEP Program

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) have introduced the Building Indigenous STEM Professionals Act. This legislation will reauthorize and amend a grant designed to help create or expand programs that produce Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian graduates in science, technology, engineering, and math fields (STEM). Inspired by the nationally-recognized Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP), which grows STEM professionals from elementary school through coll… Continue Reading

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06.28.19

Alaska Congressional Delegation Welcome DOJ Declaration of Law Enforcement Emergency in Rural Alaska

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today welcomed the Department of Justice's Announcement that Attorney General Barr will declare a law enforcement emergency in rural Alaska under the Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Program today. Immediately following his announcement, $6 million was made available to the state of Alaska to support critical law enforcement needs of Alaska Native villages. In addition, the Attorney General will auth… Continue Reading