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.
Senator Murkowski Questions Administrator Wheeler over EPA Budget
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) chaired an Interior Appropriations Subcommittee hearing yesterday, examining the Fiscal Year 2020 budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During the hearing, Senator Murkowski reviewed programs within the EPA to ensure the agency is focusing on its core mission to protect the health of our communities as well as addressing unique situations and challenges Alaskan communities face with EPA regulations. "When I go home to Alaska, I see firs… Continue Reading
04.03.19
Murkowski Questions FEMA Leadership on Earthquake Recovery Efforts
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security today held a hearing to review FEMA's FY2020 Budget Request. During the hearing, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) raised Alaska specific concerns to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Administrator Peter Gaynor. In light of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Alaska on November 30, 2018, Senator Murkowski highlighted real-life examples of difficulties that Alaskans are facing as they seek assistance from FEMA. … Continue Reading
04.03.19
Rubio Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Promote U.S. Shark Conservation as a Global Model of Sustainability
Today, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) reintroduced the Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act (S. 1008), bicameral legislation that recognizes the sustainable and economically-valuable fishing practices of U.S. shark fishermen and promotes U.S. standards for shark conservation and humane harvest abroad. U.S. Representative Daniel Webster (R-FL) has introduced similar legislation (H.R. 788) in the… Continue Reading
04.03.19
Cortez Masto, Murkowski, Tester Introduce Legislation to Address Crisis of Missing, Murdered and Trafficked Native Women
U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jon Tester (D-MT) today introduced the Not Invisible Act of 2019, legislation aimed at addressing the crisis of missing, murdered, and trafficked Native people by engaging law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, and service providers and improving coordination across federal agencies. This bipartisan bill establishes an advisory committee of local, tribal and federal stakeholders to make recommendations to the Depa… Continue Reading
04.01.19
Murkowski Announces New Staff and Healthcare Team
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced the addition of Amber Ebarb, joining Murkowski's Washington, DC office as the new Legislative Assistant for Alaska Native, Rural, and Indian Affairs. In addition, Murkowski announced the establishment of her new healthcare team, new staff member Angela Ramponi and current staff member Annie Dietderich. Ramponi and Dietderich will cover the healthcare portfolio as Legislative Aides. Kennita Williams is joining Senator Murkowski's Fairbanks office… Continue Reading
03.31.19
Murkowski Comments on Court Ruling on Arctic OCS
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska released a ruling that reinstates President Obama's withdrawal of the vast majority of the Beaufort Sea and all of the Chukchi Sea from responsible oil and gas development. "I strongly disagree with this ruling, which asserts that past presidents can bind their successors and only Congress can overturn those decisions," Murkowski said. "That is not the correct interp… Continue Reading
03.29.19
Murkowski Reacts to King Cove Court Ruling
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska released a ruling that sets aside and vacates a small land exchange between the Department of the Interior and the King Cove Corporation. "This is a disappointing case and a disappointing ruling," Murkowski said. "There have been nearly 100 medevacs in King Cove - many carried out by the Coast Guard - since 2014 alone. There is no question that the people who live th… Continue Reading
03.28.19
Senate Passes Feinstein, Murkowski Women’s History Month Resolution
The Senate last night passed a resolution designating March as "National Women's History Month." The resolution was written by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). "It's wonderful that the Senate has passed our resolution celebrating the importance of women in our country's history," said Senator Feinstein. "Recognizing March as Women's History Month reminds us of the many extraordinary achievements made by women, including the historic number of women… Continue Reading
03.28.19
Feinstein, Murkowski, Lieu, Stivers Bill Devotes Federal Resources to Fight Homelessness
Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Representatives Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) and Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) today introduced the Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act, a bill to increase federal resources to battle homelessness. Specifically, the bill authorizes $750 million in grants annually for the next five years for local governments to combat homelessness. As a way to address the root causes of homelessness, this legislation for the first time wo… Continue Reading
03.28.19
Whitehouse, Murkowski Unveil Bill to Advance Understanding of Oceans, Great Lakes, and Coasts
U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus, today unveiled new legislation to advance data collection of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts. The Bolstering Long-Term Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries Act, or the BLUE GLOBE Act, would accelerate technology innovation, grow the marine workforce, and develop a better understanding of the blue economy. "We know mor… Continue Reading
03.28.19
Bipartisan Group of 47 Senators Urges Trump Administration to Withdraw Proposed SNAP Rule
Today, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led a bipartisan letter that raised concerns about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposed rule to make harmful changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and urged Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to withdraw the proposal. "The proposed changes would take food assistance away from Americans struggling to find stable employment while doing nothing to help them to actually become permanently… Continue Reading
03.28.19
Murkowski: Bernhardt Has the Background, Experience, and Competence to be Secretary of the Interior
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to consider President Trump's nominee to be Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI), David Bernhardt. The Senate previously confirmed Mr. Bernhardt as Deputy Secretary with bipartisan support in May 2017 and he has served as Acting Secretary since January 2019. Murkowski opened the hearing by expressing her strong support for Bernhardt's nomination, recognizing his extensive experience with public lands and natural resource i… Continue Reading
03.28.19
Sens. Coons, Murkowski, and Harris Applaud Senate Passage of bill during Women's History Month to recognize ‘Hidden Figures’ for contributions to U.S. leadership during the Space Race
U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) today applauded Senate passage of a bipartisan bill they introduced, along with 68 of their colleagues, to award Congressional Gold Medals to Katherine Johnson and Dr. Christine Darden and to posthumously award Congressional Gold Medals to Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson. The bill would also award a fifth Congressional Gold Medal to honor all women who contributed to NASA during the Space Race. The bill … Continue Reading
03.27.19
Murkowski, Booker, and 13 Colleagues Reintroduce the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Cory Booker, D-N.J., James Risch, R-Idaho, Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Chris Coons, D-Del., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to boost nuclear energy innovation and ensure advanced reactors can provide clean, … Continue Reading
03.27.19
Delegation Reaffirms Strong Support for Coastal Plain Leasing Program
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management, Joe Balash, to express their continued strong support for the oil and gas leasing program for the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently moving forward with the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the program. "We are pleased the Departm… Continue Reading
03.26.19
Alaska Congressional Delegation Welcomes Supreme Court’s Unanimous Decision on Sturgeon Case
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today welcomed a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Sturgeon v Frost, that the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) explicitly barred the National Park Service from prohibiting John Sturgeon from operating his hovercraft to hunt moose along the Nation River in the Yukon-Charley National Preserve in Alaska. In an opinion authored by Justice Elena Kagan, the court upheld the promises made t… Continue Reading
03.26.19
Murkowski: Voting Against Costly, Impractical Green New Deal
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor in advance of a vote on the Green New Deal resolution. Murkowski explained the impracticality of the resolution and instead outlined the more practical, pragmatic steps Congress can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Murkowski highlighted areas where Congress has already made progress in supporting policies to reduce emissions, such as increased funding for t… Continue Reading
03.26.19
Sullivan, Murkowski Resolution Recalls Exxon Valdez Tragedy
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) yesterday introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate marking the 30th anniversary of the disastrous Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The collision of the Exxon Valdez tanker with Bligh Reef in the early morning of March 24, 1989 resulted in the release of roughly eleven million gallons of crude oil into the open ocean, impacting more than 1,300 miles of coastline. "The Exxon Valdez disaster marked a turning point in the… Continue Reading
03.21.19
Murkowski, Shaheen Build on Bipartisan Efforts to Address Health Concerns for Firefighters’ Exposure to PFAS, Announce Bill that Would Require Blood Testing as Part of Routine Physicals for Military Firefighters
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced today that they'll introduce bipartisan legislation next week that would require the Department of Defense to include blood testing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as part of routine physicals for military firefighters. The Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act builds on the Senators' efforts to prioritize actions that respond to the potential health effects of occupational exposure to PFAS, particula… Continue Reading
03.15.19
Alaska Delegation Moves to Protect Native Craftsmen
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Congressman Don Young (R-AK) this week introduced the Empowering Rural Economies Through Alaska Native Sustainable Arts and Handicrafts Act, in the House and the Senate. The legislation would preempt states from banning walrus ivory, whale bone, and other marine mammal products that have been legally carved by Alaska Natives under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Additionally, the bill preempts states from issuing bans on fossiliz… Continue Reading
