01.31.19

Murkowski and Colleagues Urge Federal Officials to Deliver Secure Rural Schools Payments ASAP

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday urged federal officials to deliver Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments as quickly as possible in the aftermath of the government shutdown. Murkowski was joined by Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, James Risch, R-Idaho, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. In their bipartisan letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Acting Interior Department Secretary David Bernhardt, the senators said rural residents in their states ar… Continue Reading

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01.31.19

Udall, Smith, Murkowski Introduce Major Bipartisan Legislation to Address Violence Against Native Women, Children and Tribal Law Enforcement

Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced two major, bipartisan bills to address violence against Native women, children, and Tribal law enforcement: the Native Youth and Tribal Officer Protection Act (NYTOPA) and the Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act (Justice for Native Survivors). Both bills build on the Tribal jurisdiction provisions in the Violence Against… Continue Reading

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01.30.19

Murkowski Reintroduces GE Salmon Labeling Bill

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today reintroduced the Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act, continuing her years-long fight to ensure that any salmon that is genetically engineered be clearly labeled. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Specifically, the legislation ensures that any GE salmon products in the U.S. market are clearly labeled "genetically engineered" in the market name. Last month, USDA published labeli… Continue Reading

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01.30.19

First Full Committee Healthcare Hearing of the Year Focuses on Improving Access to Healthcare

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently participated in a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee oversight hearing focused on health centers and healthcare providers in underserved areas. The hearing highlighted a bill introduced by HELP Committee chairman Lamar Alexander and Ranking Member Patty Murray to provide funding extensions for the Community Health Center program, the National Health Service Corps, the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program, the S… Continue Reading

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01.30.19

Heinrich, Kennedy, Cassidy, Carper, Murkowski, and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Restore Wetlands and Migratory Bird Habitat

On the 30th anniversary of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), and colleagues introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize NAWCA through 2024. The legislation would also increase authorized annual funding for the program to $60 million… Continue Reading

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01.29.19

Committee Advances Health and Public Safety Bills

Today the Senate Indian Affairs Committee advanced bills, supported by U.S. Senator Murkowski (R-AK), to improve public safety in tribal communities, strengthen resources for victims of crime, and expand access to healthcare in rural communities. The Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victims Empowerment (SURVIVE) Act, of which Senator Murkowski is a cosponsor, will increase victim assistance resources such as medical care, domestic violence shelters, and counseling through a grant pro… Continue Reading

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01.28.19

Van Hollen, Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge Administration to Pay Federal Workers Affected by the Shutdown Immediately

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led a bipartisan letter with 28 of his colleagues to Margaret M. Weichert, Acting Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), urging the Administration to provide back pay for federal workers as soon as possible. The Senators write, "More than 800,000 federal workers have gone without pay because the government shutdown locked them out of their jobs or required them to work without pay. These workers need to know now when they will fin… Continue Reading

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01.28.19

Murkowski, Cortez Masto Reintroduce Savanna’s Act

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D- NV) announced they reintroduced the Savanna's Act, legislation to combat the epidemic of murdered and missing Native women and girls by improving the federal government's response to addressing the crisis. The bill increases coordination among all levels of law enforcement, increases data collection and information sharing, and empowers tribal governments with the resources they need in cases involving missing and murdered indige… Continue Reading

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01.25.19

Agreement Reached to Reopen the Government, Pay Federal Workers, and Address Border Security

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the agreement made between Congress and the administration to immediately reopen the government, through a short-term Continuing Resolution, which will allow the Congress to work to negotiate a final Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, and the remaining appropriations bills not yet enacted for Fiscal Year 2019. The Continuing Resolution will continue Fiscal Year 2018 funding levels through February 15. The Senate passed the agree… Continue Reading

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01.25.19

Cardin, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Measure to Ensure Women Equal Rights in the Constitution

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced Friday the introduction of a Senate Resolution (S. J. Res. 6) that would immediately reopen consideration of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Thirty-seven states, of the 38 needed, have already ratified the amendment, which was first proposed in 1972. Illinois was the last state to ratify the ERA in May 2018. Nevada ratified the ERA in March 2017. Only one more state is needed among: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Ge… Continue Reading

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01.25.19

Murkowski, Manchin, King Highlight Urgent Need for Greater U.S. Leadership in the Arctic

Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Ranking Member Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., yesterday convened a roundtable with domestic and international dignitaries and policy leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the Arctic region. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, the co-founder of the Senate Arctic Caucus along with Murkowski, also attended the event. The roundtable focused on the Arctic's economy, security, resource development, infrastructure, and changing climate. Participants emphasized… Continue Reading

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01.25.19

Tester, Murkowski Call for End to Offset of Military Retiree Benefits

U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today introduced bipartisan legislation to end the unfair offset of retirement pay and disability benefits for more than 450,000 military retirees. Their Retired Pay Restoration Act would end the unfair dollar-for-dollar offset of military retirement pay based on the amount of VA disability compensation a military retiree receives. Current law only allows for a retiree to receive both, called concurrent receipt, if the retiree ha… Continue Reading

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01.24.19

Murkowski Statement on Voting to Reopen the Government and Address Border Security

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today voted on two measures to reopen the government. The first measure included an omnibus funding bill which combines all seven remaining appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2019, a $12.7 billion disaster aid package, and three years of relief for enrollees in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and immigrants receiving Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The second measure, a short-term continuing resolution, would continue Fiscal Year 2… Continue Reading

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01.22.19

Senator Murkowski Honors the Great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) offered the following reflections on Martin Luther King Jr. Day: (Click image to view Senator Murkowski's message.) "Today we pay tribute to the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on what would be his 89th birthday. As we celebrate the legacy of Dr. King, I encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect on all of the good that he did for our culture, our society, and our nation as a whole. "Dr. King led a courageous fight against pre… Continue Reading

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01.19.19

Murkowski Statement on President’s Proposal to End Government Shutdown and Fund Border Security

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after President Trump unveiled a plan to end the current partial government shutdown, fund border security, and address immigration reform. "It has become clear that negotiations to this point have led us to an impasse. I welcome the President's decision to put an offer on the table today and will review it in full once details are released. I will encourage my colleagues to do the same," said Senator Lisa Murkowski. "The i… Continue Reading

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01.18.19

Senator Murkowski Speaks at AFN’s Alaska Day Event in DC

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) kicked off the Alaska Federation of Natives' (AFN) Alaska Day event this week in our nation's capital to address opportunities and challenges we face at our northernmost border and educate policymakers on Alaska's strategic significance. This two-day briefing includes Alaska Native leaders, high-level military personnel, the Alaska Congressional Delegation and staff, Cabinet officials, and representatives in telecommunications, energy, and commerce. During the… Continue Reading

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01.17.19

Murkowski Welcomes New Hires to Committee Staff

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that two new counsels, John Crowther and Jed Dearborn, have joined her team at the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. She also welcomed an intern, Grant Cummings, who is assisting the committee with various projects this winter. "John and Jed bring considerable expertise on a wide range of energy and environmental issues. John has great experience working on Alaska oil, gas, and related matters, and Jed has an extensive backgrou… Continue Reading

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01.16.19

Murkowski, Young File Amicus Brief in Support of Indian Child Welfare Law

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Congressman Don Young (R-AK) joined five of their Congressional colleagues in filing an amicus curiae brief with the Fifth Circuit, United States Court of Appeals in support of the Indian Child Welfare Act or ICWA. The amicus brief follows an October 4, 2018 ruling by U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor, of Fort Worth, TX deeming the ICWA as unconstitutional. The amicus brief states that said decision fails to respect Congress' broad power and its oblig… Continue Reading

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01.16.19

Murkowski Introduces Legislation Recognizing Unrecognized Heroes of the Greatest Generation

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced the Merchant Marines of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, to honor the Merchant Mariners who protected our nation during World War II. Senators Sullivan (R-AK), Cantwell (D-WA), King (I-ME), and Whitehouse (D-RI) are cosponsors of the bill. "WWII was one of the greatest conflicts the world has ever seen. Many Americans proved their loyalty and bravery during this harrowing time, including our Merchant Mariners. Their brave service, no… Continue Reading

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01.15.19

Murkowski, Schatz, Young Introduce Native American Millennium Challenge Demonstration Act

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Congressman Don Young (R-AK) today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Native American Millennium Challenge Demonstration Act. This legislation creates a domestic pilot project, based on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which promotes sustainable economic growth and creates efforts to reduce poverty in remote Native American and Native Hawaiian communities in a manner that encourages self-determination and self… Continue Reading