12.15.18

Murkowski Committed to Protections for Pre-existing Conditions and Access to Care

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Judge Reed O'Connor ruled in favor of Texas and its partner states, deeming the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional: "In Alaska and across the nation healthcare remains a priority and concern. I have heard that loud and clear," said Senator Murkowski. "This ruling has no immediate impact, and I am confident higher courts will review the decision. Regardless, we must p… Continue Reading

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12.15.18

Murkowski Comments on Zinke’s Departure

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement about Secretary Ryan Zinke, who will step down from the Department of the Interior at the end of the year. "I was disappointed to learn that Secretary Zinke is stepping down. He has been a strong partner for western states and for Alaska, in particular. After years of frustration with the Department, he came in and took a very different approach - he listened to us, built a great team, and worked with us to advance our p… Continue Reading

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12.14.18

Murkowski Supports Congressional Harassment Policy Reform

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after the Senate and House unanimously passed the Congressional Accountability Act Reform Act, legislation to overhaul how Congress handles sexual harassment claims, sending to the President's desk to be signed into law. "If we as members of Congress are going to change the culture of harassment nationwide, we must lead by example. I have continued to push for action on comprehensive reform, because I have been appalled at the cu… Continue Reading

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12.14.18

Murkowski Backs Diplomatic Solution in Yemen, Rejects Yemen War Resolution

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after voting against S.J. Res. 54, the Yemen War Powers Resolution, which passed the Senate by a vote of 56-41. Separately, the Senate passed by unanimous consent S.J. Res 69, a joint resolution supporting a diplomatic solution in Yemen and condemning the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "The human rights abuses that are taking place in Yemen must stop, and the Kingdom must also be put on notice that assassinating journalis… Continue Reading

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12.13.18

Shaheen, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging CDC and ATSDR to Prioritize Studies on Health Effects of Firefighters’ Exposure to PFAS

Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led a bipartisan group of 21 Senators in a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), requesting that the agencies take additional steps to ensure that the health effects of occupational exposure to per-and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS), particularly in firefighters, are sufficiently studied. Senator Shaheen established the first-ever nati… Continue Reading

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12.13.18

Murkowski Joins Committee in Addressing Missing and Murdered American Indian and Alaska Native Epidemic

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and her colleagues on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing focused on missing and murdered indigenous people. During the hearing, the committee received testimony from two panels of witnesses, including Alaskan Patricia Alexander, representing Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. The hearing highlighted the extent of the epidemic of missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives and also shed light… Continue Reading

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12.12.18

Murkowski Rejects Overturning IRS Donor Disclosure Rule

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today voted no on SJ Res 64, a joint resolution to override an Internal Revenue Service decision to no longer require that certain non-profit organizations confidentially disclose their donors to the government in annual reports filed with the agency. These annual reports are known as "IRS Form 990." "The Treasury Department concluded that there is no tax law reason to require that certain non-profit organizations disclose their donors to the Internal Revenue … Continue Reading

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12.12.18

Feinstein-Murkowski Earthquake Resilience Bill Signed into Law

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, commended President Trump for yesterday signing the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act (NEHRP) into law. Murkowski and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced the bipartisan legislation and secured unanimous passage in the Senate on Sept. 27, 2018, with House passage by voice vote following on Nov. 27, 2018. The bill modernizes safety programs that help states like Alaska prepare for and respond to earthquakes. The legislati… Continue Reading

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12.12.18

Murkowski Statement on Farm Bill Vote

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after voting against H.R.2, the final version of the Farm Bill: "I appreciate the hard work that Chairman Roberts, Senator Stabenow, and many others put into the Farm Bill, particularly on food security issues. This was a tough call, but ultimately I was unable to support the final conference report. Despite the billions in subsidies that continue to be directed to agribusiness, the bill does not include meaningful forest managem… Continue Reading

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12.12.18

Murkowski Unveils Arctic Legislation to Reinvigorate America’s Arctic Role

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) unveiled legislation aimed to raise the nation's presence in the Arctic through two bills, the Arctic Policy Act (APA) and the Shipping and Environmental Arctic Leadership Act (SEAL Act). The APA takes steps to increase local and indigenous voices in federal science and policy in the Arctic while the SEAL Act establishes a congressionally charted seaway development corporation in the Arctic. As shipping and maritime traffic in the Arctic is expected to grow, th… Continue Reading

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12.12.18

Chairman Murkowski Welcomes Senator Manchin as New Ranking Member

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., was named as the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) beginning in the 116th Congress. "I congratulate Sen. Manchin on his new role as ranking member. I'm excited to work with him in his new capacity as we continue our committee's tradition of advancing good, timely, bipartisan legislation for our nation," Murkowski said. "I also thank Sen. Cantwell a… Continue Reading

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12.11.18

Murkowski Welcomes Revised WOTUS Rule

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule to reset the burdensome Waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulation imposed by the previous administration in 2015. Murkowski spoke at the signing ceremony at EPA headquarters this morning, alongside a number of administration and congressional leaders. "This is a big deal for Alaska that should help end years of concern, frustration, and uncertainty … Continue Reading

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12.07.18

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Tammy Baldwin's Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Maternity Care in Rural and Underserved Areas Passes Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) are praising the Senate passage of their bipartisan Improving Access to Maternity Care Act that will help reduce maternity care shortages by identifying areas lacking maternal health professionals to help incentivize providers to practice in these underserved, often rural areas. The legislation has already passed the House and now heads to the President to be signed into law. "Picture this: you're a woman in rural… Continue Reading

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12.07.18

ICYMI: Senator Murkowski Speaks on Alaska’s 7.0 Earthquake

One week ago today, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck a few miles north of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, causing severe damage to infrastructure, roads, schools, businesses, and homes. Within days, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) was on the ground in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley to assess the damage and to meet with emergency responders to help determine the federal response. This week, Senator Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor after returning from her Alaska trip to recount some of … Continue Reading

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12.07.18

Alaska Congressional Delegation Announces $23 Million Grant for Emmonak Dock

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today announced a $23.1 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant for Emmonak, Alaska to construct a permanent dock and barge/landing craft ramp and to renovate approximately 3.5 miles of high-use service roads. The grant is through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program, previously known as TIGER grants, which provides support for capital projects that generate economic development… Continue Reading

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12.06.18

Murkowski Bills to Improve Maternity Care and Enhance Communities Advance to Senate Floor

Recently, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, of which U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is a member, passed bills to strengthen quality of care, improve access to health services, and invest in our communities' educational and cultural lives. The Improving Access to Maternity Care Act and the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, both introduced by Senator Murkowski alongside colleagues on the HELP Committee, were reported favorably out of the committee for considerati… Continue Reading

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11.30.18

Alaska Delegation Working to Support Alaskans in Earthquake Recovery Efforts

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statements after receiving a briefing from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long on the 7.0 earthquake which struck near Anchorage, Alaska Friday morning, causing extensive damage to infrastructure, such as roads and bridges. "It's been mere hours since this devastating earthquake took place in Alaska, but the delegation is very engaged with the situation. We are i… Continue Reading

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11.29.18

Murkowski Legislation Honoring Native Women Advances to Senate Floor

Today during a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs business meeting, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded passage of her legislation, S.RES 444, which recognizes the heritage, culture, and contributions of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian women in the United States. Click here for full text of the resolution. (Click the image to watch video of Senator Murkowski's remarks) "I'm very proud to have sponsored legislation alongside my Senate colleagues to recognize the… Continue Reading

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11.28.18

Committee Discusses Reducing Healthcare Costs

Healthcare costs in Alaska remain among the highest in the nation. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today participated in a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing focused on reducing healthcare costs and improving affordability through innovation. The hearing featured witnesses Lee S. Gross, M.D., President of Docs 4 Patient Care Foundation; Cheryl DeMars, President and CEO of The Alliance; Dow Constantine, Executive of King County; and Jonathan B. Perlin, M.D., Ph.D.… Continue Reading

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11.28.18

Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the Indian Child Welfare Act

Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.), vice chairman and chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, respectively, along with U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representatives Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.), led 46 members of Congress in introducing a bipartisan resolution commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and recognizing its importance to promoting the stability and security of Tribal communi… Continue Reading