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.
Durbin, Murkowski Statement On New FDA E-Cigarette Regulations
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today released the following statement after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new regulations on e-cigarette flavorings and flavored cigars: E-cigarette use among children and teenagers is an epidemic, just ask our federal health agencies or any school teacher in America. The FDA is finally moving in the right direction by cracking down on the sale of kid-friendly flavors in e-cigarettes and cigars, and improving o… Continue Reading
11.15.18
Murkowski Supports Coast Guard Reauthorization
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) last night voted in favor of S. 140, The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, which passed in a 94-6 vote. The bipartisan legislation co-authored by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), co-sponsored by Senator Murkowski, will further develop America's presence in the Arctic, support the maintenance and repair of U.S. Coast Guard infrastructure, and improve safety among recreational boaters. The reauthorization also provides Alaskan fishermen permanent exemption of ve… Continue Reading
11.14.18
Murkowski Highlights Findings of New Report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls
UPDATE: The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs passed the S. 1942, Savanna's Act, sending it to the full Senate for consideration. This legislation combats the epidemic of murdered and missing Native women and girls by improving the federal government's response to addressing the crisis. Click here for Senator Murkowski speaking on Savanna's Act during today's Senate Committee on Indian Affairs business meeting to consider S. 1942, Savanna's Act. Click here for full video of Senator Murkowsk… Continue Reading
11.11.18
Murkowski Honors Our Veterans
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) shared the following message with Alaskans on Veterans Day: "Veterans Day originated as "Armistice Day" on November 11th, 1919, the first anniversary marking the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and November 11th became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day. "This day is an opportunity to honor Americans who have answe… Continue Reading
11.03.18
Murkowski, Sullivan Applaud USDA for Approving $30M Purchase of Alaska Pollock for Nutrition Assistance Programs
Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) applauded the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) approval of a Section 32 purchase of up to $30 million of Alaska Pollock for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. This decision comes following a letter written by Senators Murkowski and Sullivan in September, urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, to exercise his authority to initiate a purchase of Alaska Pollock products. "Alaska Pollock is a… Continue Reading
10.24.18
Murkowski Statement on Changes in FERC Leadership
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Kevin McIntyre announced that he would step down as chairman due to ongoing health issues. President Trump has designated Neil Chatterjee to serve as chairman. "I thank Chairman McIntyre for his leadership at the agency, and pray for his swift recovery and return to good health as he continues as a commissioner," Murkowski said. "I'm confident that Chairman Chatte… Continue Reading
10.24.18
Comprehensive Bill to Fight Opioid Crisis Signed into Law
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded President Trump for signing into law today the final bipartisan, bicameral opioid legislative package the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which passed the Senate on October 3 in a 98-1 vote. As a member of the Senate HELP Committee, Senator Murkowski secured provisions in the final package which bolster research initiatives, address the shortage of professionals to provide treatment and recovery services, and create a tangible system for mea… Continue Reading
10.19.18
Murkowski Spotlights Alaska at Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today delivered remarks during the opening session of the 2018 Arctic Circle Assembly, which is being held in Reykjavik, Iceland. The Assembly annually brings together more than 2,000 of the most influential leaders, policymakers, and experts from more than 60 countries to focus on the Arctic region. This year's Assembly showcase is the state of Alaska - America's Arctic. Murkowski speaking at the Arctic Circle Assembly "It is an honor to have Alaska spo… Continue Reading
10.15.18
Murkowski Welcomes Treasury Secretary in Alaska
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) this weekend welcomed U.S. Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin to Alaska. During the Secretary's visit, Senator Murkowski brought together local community and business leaders from industries such as tourism, real estate, banking, and finance to discuss Alaska's economy and opportunities. "It is truly an honor to have Secretary Mnuchin in Alaska, and I thank him for taking the time to make the trip," said Senator Lisa Murkowski. "This visit was a tremendous oppo… Continue Reading
10.11.18
Murkowski Speaks to Alaskan Perspective of Short-Term Health Insurance Plans
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) yesterday spoke on the Senate floor on Senate Joint Resolution 63, a resolution of disapproval that would overturn a Trump administration rule that expanded the length of time that consumers can keep short-term health insurance plans. Senator Murkowski used the opportunity to explain an Alaskan perspective on short-term plans and its influence on her no vote on the joint resolution. "In Alaska we are the highest cost in terms of cost of care, highest in terms … Continue Reading
10.10.18
ICYMI: Alaskan-Caught Salmon Removed from Proposed Tariffs
As the 2018 salmon season wrapped up in Alaska, Alaskans received news from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) that certain Alaskan salmon will be excluded from the list of seafood imports subject to tariffs, allowing Alaska seafood producers who send salmon to China for limited processing to reimport those products to the United States, tariff-free. This action comes after these items were initially included on a list of hundreds of goods entering the United States which would b… Continue Reading
10.10.18
Senate Passes Major Water Infrastructure Bill
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the Senate passed, S. 3021, America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, through a bipartisan vote of 99-1. The bill, which passed the House of Representatives by voice vote in September, now heads to the president's desk. Working closely with leaders on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, including Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Murkowski secured a num… Continue Reading
10.09.18
Alaska Delegation Sends Joint Letter to State Department on Transboundary Mining Activity
The Alaska Delegation recently joined together to urge the Secretary of State to discuss the risks posed by transboundary mining activity during upcoming bilateral meetings between the United States and Canada. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Congressman Don Young, Governor Bill Walker, and Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressing Alaska's priorities for strong and continued engagement between the State Department and the Canadian Govern… Continue Reading
10.05.18
Senator Murkowski Speaks on Supreme Court Nomination
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) tonight spoke on the Senate floor on her decision to oppose the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the United States Supreme Court. (Click here to view the video) Full Remarks Below: "I've come to the floor this evening to share my thoughts on what has been an extraordinarily long, difficult, and truly painful process. As we took up the cloture motion on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court, the process that led… Continue Reading
10.03.18
Murkowski Supports FAA Reauthorization Bill
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the bicameral legislation that will provide a five-year reauthorization for the FAA, the longest enacted since 1982. This significant legislation strengthens security at airports and in flight, boosts innovation, and address Alaska's unique transportation challenges. The bill passed the Senate in a 93-6 vote, passed the House last week, and now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. "Tragically a helicopter crashed this pa… Continue Reading
10.03.18
ENR Approves Bill to Restore Equity for Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee yesterday advanced S. 785, the Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act, out of committee by voice vote. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, both R-Alaska, would allow approximately 2,800 Alaska Natives who served during the Vietnam-era to apply for their Congressionally-promised Native allotment, after they missed their initial opportunity to do so because of their service. … Continue Reading
10.02.18
Durbin, Murkowski Urge FDA To Immediately Ban Kid-Friendly E-Cigarette Flavors, Restrict Online Sales
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today, in a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urged the agency to immediately ban kid-friendly e-cigarette flavorings and restrict online sales of the addictive nicotine products. Durbin and Murkowski's letter comes on the heels of the FDA's announcement last month that-due to a public health "epidemic" of youth e-cigarette use-it would issue new enforcement actions on e-cigarette companies' use of kid-appealing flav… Continue Reading
10.01.18
Senate Passes Bill to Strengthen National Earthquake Resilience Program
Last week, the Senate passed S. 1768, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act, a bipartisan bill to improve the nation's earthquake preparedness. The legislation, introduced by Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., modernizes earthquake-safety programs that help states like Alaska and California prepare for and respond to earthquakes. The bill is cosponsored by Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Kamala H… Continue Reading
09.28.18
Murkowski Supports FBI Investigation before Vote on Supreme Court Nominee
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today made the following statement in support of delaying the final vote on Supreme Court Nominee, Brett Kavanaugh: "After a full day of testimony, I continued to express concerns to my colleagues about how this process has been handled by both sides of the aisle. In order to fully and fairly complete our due diligence, allowing the FBI up to one week to supplement its background investigation is appropriate. It is important to have a fair process for the sake of b… Continue Reading
09.25.18
Murkowski: Quantum Technologies Can Change the World
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine the Department of Energy's (DOE) efforts for quantum information science (QIS) - working with the National Labs, universities, and private industry - which could transform the future of computing. Expert witnesses discussed the challenges and opportunities that currently exist with the technology. Murkowski opened the hearing by emphasizing the importance of the U.S. staying ahead of the curve by investing in quantum technol… Continue Reading
