07.31.18

Murkowski: Reducing Healthcare Costs

As Alaska faces some of the highest healthcare costs in the nation, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today participated in a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing to address ways to reduce healthcare costs, specifically focused on decreasing administrative spending. The hearing featured Alaskan witness, Becky Hultberg, President and CEO of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Association, who testified on the obstacles hospitals and nursing facilities face in comply… Continue Reading

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07.27.18

Murkowski Questions Administration on Impacts of Seafood Tariffs

During a Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee hearing recently, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) questioned Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative, on the administration's plans to ensure our trade policy allows seafood producers to thrive, citing China's recently announced 25 percent tariff on American seafood imports. "It has clearly rattled my state. Our seafood industry is the number one private industry in terms of the jobs and the economic… Continue Reading

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07.26.18

Cortez Masto, Murkowski Introduce End Trafficking of Native Americans Act

U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, today introduced the End Trafficking of Native Americans Act of 2018. This bill addresses some of the gaps between tribal communities and the federal government in combatting human trafficking of Native Americans and Alaska Natives. It would establish an advisory committee on human trafficking comprised of law enforcement, tribal leaders, and service providers to make r… Continue Reading

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07.25.18

Senate Passes Bill to Improve Legislation for Academic Achievement of Career and Technical Education Students

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation reauthorizing the Carl Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, a law crucial to helping our nation's students obtain skills to be successful in today's workplace. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, assisted in drafting the Senate's Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act in consultation with Alaskan stakeholders and tribal advocates. "Alaska is doing righ… Continue Reading

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07.24.18

Murkowski Convenes Hearing on Global Oil Prices

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine volatility in global oil prices, which have been driven by strong economic growth, rising demand, supply restrictions from OPEC, and geopolitical events around the world. "This year has been marked by greater volatility, which has shown up in the prices being paid at the pump by nearly every American family and business," Murkowski said. "Prices are notably higher than a year ago, so the questions we're here to ask include: … Continue Reading

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07.23.18

Senate Tees Up Senator Murkowski’s Interior Appropriations Bill

Today the U.S. Senate moved to consider its second Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 government funding package, which includes Senator Lisa Murkowski's (R-AK) Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations bill. This marks the first time that the Interior bill has been on the floor for full Senate consideration since FY 2010. Senator Murkowski, a senior member on the Appropriations Committee and chairman of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, was selected … Continue Reading

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07.23.18

Murkowski Votes to Confirm New VA Secretary

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today released the following statement after voting to confirm Robert L. Wilkie to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Wilkie was confirmed by a vote of 86-9. "Success at the VA means one thing --- and that is serving our veterans. And because Alaska has more veterans per capita than any other state in the U.S., it is especially important that we confirm the right individual to lead this important agency. After scandals and poor reports, it's more crucial … Continue Reading

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07.23.18

ICYMI: Murkowski on C-SPAN’s “Alaska Weekend”

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently interviewed with C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss what her chairmanship on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee brings to Alaska, how she's educating her colleagues on the opportunities and challenges in Alaska, and her process of vetting the Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh. The segment aired during C-SPAN's "Alaska Weekend" as part of the C-SPAN Nationwide Roadshow. (Click here and image above for full interview.) O… Continue Reading

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07.20.18

In First Bipartisan Statement, Senators Urge President to Keep Families Together

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), James Lankford (R-OK), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Susan Collins (R-ME) in a bipartisan group of more than two dozen senators in sending a letter to President Trump, stating that the default position of the United States should be to keep families together. The letter is the first bipartisan statement firmly opposing the family separation policy and urging the administration to work with the faith community on its efforts to r… Continue Reading

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07.19.18

Committee Reviews Proposals to Reorganize and Modernize DOE and DOI

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine the administration's efforts to reorganize and modernize the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of the Interior (DOI). "It's our responsibility to look at the structures of government and determine whether they are as efficient and effective as we expect," Murkowski said. "Putting ideas on the table for improvements is a good thing - something we should encourage. And from there, it's on all of us to consider thos… Continue Reading

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07.18.18

Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation Introduced to Combat Workplace Harassment and Increase Transparency and Accountability

Today, Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-21), Ted Poe (R-TX-02), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) introduced H.R. 6406, Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace harassment through Education and Reporting (EMPOWER) Act, to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding workplace harassment, and bolster transparency and accountability. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). "Sexual ha… Continue Reading

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07.18.18

Murkowski, Brown, Portman Provision To Give States More Time, Flexibility To Comply With Federal Law Sent To President’s Desk

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that legislation based on their proposal to give states more flexibility and time to implement electronic verification systems to better serve patients was passed by the Senate. Their proposal now heads to the President's desk to become law. Earlier this year Murkowski, Brown, and Portman introduced a bipartisan bill to delay the implementation of a provision contained in the 21st Century Cures Act law t… Continue Reading

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07.17.18

Murkowski: Congress Must Act to Reduce America’s Foreign Mineral Dependence

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine the Department of the Interior's final list of critical minerals for 2018 and opportunities to reverse our nation's growing dependence on foreign suppliers. This is the fifth hearing the committee has held on U.S. mineral security in recent years. "Our foreign dependence has almost doubled in the past two decades alone," Murkowski said. "While these trends were ignored for a long time, the administration has taken several po… Continue Reading

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07.16.18

Murkowski Statement on Trump-Putin Press Conference in Helsinki

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a joint press conference at the conclusion of the Helsinki Summit. "I'm stunned that President Trump failed to take this opportunity to confront President Putin about the interference in our elections. President Trump ultimately validated Putin at the expense of American intelligence by giving credence to Putin's claim to have not interfered in our elections. … Continue Reading

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07.13.18

Murkowski Welcomes Second Session of Summer Interns to Washington D.C.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) this week, welcomed her second group of summer interns to Washington, D.C. to work in her office for the month. These recent Alaskan high school graduates have the opportunity to get an up-close look at the United States Senate by shadowing Senator Murkowski throughout the work-day, such as during hearings and meetings, in addition to assisting the office with administrative and clerical tasks and projects. "As someone who took part in an intern program in D.C… Continue Reading

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07.12.18

Murray, Murkowski, Jayapal Announce Bipartisan, Bicameral Reintroduction of Legislation to Bolster Critical Care for Survivors of Sexual Assault

Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), member of the HELP Committee, and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA7), announced a bipartisan, bicameral reintroduction of the Survivors' Access to Supportive Care Act (SASCA), legislation that would provide guidance and support to states and hospitals providing sexual assault examination services and treatment to survivors. Senator Murray, Se… Continue Reading

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07.12.18

Murkowski: Infrastructure Investments, Timely Permits Crucial for Dependable Energy Supply

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to examine policy issues facing interstate delivery networks for natural gas and electricity, which was prompted by last month's oversight hearing of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The committee today dove more deeply into a number of issues impacting our nation's capacity to deliver affordable, clean, diverse, and secure energy. Murkowski opened the hearing by emphasizing the importance of energy delivery infrastruct… Continue Reading

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07.12.18

Murkowski Applauds Firefighter Cancer Registry Now Law

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) applauded the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act being signed into law, bipartisan legislation which creates a national registry for firefighters diagnosed with cancer. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski was an original cosponsor of the bill. The bill directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study the relationship between career-long exposure to dangerous toxins and fumes and the frequency of cancer in firefighters to determine if there is a link. … Continue Reading

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07.11.18

Murkowski Proud to Host Secretary of Labor on Recent Visit to Alaska

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) this week hosted U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta in Alaska, his first visit to the state as the head of the federal Department of Labor. Murkowski and Acosta recently traveled to King Salmon and Naknek, where they attended a roundtable to discuss the unique challenges and vast opportunities of the Bristol Bay salmon fishery, including feedback from Alaskans and industry representatives on their experiences with the current H-2B Visa Program. Attendees in… Continue Reading

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07.10.18

Murkowski Secures Micro-Grants to Support Locally Grown Food

The U.S. Senate recently passed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. Included in this bill is a provision Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) authored-the Micro-Grants for Food Security program-that creates a new grant to help support Alaskans' ability to grow their own food. U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) co-sponsored the provision. "Alaska imports over 90 percent of our food. This results in high prices, especially in rural areas, and puts Alaskans at risk when trans… Continue Reading