05.23.18

VA Healthcare Reform Bill Passes Senate

Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of the VA MISSION Act, legislation aimed to improve VA healthcare delivery, remove barriers to care, address VA personnel shortages, and expand eligibility for VA's Caregiving Program to veterans of all generations. The bill includes reforms to improve the VA's current healthcare delivery system and help provide veterans with more choices on where to receive care. The bill passed in a 92-5 vote. "When it comes to our veterans, it's so impo… Continue Reading

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05.23.18

Senators Murkowski, Markey, and Hassan Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Measure Progress in Ending Opioid Crisis

Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) today introduced legislation to create a national roadmap for ending the opioid epidemic, which claimed more than 42,000 lives in 2016 alone. Their legislation, the National Milestones to Measure Progress in Ending the Opioid Epidemic Act, would require the federal government to set tangible benchmarks for how it is addressing the opioid crisis in and by measuring progress on key objectives each year. Thes… Continue Reading

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05.22.18

Murkowski: Addressing Healthcare Workforce Shortages

As Alaska grapples with a consistent lack of trained professionals in various healthcare sectors, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today participated in a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing to address healthcare workforce shortages and ways to improve care. The hearing featured witnesses Dr. Kristen H. Goodell, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Julie Sanford, Director of the Sch… Continue Reading

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05.22.18

Sen. Murkowski and the University of Alaska Prepare for Alaska National Lab Day

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that she will participate in the first-ever Alaska National Lab Day being hosted by the University of Alaska from Tuesday, May 29 through Thursday, May 31. During the forum, internationally renowned scientists from the Department of Energy (DOE) and its national laboratories will gather with Alaska's elected, academic, and industry leaders to discuss their work and learn about opportunities for partnerships throughout the state. Murkowski, who help… Continue Reading

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05.22.18

Murkowski, Brown Introduce Bill Allowing States Grace Period to Comply With New Federal Law

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today introduced a bipartisan bill to delay the implementation of a provision contained in the 21st Century Cures Act law, requiring States to have Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) systems in place for personal care services by January 1, 2019. The EVV system requires healthcare providers to use an electronic method to confirm that services were actually delivered and billed accurately. Senator Murkowski's legislation would delay th… Continue Reading

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05.22.18

Alaska Delegation Supports Administration’s Proposal to Reverse Federal Takeover of State Hunting Regulations

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the Alaska Region of the National Park Service (NPS) proposed to amend its regulations for sport hunting and trapping on national preserves in Alaska. Under the proposed rule, the 2015 regulations will be removed to establish better consistency with the State of Alaska's regulations. "Congress explicitly provided Alaska with the authority to manage its fish and wildlife in t… Continue Reading

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05.18.18

Murkowski Welcomes Final List of Critical Minerals

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke published the Department's final list of 35 critical minerals. Multiple federal agencies will now use this list to develop a strategy to reduce foreign dependence and strengthen U.S. mineral security. "I thank Secretary Zinke for his efforts to develop this list of minerals, highlighting our most critical vulnerabilities," Murkowski said. "These minerals are needed for energy, h… Continue Reading

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05.17.18

Murkowski Welcomes the Approval of Alaska’s ESSA State Plan

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today welcomed the announcement of the approval of Alaska's consolidated state plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). "ESSA provides greater flexibility and control to states and local communities to decide how best to support, celebrate, and improve their schools and provide greater opportunities for all students. I congratulate the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development and the thousands of Alaskans who participated in crafting Alaska's S… Continue Reading

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05.17.18

Murkowski Votes to Confirm Gina Haspel for CIA Director

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today released the following statement after voting to confirm Gina Haspel as the new Director for the Central Intelligence Agency. "With more than 30 years of experience as a leader in the CIA, well respected throughout the intelligence committee, Gina Haspel is certainly qualified to serve as the Agency's Director, made evident through strong bipartisan support," said Senator Murkowski. "Haspel understands, better than most, the risk that inappropriate condu… Continue Reading

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05.17.18

Senate Passes Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring Bill

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, today secured passage of S. 346, their National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System Act. This legislation improves the nation's volcano monitoring and early warning capabilities to help keep communities and travelers safe. "Volcanic eruptions, like the one in Hawaii and the one earlier this month at Cleveland Volcano in Alaska, are vivid reminders of why it is so critical to have continuous and rel… Continue Reading

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05.17.18

Murkowski Joins Bipartisan Group Of Senators Urging Trump Administration To Combat Anti-Semitism, Appoint Special Envoy

Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) led a bipartisan group of 41 U.S. Senators urging President Donald Trump to appoint a Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at the U.S. Department of State, a position that has now remained vacant for over 15 months. In a letter to President Trump, the senators emphasized the importance of the United States leading with action to combat anti-Semitism at home and abroad. "There has been an acute global increase i… Continue Reading

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05.16.18

Senator Murkowski Questions Administrator Pruitt over EPA Budget

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) chaired an Interior Appropriations Subcommittee hearing today, examining the Fiscal Year 2019 budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During the hearing, Senator Murkowski and her colleagues reviewed programs within the EPA, to ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly, and that the Agency is able to carry out their work. "Administrator Pruitt, when you were before the committee last year you said that you would work to return the EPA … Continue Reading

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05.16.18

Murkowski Statement on Net Neutrality Vote

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski issued the following statement on the Senate's vote on joint resolution, S J Res 52, providing for congressional disapproval of the net neutrality rule by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). "Regulating the internet like a utility under a 1934 law is not the way to an open internet. I have never supported Title II regulation and do not support it today. "I have voted to pass this resolution today so that we can reset the discussion and move beyond the polit… Continue Reading

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05.15.18

Committee Reviews Nominee for the Advisory Council for Historic Preservation

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to consider the nomination of Aimee Jorjani to be the chair of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (Council). If confirmed, she will complete the remainder of a four-year term expiring on June 10, 2021. Murkowski opened the hearing by thanking Jorjani for her willingness to serve our country and highlighting her qualifications for the role. "Aimee Jorjani appears to be very well … Continue Reading

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05.14.18

Murkowski Questions Military Leaders on U.S. Strategy in the Arctic

The Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee recently held a hearing to review the FY19 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Defense. During the hearing, Senator Lisa Murkowski questioned Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford about our strategic military presence in the Arctic. "In the past 10 years we have seen the Russians move dramatically, and actually in the past year even more so. And yet, our U.S. Arctic strategy has ye… Continue Reading

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05.11.18

Senator Murkowski Questions Secretary Zinke over Interior Budget

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) chaired an Interior Appropriations Subcommittee hearing today, examining the Fiscal Year 2019 budget request for the Department of the Interior. During the hearing, Senator Murkowski addressed budget priorities from public access and land conveyance needs to disaster warning systems and maintenance backlogs. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke testified on the Department of Interior's effort to examine how to best manage our public lands, taking a 100-year outlook. … Continue Reading

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05.10.18

Menendez, Murkowski, Klobuchar, Rubio Celebrate Passage of Bipartisan Firefighter Cancer Registry Act

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today applauded unanimous Senate passage of The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, bipartisan legislation he first introduced in the 114th Congress with original cosponsors Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), to create a national cancer registry for firefighters diagnosed with the deadly disease. The bill calls on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor and study the relationship between career-lo… Continue Reading

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05.10.18

Alaska Senators Welcome Selection of University of Alaska, Fairbanks as UAS Integration Pilot Program Site

Alaska Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski welcomed yesterday's announcement from the U.S. Department of Transportation naming the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF) as one of 10 sites nationwide selected for the highly competitive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP). The newly created program serves an opportunity for state, local, and tribal governments to partner with private sector entities to accelerate the safe UAS i… Continue Reading

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05.09.18

Alaska Delegation Strongly Supports Tara Sweeney

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK) today advocated for the swift confirmation of Tara Sweeney of Alaska to be Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. During Tara Sweeney's nomination hearing in the Indian Affairs Committee, of which Senator Murkowski is a member, the Alaska senators offered their congratulations and full support for her nomination. Once confirmed, Sweeney, the former co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives and Cha… Continue Reading

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05.09.18

Sen. Murkowski Announces $10.9 Million in Secure Rural Schools Payments to Alaska

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today announced that communities across Alaska will soon receive a total of $10,972,512 to fund schools and local budget priorities. The payments are being provided through the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, which Murkowski successfully reauthorized and funded in the recent omnibus appropriations bill. "I recognize that as timber production declines, local communities in Alaska and across the nation are forced to rely on the Secure Rural Schools program … Continue Reading