11.09.17

Alaska Delegation Welcomes Joint Development Agreement to Advance Alaska LNG Project

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the State of Alaska, the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), CIC Capital Corporation (CIC Capital), and the Bank of China (BOC) announced the signing of a joint development agreement to advance the Alaska LNG project. "We congratulate Gov. Walker and all who are working on the Alaska LNG project on this milestone.… Continue Reading

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11.08.17

Alaska Delegation Takes Next Step to Open Alaska’s 1002 Area

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, and Alaska Gov. Bill Walker today issued the following statements after the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources released budget reconciliation legislation to open a small part of the non-wilderness portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), known as the "1002 Area" or Coastal Plain, to responsible oil and gas development. "This legislation is a tremendous opportunity for both Alaska and our coun… Continue Reading

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11.08.17

Murkowski Releases Chairman’s Mark to Meet FY2018 Budget Instruction

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released reconciliation legislation pursuant to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's instruction to raise $1 billion in federal revenues in H. Con. Res. 71, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018. "Our instruction is a tremendous opportunity both for our committee and our country," Murkowski said. "The legislation I released tonight will put Alaska and the entire nation on a path toward greater prosperity by creating… Continue Reading

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11.07.17

Sen. Murkowski Leads CODEL to Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this past weekend led a congressional delegation to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to assess damages in the hurricane ravaged islands and ongoing recovery efforts. The delegation also held discussions with local leaders on how to restore power expeditiously and rebuild a stronger, more sustainable electric grid. Joining Murkowski on the CODEL were Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Al Franken, D-Minn., Tom Carper, D-Del., and Kamala Harris, D-Calif., and Reps… Continue Reading

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11.07.17

AK Delegation Applauds Major Missile Defense Increase in Trump Administration’s Budget Request

The Alaska Congressional delegation today applauded the Trump administration's FY18 budget amendment for the Department of Defense, which requests $4 billion for missile defeat and defense upgrades to counter increasing threat from North Korea. This action includes $2.1 billion for missile defense, including $200 million in military construction for a new missile field at Fort Greely, AK, and 20 missile interceptors required to operationalize the field. "For the past year, I have been sounding … Continue Reading

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11.02.17

Alaska Delegation: Now is the Right Time to Open Alaska’s 1002 Area

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing focused on the potential for oil and gas development in the non-wilderness portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), known as the "1002 Area" or Coastal Plain, to meet the $1 billion budget reconciliation instruction the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee received last week in H. Con. Res. 71. During the hearing, Sen. Dan Sullivan, and Rep. Don Young, both R-Alaska, provided opening statements for committee membe… Continue Reading

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10.31.17

Murkowski: Smart Building Technologies Promote Energy Efficiency and Resiliency in American Homes and Businesses

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to discuss new efficiency opportunities provided by advanced building management and control systems. The committee heard from representatives of the Department of Energy (DOE), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Cold Climate Housing Research Center, Southern Company, and Emerson Commercial and Residential Solutions. Smart technologies have had a big impact on reducing energy use and costs across the nation. According to DOE's Buil… Continue Reading

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10.27.17

Murkowski Supports Improving Safety for Alaska Natives and American Indians

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined her colleagues on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs this week to attend an oversight hearing to advance three bills to improve public safety for Alaska Natives and American Indians. Senator Murkowski showed her support for the bills, the Tribal Law and Order Reauthorization and Amendments Act, the SURVIVE Act, and Savanna's Act, by signing on as a co-sponsor. During her opening statement, Senator Murkowski spoke on the devastating statistics surro… Continue Reading

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10.26.17

Murkowski: Emerging Technologies Key to Protecting U.S. Energy Infrastructure from Cyber Intrusions

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to discuss the innovation of emerging cyber technologies that can be used to protect our nation's electric grids and other critical energy infrastructure from future cyberattacks. The committee heard from representatives of the Pacific Northwest, Oak Ridge and Idaho National Laboratories, Qubitekk, and New Context Services. While we are looking at solutions to rebuild stronger electric grids in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands t… Continue Reading

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10.26.17

Murkowski Statement on Opioid Public Health Emergency

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after President Trump made an announcement, directing the declaration of a nationwide public health emergency to address the opioid crisis: "I applaud President Trump for declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency, today. Opioid addiction has become one of the most devastating public health issues confronting our nation. It is impacting everyone, destroying families, spurring crime, hurting our economy, and leading t… Continue Reading

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10.24.17

Murkowski Supports Disaster Aid

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) voted in favor of a disaster aid bill to help communities facing hurricane destruction and fighting wildfires. The bill provides additional funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as well as funds to account for recent damage caused by wildfires, enabling aid workers to continue critical recovery operations, debris removal and infrastructure repair. The bill passed in a vote of 82-17. "The devasta… Continue Reading

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10.24.17

GAO: 2016 Tongass Plan Amendment is a Rule

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) determination that the U.S. Forest Service's 2016 Amendment to the Tongass Land Management Plan (TLMP Amendment) is a "rule" and therefore subject to the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Murkowski asked GAO to determine whether the TLMP Amendment met the definition of a "rule" earlier this year, and GAO announced yesterday that it does. "I welcome GAO's determination that the 2016 TLMP Amendment is a rule… Continue Reading

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10.23.17

Murkowski Introduces Bill to Authorize Cooperative Management Agreements Between District of Columbia and the National Park Service

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, recently introduced a bill that authorizes the District of Columbia (District) to enter into cooperative management agreements (CMAs) with the National Park Service (NPS) to more efficiently manage park sites across the District. The bill, S. 1956, is the companion bill to H.R. 2897, which was introduced in June by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C. "Both the District and the Park Service share the mutual goal of providing better, more cost-effective mana… Continue Reading

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10.19.17

Sullivan, Murkowski Introduce the Allowing Alaska IVORY Act

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, this week introduced S. 1965, the Allowing Alaska IVORY Act. The legislation would preempt states from banning walrus ivory or whale bone products that have been legally carved by Alaska Natives under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Additionally, the bill preempts states from issuing bans on mammoth ivory products. At last year's Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, Senator Sullivan held a Senate Environment and Public Works field hearing to … Continue Reading

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10.19.17

Senate Passes Budget Resolution, Opening Door to Tax Reform, Responsible Development of 1002 Area

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year 2018 budget resolution, which passed the Senate late tonight. "This budget resolution offers a tremendous opportunity to secure the future of Alaska, from long overdue federal tax reform to responsible energy development in a small part of the non-wilderness 1002 Area," Murkowski said. "Tonight was just the first step, but we are now on a path that will allow us to create jobs, generate new… Continue Reading

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10.17.17

Alaska Delegation Applauds EPA’s Selection of Chris Hladick as Region 10 Administrator

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young today released the following statement after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt appointed Alaskan Chris Hladick to serve as regional administrator for Region 10. "‎Chris is exactly what Alaska needs, an experienced Administrator that will implement the law instead of furthering agendas," said Senator Murkowski. "Chris has years of experience as the Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, … Continue Reading

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10.17.17

Murkowski Applauds Bipartisan Healthcare Deal

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WI), Chairman and Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), announced an agreement aimed at improving and stabilizing the individual insurance market. "For months now, I have been urging a bipartisan approach to healthcare reform. I applaud my colleagues, Senators Alexander and Murray, for continuing to work towards a bipart… Continue Reading

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10.17.17

AK Delegation Congratulates Tara Sweeney on Nomination for Key Role in Administration

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Tara Sweeney to be Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs within the U.S. Department of the Interior. "I extend my congratulations and full support to Tara on her nomination to serve as Assistant Secretary," said Murkowski. "Tara has a very strong record of professionalism and accomplishment in Alaska, across the co… Continue Reading

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10.12.17

Warren, Murkowski Urge Trump to Officially Declare Opioid Epidemic a National Emergency and Take Action to Help States Combat Crisis

Text of the letter (PDF) United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today sent a letter to President Donald Trump to express concern that he has not declared the nation's opioid epidemic a national emergency or taken meaningful actions, like those of Massachusetts and Alaska after declaring their own state-level emergencies, to address the crisis. The senators encouraged the President to heed the recommendation of the President's own Commission on Combating … Continue Reading

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10.10.17

Energy and Natural Resources Committee Developing Western Water and Drought Legislation

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power Chairman Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., last week held a bipartisan roundtable to discuss opportunities to reduce federal red tape for aquifer recharge when it does not impact other water users, fully respects state primacy on groundwater, and complies with state water law. Following the subcommittee's August hearing on water supply and drought resilience, this roundtable marks another step to gather input from water mana… Continue Reading