07.19.17

Alaska Delegation and Gov. Walker Urge DOI, DOT, USDA to Resolve Cooper Landing Bypass Dispute

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, and U.S. Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, and Gov. Bill Walker, I-Alaska, yesterday sent a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, and Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao urging them to work together to resolve long-standing delays over the Cooper Landing Bypass in southcentral Alaska. "We write to seek your coordinated assistance to resolve one of the longest-runni… Continue Reading

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07.18.17

Committee Reviews U.S. Energy and Resource Security

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing held by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to examine the status of U.S. and North American energy and resource security. The hearing examined everything from the significant benefits that have resulted from the elimination of the domestic ban on crude oil exports in December 2015 to the need to maintain U.S. nuclear leadership and improve our waning mineral security. Murkowski opened the hearing by recognizing how far the… Continue Reading

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07.18.17

Murkowski’s Statement on Senate Healthcare Process

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after Senate Republican leadership announced their plan to proceed to repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without a replacement. "As I've been saying, the Senate should take a step back and engage in a bipartisan process to address the failures of the ACA and stabilize the individual markets. That will require members on both sides of the aisle to roll up their sleeves and take this to the open committee… Continue Reading

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07.14.17

Murkowski Introduces GE Salmon Labeling Bill

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently introduced new legislation (attached) to mandate the labeling of genetically engineered salmon, continuing her years-long fight against "Frankenfish." The Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act, co-sponsored by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) requires any salmon that is genetically engineered to be labeled as "genetically engineered" or "GE." The bill also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Serv… Continue Reading

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07.13.17

Murkowski on Military Construction and VA Funding for Alaska

The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Bill, which contains several priorities championed by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to support growth in Alaska's military presence and improve health services to our veterans. The bill supports critical infrastructure for U.S. military personnel, veterans, and their families. "This bill is critical to providing the resources that we need to gro… Continue Reading

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07.12.17

Murkowski Demands Answers on Indian Health Service's Proposed Budget Cuts

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) chaired an Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the Indian Health Service's (IHS) budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018. Senator Murkowski raised concerns with Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee, the new Acting Director for the Indian Health Service, over the administration's budget request containing a decrease of $300 million from last year's enacted levels. "There is anger, there is frustration and rightly so because a… Continue Reading

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07.10.17

Murkowski: New Secretarial Order Will Help Reduce Permitting Delays

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, issued the following statement after Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke issued a Secretarial Order directing the Department to hold regular onshore oil and gas leasing sales and to reduce delays in the processing of Applications for Permits to Drill (APDs). "After years of bureaucratic delay that held back and halted critical projects, this order is yet more good news for our efforts to refill the Trans-Alaska Pipeline," Murkowski said. "Although Secretary … Continue Reading

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07.01.17

Murkowski Applauds U.S. Mint Design to Feature Historic Alaska Native

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, (R-AK) today praised the decision by the U.S. Mint to feature Elizabeth Peratrovich, an Alaska Native who inspired enactment of the Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945 on a new $1 coin. "Elizabeth Peratrovich stood up for those who needed a voice, when she witnessed significant discrimination against Alaska Natives. Her message was clear and powerful - that we must strive for equal rights for all citizens. This is great news for the Peratrovich family, Alaska Native… Continue Reading

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06.30.17

Murkowski Welcomes First Step on New Offshore Leasing Plan

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after President Donald Trump announced that the Department of the Interior has taken the first step toward a new Five-Year Program for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) energy development. "I'm pleased the administration has wasted no time in starting the process for a new and better plan that could increase offshore development in Alaska and elsewhere," Murkowski said. "With technological innovation, offshore development is n… Continue Reading

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06.29.17

Murkowski: Alaska Will Greatly Benefit from Bipartisan Energy and Natural Resources Bill

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week introduced S. 1460, the Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017 (ENRA), as the successor to her broad, bipartisan bill from the last Congress. This new measure will help Alaskans produce more energy, pay less for energy, facilitate needed infrastructure, boost the innovation of new technologies, and protect sportsmen's access to federal lands-all without raising taxes or adding to the deficit. "This new bill encompasses a wide range of Alaska prior… Continue Reading

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06.29.17

Senators Murkowski and Cantwell Introduce Broad, Bipartisan Energy and Natural Resources Bill

U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., the committee's ranking member, this week introduced S. 1460, the Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017 (ENRA). The bill is the successor to their broad, bipartisan legislation from the previous Congress and was placed directly on the Senate Calendar for expedited floor consideration. Focused on a wide range of energy and natural resources opportunities and challenges, EN… Continue Reading

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06.29.17

Murkowski Questions EPA Administrator Pruitt on Budget Priorities

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) chaired an Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018. During the hearing, Murkowski questioned EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on numerous priorities for Alaska- ranging from reducing spending at the EPA, mining in the Bristol Bay region, air quality issues in Fairbanks, diesel generator regulations, and efforts to keep our air and water cle… Continue Reading

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06.29.17

Donnelly, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Workforce Shortage to Confront Opioid Epidemic

U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced today that they introduced the Strengthening the Addiction Treatment Workforce Act (S.1453). Their bipartisan legislation would help address the shortage of providers who treat people battling substance use disorders by making addiction treatment facilities eligible for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) student loan repayment and forgiveness program. This bill would allow mental health and addiction treatment facilitie… Continue Reading

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06.28.17

Murkowski Welcomes EPA Move to Rescind Burdensome WOTUS Rule

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule to rescind the previous administration's "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) rule. The agency intends to re-codify the regulatory text that existed prior to 2015 as it works on a less burdensome long-term replacement. "The WOTUS rule was one of the most controversial finalized by the Obama administration. Some 31 states, including Alaska, sued to block … Continue Reading

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06.28.17

Murkowski Statement on Commissioner Honorable’s Upcoming Departure from FERC

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after Commissioner Colette Honorable announced that her final day at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will be June 30, 2017. "Commissioner Honorable has served with distinction. While I did not agree with her on every issue, she has been an outstanding regulator, and I wish her and her family well. Although I understand and respect Commissioner Honorable's decision to step down this week, her departure again… Continue Reading

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06.27.17

Murkowski: Alaskan Communities to Receive Economic Boost

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced today that the Department of the Interior is distributing more than $29.69 million to eligible local governments throughout Alaska. These payments are made to boroughs and counties across the United States that contain federal lands to help offset the cost of maintaining community services, such as first responders, public schools, and road construction. Unlike private lands, federal lands are not subject to local taxes, often making it difficult for r… Continue Reading

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06.22.17

Murkowski: DOE Must Help Strengthen U.S Leadership in Energy Innovation

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired an oversight hearing held by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to examine the U.S. Department of Energy's $28 billion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018, a $2.7 billion reduction from the current fiscal year. Murkowski opened the hearing by welcoming Secretary Rick Perry back to the committee for the first time since his bipartisan Senate confirmation on March 2. While noting that she agrees with parts of the Department's budget re… Continue Reading

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06.22.17

Murkowski Welcomes Results of Cook Inlet Lease Sale

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) held a lease sale in Alaska's Cook Inlet. The lease sale was the first to be held in Alaska's federal offshore waters in almost a decade. "This lease sale is good news for the future of affordable energy in southcentral Alaska, and a good sign for our ability to develop more of the prolific resources in Alaska's… Continue Reading

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06.22.17

Senator Murkowski Questions Secretary Zinke Over Interior Budget

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) chaired the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the FY 2018 Budget Request for the Department of the Interior. Her opening remarks reflected Alaskan needs, highlighting areas of concern in the budget, such as the need for adequate funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and areas of support, such as the proposal to open up the 1002 Area within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for energy developmen… Continue Reading

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06.21.17

Murkowski: Interior Working to Increase Access to Alaska’s Lands and Waters

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired an oversight hearing held by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to examine the U.S. Department of the Interior's $11.7 billion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018, a reduction of more than $1 billion compared to the current fiscal year. Murkowski opened the hearing by welcoming Secretary Zinke back to the committee for the first time since his strong bipartisan Senate confirmation on March 1. "I have enjoyed working with you durin… Continue Reading