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.
Alaska Delegation Commends Executive Order on Offshore Energy Development
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, and U.S. Rep. Don Young, all R-Alaska, today joined President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke for the signing ceremony of an Executive Order to implement an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy. The order lifts leasing withdrawals imposed on Alaska's Arctic, directs the Department of the Interior to conduct a review of the areas available for leasing, and directs a review of certain regulations governi… Continue Reading
04.27.17
Murkowski Votes to Confirm Alexander Acosta as Labor Secretary
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after voting to confirm R. Alexander Acosta as Secretary of Labor: "Mr. Acosta is well-qualified to lead the U.S. Department of Labor. He has earned a strong reputation among his former colleagues at the National Labor Relations Board and among labor leaders as experienced, fair, and open-minded-someone who understands the relationship between employers and workers and cares about the lives of average Americans. In my interac… Continue Reading
04.27.17
Murkowski Holds Hearing on CNMI Economic Expansion Act
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today held a legislative hearing to receive testimony on H.R. 339, the Northern Mariana Islands Economic Expansion Act. Murkowski kicked off the hearing by highlighting the fact that for the last two years the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW) permit cap has been reached before the end of the fiscal year. The hearing provided Senators with the opportunity to better understand how this legislation will help CNMI's future economic growth beyond 2019. "It's no… Continue Reading
04.26.17
Murkowski Commends Executive Order on National Monuments
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today joined President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke for the signing ceremony of an executive order directing the Department of the Interior to conduct a review of national monuments designated under the Antiquities Act since 1996. Secretary Zinke will review onshore and marine monument designations over 100,000 acres in size, and provide recommendations to the president for changes to the scope and size of those m… Continue Reading
04.26.17
Murkowski Comments on President Trump’s Education Executive Order
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after President Trump signed the Executive Order Enforcing Statutory Prohibitions on Federal Control of Education. "I was pleased to see that President Trump directed Education Secretary DeVos to review all regulations, guidance and documents issued by the Department to ensure they comply with the federal prohibitions against federal control of our schools. The Every Student Succeeds Act returned state and local control of our schoo… Continue Reading
04.24.17
Murkowski Votes to Confirm Sonny Perdue as Secretary of Agriculture
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue was confirmed to be the Secretary of Agriculture by a vote of 87-11. "I congratulate Gov. Perdue on his successful confirmation to be our nation's next Secretary of Agriculture," Murkowski said. "We had a very good conversation about the many ways in which the USDA impacts Alaska, and he expressed a real willingness to work with us to improve our food security, rural economic develo… Continue Reading
04.18.17
AK Delegation Celebrates Quintillion Ribbon-Cutting in Deadhorse
Alaska Congressional Delegation attended the ribbon-cutting yesterday for the launch of Phase 1 of the Quintillion fiber system in Deadhorse, Alaska, slated to be the first intercontinental cable system. "Being connected is everything in the new economy, and it's inspiring to see how Alaskan companies have invested in the future of our state," said Senator Lisa Murkowski. "By delivering high-speed internet, companies like Quintillion are not just increasing access; they are providing the means … Continue Reading
04.12.17
Alaska Delegation Reintroduces Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act
The Alaska Congressional Delegation is continuing its efforts to provide equitable treatment to Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans by reintroducing the Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act. The legislation would amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to allow approximately 2,800 Alaska Natives who served during the Vietnam era, and missed an earlier opportunity because of that service, to apply for their government-promised Native allotment. "This has always been an issue of equi… Continue Reading
04.10.17
Murkowski Reintroduces Bill to Honor Recent Veterans of Second Division
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, reintroduced S. 907, the Second Division Memorial Modification Act, to authorize the modification of the existing Second Division Memorial in Washington, D.C. The bill would allow the Second Indianhead Division Association Scholarship and Memorials Foundation (Foundation) to add commemorative elements or engravings to the existing memorial to honor the members of the Second Division who have given their lives in service to the United States but have yet to be… Continue Reading
04.07.17
Murkowski and Sullivan Introduce Bill to Restart Alaska OCS Development
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, yesterday introduced the Offshore Production and Energizing National Security Alaska Act of 2017 (OPENS Alaska Act) to repeal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) withdrawals made at the end of the Obama administration, provide for lease sales in the Arctic OCS, and ensure Alaska receives a fair share of the revenues from oil and gas development off its coast. "After years of regulatory restrictions and burdens imposed by the Obama administrat… Continue Reading
04.07.17
Murkowski Comments on U.S. Missile Strikes in Syria
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement in response to the U.S.-launched missile strikes against the Shayrat Airfield in Syria, which is reportedly associated with the Syrian regime's chemical weapons program and directly linked to the April 4th chemical weapons attack: "This week the world witnessed a horrific attack in Syria, where evidence shows Bashar al-Assad and his regime used chemical weapons in a strike to kill their own people. President Trump has taken the… Continue Reading
04.07.17
Murkowski: JBER’s 4-25 Army Brigade Combat Team Intact
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement after the Army announced its intent to keep the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division (4/25 BCT) home-based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, intact. "Alaskans are waking up today to news we've been waiting to hear for years now - the 4/25 Army Brigade Combat Team at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson remains intact. As General Milley, Chief of Staff of the Army, previously told me - it would be contr… Continue Reading
04.07.17
Murkowski Votes to Confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released the following statement to cast her vote in support of Judge Neil Gorsuch to be the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court: "I was pleased that today the U.S. Senate has moved to fill Scalia's seat on the U.S. Supreme Court with bipartisan support for Judge Neil Gorsuch, an imminently qualified jurist. Judge Gorsuch checks the box on every measure of what I'm looking for in a Supreme Court nominee: intellectual capacity, experience, indepen… Continue Reading
04.07.17
Murkowski and Sullivan Introduce Bill to Restart Alaska OCS Development
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, both R-Alaska, yesterday introduced the Offshore Production and Energizing National Security Alaska Act of 2017 (OPENS Alaska Act) to repeal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) withdrawals made at the end of the Obama administration, provide for lease sales in the Arctic OCS, and ensure Alaska receives a fair share of the revenues from oil and gas development off its coast. "After years of regulatory restrictions and burdens imposed by the Obama administrat… Continue Reading
04.07.17
Murkowski Comments On Changes to Supreme Court Confirmation Process
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski released the following statement and answered questions after the Senate changed the rules to lower the number of votes needed to end a filibuster of a Supreme Court nominee. "I respect the traditions of the Senate. But it is not tradition to filibuster a Supreme Court nominee - a strategy the Senate Democrats sadly decided to employ. I have a longstanding practice of supporting a process that allows every nominee the opportunity for an up or down vote once the… Continue Reading
04.05.17
Tester, Murkowski, Pingree Introduce Legislation to Support Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma
U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) are introducing bipartisan legislation to ensure the VA is providing appropriate benefits and care for survivors of military sexual trauma (MST). Following reports that nude photos of female service members were posted on Facebook and other websites without the service members' knowledge or consent, the members' legislation will allow service members and veterans who have experienced online… Continue Reading
04.05.17
Murkowski Expresses Support for Supreme Court Nominee
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) spoke on the Senate floor on the qualifications of Judge Neil Gorsuch, the nominee to be the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and to offer her support for his confirmation. "After spending time with Judge Gorsuch, after studying his life story, I am left with the undeniable impression that Neil Gorsuch has been nominated to a position that he has prepared his whole life to assume. He is not merely a good choice in my book, he's the best choi… Continue Reading
04.04.17
Sen. Murkowski Slams ANWR Wilderness Bill
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after a group of Senators reintroduced legislation to override the preferences of the vast majority of Alaskans, prevent the creation of thousands of high-paying jobs, weaken the nation's long-term energy security, and deprive Alaska of its best opportunity to pull itself out of recession. "This bill was dead before it got introduced," Murkowski said. In addition to representing Alaska, Murkowski is the chairman of the Se… Continue Reading
04.04.17
Thune, Klobuchar Reintroduce Bill to Provide Licensure Clarity for Sports Medicine Professionals
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) today reintroduced the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (S. 808), a bill that would clarify that health care services provided by a covered sports medicine professional to an athlete, athletic team, or staff member of an athlete or athletic team in a secondary state outside the state of licensure can be covered by the health professional's medical malpractice insurance provider. The bill would remove questions about licensing jurisd… Continue Reading
04.04.17
Murkowski: No Time to Rest on the Question of Cybersecurity
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today held a hearing to examine current efforts to protect domestic energy delivery systems from cybersecurity threats and evaluated efforts to secure the nation's natural gas pipeline system. In addition to highlighting the work that must be done to stay ahead of emerging threats, the hearing fostered a discussion about how the energy industry has worked with its federal partners to modify their digital networks, engage in research and advanced technologies, … Continue Reading
