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.
President Trump Signs Resolution Overturning U.S. Fish and Wildlife Regulation
The Alaska Congressional Delegation today applauded President Trump's signing of H.J. Res. 69, a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to overturn an August 5, 2016 rule by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that seized authority away from the State of Alaska to manage fish and wildlife on federal refuge lands in Alaska: "Upholding the rule of law and protecting Alaska's authority to manage fish and game throughout our state is critically important to me - which is why I … Continue Reading
03.31.17
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Tammy Baldwin Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Maternal Care Access in Rural and Underserved Areas
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Improving Access to Maternity Care Act to reduce maternity care shortages by identifying areas lacking maternal health professionals and help incentivize providers to practice in these underserved, often rural areas. Babies born to mothers who received no prenatal care are three times more likely to be low birth weight, and are five times more likely to die than babies whose mothers received care. "I am happy to support… Continue Reading
03.31.17
Murkowski Convenes Alaska Infrastructure Hearing
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, yesterday held the committee's fourth infrastructure hearing to examine the potential for infrastructure improvements that boost energy and mineral development in Alaska. The hearing focused on the positive impacts infrastructure would have on the state, including job creation and lower energy costs for Alaskans. "While yesterday we looked back to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Cession to purchase Alaska from Russia, it is i… Continue Reading
03.30.17
Senators Form Bipartisan Alliance to Address Marine Debris Crisis
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) today introduced S. 756, the bipartisan Save our Seas (SOS) Act to help address the marine debris epidemic affecting America's ocean shorelines and inland waterways, as well as other coasts across the globe. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Gary Peters (D-MI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) have also co-sponsored the bill. "The global marine debris problem threatens treasured natural… Continue Reading
03.30.17
Energy and Natural Resources Committee Advances 65 Bills
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today held a business meeting to approve a wide array of legislative proposals. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, thanked her colleagues for their work to develop and report, en bloc and by voice vote, a total of 65 bills from members of both parties. The committee approved seven bills introduced by Chairman Murkowski, as well as subcommittee assignments for Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala. "I am proud of the work our members have done to develop s… Continue Reading
03.30.17
Alaska Senators Commemorate State’s Purchase from Russia 150 Years Ago
U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-AK), introduced a resolution (attached below) commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Alaska Purchase. This resolution highlights important events from the past 150 years and recognizes the many characteristics that make our state so unique. "Honoring our 150th anniversary as part of the U.S. gives us the opportunity to look at Alaska's rich and diverse history and to see Secretary of State William Seward's vision carried out. He recogniz… Continue Reading
03.30.17
Murkowski Discusses Health Awareness and Prevention Efforts for Native Youth
Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined her colleagues on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to address risk factors for diabetes and identify ways to promote healthy choices for Native youth. The hearing evaluated the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), which is currently up for reauthorization, and is of particular importance to Alaska given the state's diabetes epidemic, particularly amongst Alaska Natives. Murkowski welcomed Martin Sensmeier from Yakutat, an actor in the… Continue Reading
03.29.17
Senators Urge Economic Geologist to Put USGS Back on Track
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., this week sent a letter to President Trump urging him to nominate an economic geologist to be the next director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The letter also encourages the president to refocus the agency on its primary mission, which is to assess U.S. mineral reserves. "Despite the clear directives in its Organic Act, the most important charge for the USGS - the surveying of our nat… Continue Reading
03.29.17
Bipartisan Group Reintroduces Sportsmen’s Act
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., this week introduced S. 733, the Sportsmen's Act of 2017. This bipartisan package expands and enhances sportsmen's access by making federal lands throughout Alaska and the nation "open unless closed" for fishing, hunting, recreational shooting, and other outdoor activities. "For too long, sportsmen's access to our federal lands has been restri… Continue Reading
03.28.17
Murkowski: Foreign Mineral Dependence Continues to Grow
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today held a full committee oversight hearing to examine the United States' increasing dependence on foreign sources of minerals and the opportunities we have to rebuild and improve the domestic supply chain. The hearing touched on numerous issues, including permitting delays, which create a significant obstacle to economically viable domestic mineral production Click image to view archived video of the hearing. In her opening statement, Murkowski un… Continue Reading
03.28.17
President Trump Signs Measure Repealing BLM Planning 2.0 Rule
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today joined President Trump at the White House for the signing ceremony of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) disapproval resolution, H.J. Res. 44, which overturns the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) "Planning 2.0" rule. The resolution passed the U.S. Senate with 51 votes and the U.S. House of Representatives with 234 votes. "When President Trump took office, he talked about returning power to the people, and he did just that today through the repeal of BLM's P… Continue Reading
03.24.17
Murkowski: It’s About Time
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of State approved the cross-border permit for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. "After more than eight years of unnecessary delay by the Obama administration, this decision will finally allow the Keystone XL pipeline to move forward," Murkowski said. "The underlying analysis always pointed to approval, pipelines are the cleanest and most efficient way to move energy, and thousands of A… Continue Reading
03.22.17
Murkowski Presses General Dunford on Russia Build-Up in Arctic
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today questioned General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for his views on Russia's military intentions in the Arctic. The question came as he testified before the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, of which Senator Murkowski is a member, during a hearing on the Department of Defense's FY18 budget. Senator Murkowski noted that Alaskans are concerned by the military build-up by our neighbors to the east, and asked General Dunford … Continue Reading
03.22.17
Bipartisan, Bicameral Group Introduces Bill to Protect Communities from Landslides
Today, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.-01) introduced bipartisan legislation to help local communities prepare for and respond to landslides and other natural hazards. The legislation titled, the National Landslide Preparedness Act, will help protect communities and property, save lives and improve emergency preparedness and planning by targeting key gaps in… Continue Reading
03.22.17
Heitkamp, Murkowski, McCollum, Cole Urge President and Key Administration Leaders to Prioritize Commission on Native Children, Appoint Members
U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) as well as Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK) today reinforced the need to comprehensively tackle challenges facing Native American children by urging the president and key members of his administration to quickly appoint the members needed to their Commission on Native Children so it can begin its important work. The bill creating the Commission - which Heitkamp, Murkowski, McCollum, and Cole introdu… Continue Reading
03.21.17
Alaska Delegation Works Together To Reverse Harmful U.S. Fish And Wildlife Rule
The Alaska Congressional Delegation today applauded the Senate's passage of H.J. Res. 69, a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to overturn an August 2016 final rule issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that significantly undermines public participation and restricts the state's ability to manage fish and wildlife on federal refuge lands in Alaska. "Working closely with Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young, we were able to convince our collea… Continue Reading
03.21.17
Murkowski Highlights Need for Lands and Resources Infrastructure
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today held a hearing to continue the Energy and Natural Resources Committee's discussion of opportunities to improve and expand American infrastructure. Tuesday's hearing focused on infrastructure beneficial to federal lands and waters, as well as the people and communities who live near and rely on them. Murkowski opened the hearing by detailing the broad range of infrastructure that is needed for and possible within federal areas, ranging from trails and ro… Continue Reading
03.16.17
Murkowski Statement on President Trump’s Budget Request
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today responded to President Trump's proposed budget outline for Fiscal Year 2018: "This budget request is the first step in a long process through which Congress decides which programs to fund and how much funding those programs should receive. The President's budget expresses his priorities, and we will consider them, but it is the congressional budget and appropriations committees that will establish our priorities and fund them over the coming months. "Th… Continue Reading
03.15.17
Murkowski Commends Alyeska on Leadership Award
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today congratulated Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, which operates the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS), after the Ethisphere Institute chose it as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the sixth straight year. The award honors companies around the world for their leadership in establishing high standards of ethical behavior and for their engagement on issues such as corporate citizenship, diversity, measurable values-based leadership, and transpa… Continue Reading
03.14.17
Murkowski: Energy Infrastructure Is Central to Our Way of Life
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today chaired a hearing to receive testimony on opportunities to improve American energy infrastructure. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources received testimony from seven witnesses who highlighted the importance of U.S. energy systems, including the electrical grid and pipelines, to national job creation and economic prosperity, as well as the need to streamline notoriously slow and uncertain federal permitting processes. In her opening state… Continue Reading
