Speeches
Address to the Alaska State Legislature
Speaker Harris, President Green, members of the Legislature, thank you for allowing me to address the Legislature today. I want to talk about making history together, but first let's thank those Alaskans who are making us safe. This morning I was honored to address the Joint Armed Services Committee. We talked about health care services for our veterans in Alaska. The federal government clearly needs to improve its health care services for veterans, and I promise to the tens of thousands o… Continue Reading
02.26.08
Remarks for the National Indian Gaming Association's Winter Summit
Greetings Members of the Board and Tribal leaders, and welcome to the National Indian Gaming Association 2008 Winter Legislative Summit. I am pleased to be a part of this important event, and would personally like to extend my thanks to Ernie Stevens, Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association. With Chairman Steven's able leadership, NIGA has been a great advocate on many important issues facing Native people, including health care, housing, education and economic development, in additio… Continue Reading
02.26.08
Senator Murkowski addressing the Supreme Court Hearing of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Case
• Mr. President, tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear the appeal of the ongoing litigation between Exxon Mobil and commercial fishermen and other plaintiffs whose livelihoods were negatively impacted by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. • The Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef at 12:04AM on March 24, 1989, spilling 11 million gallons of oil - about the same size as 125 Olympic-sized swimming pools - into Prince William Sound in Alaska. The oil from the spill migrated several h… Continue Reading
02.14.08
Business & Professional Women USA's luncheon for their annual Policy & Action Conference
Good morning and thank you for this opportunity to address the Business & Professional Women USA luncheon. It is a pleasure to be among leaders who are dedicated to important women's issues like Family and Medical Leave, equal pay and something very important to me - The HEART For Women Act. Many of you have traveled far distances, away from your homes and your families, to talk with Members of Congress about ways to improve the lives of women and build on our years of advancing women's … Continue Reading
02.12.08
Remarks To National Indian Education Association
President Gilbert, Tribal leaders, Educators and Friends. Good morning. It is both an honor and a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about my vision for the future of Native American education. Native children should not have to suffer from a second class education simply because they are on reservations or remote villages. I want to see an education system that equips our American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children with an education that is second to none. An educ… Continue Reading
02.10.08
Alaska Forum on the Environment
Good morning to everyone. It is a pleasure to speak at the 10th anniversary of the Alaska Forum on the Environment. Congratulations on reaching this milestone. Alaska is a leader in environmental protection, and I thank this organization for its part in our successes. Alaskans are environmentalists. We all share a deep love and respect for the outdoors. It's part of our DNA, just like our being ornery. I think some in the Lower 48 learn in time to love their environment - we in Alaska have an i… Continue Reading
12.05.07
Speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies on U.S. – Asia Economic Integration
Good morning and thank you for the invitation to be with you today. With the conclusion of the Third East Asia Summit in Singapore this is a very timely forum, the topic of which should catch the attention of not just policy makers here in Washington, but also those states that have considerable economic ties to the region as well. The natural tendency, when thinking of East Asia's potential economic integration from a U.S. perspective is to view it as if we're on the outside looking in.… Continue Reading
11.11.07
Veterans and Remembrance Day Address
11.09.07
Senator Murkowski's Veterans and Remembrance Day Address
On October 18th, Alaska Day, we observed the 140th anniversary of the US purchase of Alaska from Russia. And in just a few weeks Alaskans will kick off a yearlong series of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood. When I think about the proud history of Alaska and its people, I am humbled to realize that I represent the finest State in the Union. When we think about the events and industries that have made Alaska what it is - a place to dream big - … Continue Reading
11.08.07
Remarks for Washington Post Energy Forum - Time for the Big Bang Theory in Energy Policy
Given the complexity of the issues, five minutes is remarkably little time to outline an energy policy, but I will pretend like I am running for President… • My main point is that we no longer have time to contemplate an energy policy - we have to adopt a truly balanced energy policy NOW. • With oil prices above $90 a barrel and likely to soar, our economy can't afford business as usual. While we have improved energy efficiency, the prices we soon will face will … Continue Reading
10.19.07
Leadership for Healthy Communities Childhood Obesity Prevention Summit
• Good morning and thank you for this opportunity to address the first Childhood Obesity Prevention Summit. It is a pleasure to be among leaders on the issue of prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. I want to thank the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for putting together this two-day summit to help bring greater awareness to the rising epidemic of childhood obesity. • Many of you have traveled far distances to share your first hand experiences and successes in preven… Continue Reading
10.15.07
Arctic Energy Summit Speech
Good morning. It is a great honor to be here helping kick off this summit on the energy potential of the Arctic and how we can better go about producing that energy. • First, let me join in welcoming you to Alaska and to the state's largest city, Anchorage. It is truly appropriate that this energy summit, that is set to explore both the potential for Arctic energy and the means of producing it safely, using the best technology, with the most environmental care, is being held… Continue Reading
09.27.07
Senator Murkowski Addresses Law of the Sea Treaty During Foreign Relations Hearing
Mr. Chairman - thank you for holding this hearing and the opportunity to comment on a treaty that is of particular importance to Alaska. Some of my colleagues may not be aware, but over half of the United States' coastline is in Alaska. Likewise, the Arctic Ocean covers only 3% of the earth's surface, yet it accounts for over 25% of the world's continental shelf area. So when we are considering a Treaty that governs the planet's oceans and the ocean floor, the people of Alaska hav… Continue Reading
09.09.07
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Speech to the U.S. Senate
I rise today to honor this Sunday, September 9th, National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Day which recognizes those individuals born with a continuum of serious, life-long disorders caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol, which include Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Alcohol-Related Neuro-developmental Disorders, and Alcohol-Related Birth Defects. Forty Thousand children are born every year with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and are subject to a lifetime of cognitive and behavioral impairments. … Continue Reading
07.19.07
Senator Murkowski's Iraq Hearing Statement
Mr. Ambassador, thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to make yourself available to the Committee for this hearing. The Senate has spent a great number of hours this week discussing where we as a nation are in terms of our strategy for Iraq and what kind of progress is being achieved. I'm not sure that we resolved anything other than that there remains many divergent views on our continued military presence in Iraq. The interim report issued by the President on July 12 und… Continue Reading
07.19.07
Senator Murkowski's Statement Upon Election as Vice Chair, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Mr. Chairman, more than a month has passed since our colleagues and all of Indian Country awakened to the news that Senator Craig Thomas, the Vice Chairman of this committee left us. It is a tribute to Senator Thomas' leadership and respect in Indian Country that weeks after Craig was put to rest the tribal leaders who appear before this committee continue to express their shock at his sudden loss and extend their condolences to his family. Each of us on the dais has a sl… Continue Reading
07.10.07
Impact Of An Ice-Diminished Arctic On Naval And Maritime Operations
Thank you for inviting me to speak at the symposium today. I believe this meeting is the first time that we have convened such a broad group of experts both from within and outside of the government to discuss the implications of an accessible Arctic Ocean. I am honored to be here today to speak to you today about such an important topic. "Naval Operations in an Ice Free Arctic" was the name of a symposium held here in Washington D.C. in April of 2001. At that time the symposi… Continue Reading
06.06.07
National Network to End Domestic Violence Breakfast
Good morning and thank you to the National Network to End Domestic Violence for putting together today's event to help bring greater awareness to the issues of domestic and sexual violence. I would like to thank you all for your being here today and for bringing a voice to the countless unheard victims of these horrendous crimes. Many of you have traveled long distances from your homes and your families to share with Representatives and Senators your knowledge and experience working with the vic… Continue Reading
05.29.07
Reducing Future Energy Costs: One Key to A Vibrant Export Future for Alaska
It is truly a pleasure to be speaking to the members of the Alaska Export Council this year for a host of reasons. First, it is pleasure to be in a room with a bunch of positive, can-do folks. Second, it is always good for an elected office holder to speak to a group when they are happy, and after your performance in 2006, most everyone in this room should be very happy. 2006 was a record year for you and Alaska. It was the year when the value of Alaska's exports grew more … Continue Reading
05.17.07
Speech to the National Osteoporosis Foundation and Society
Thank you to the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the Society for Women's Health Research for putting together this event today and to Sally Field for her efforts to bring greater awareness to osteoporosis issues. I would like to thank you all for being here today and spending time in DC, for many of you away from your homes and your families to serve as advocates for bone health and osteoporosis prevention. The National Osteoporosis Foundation theme for 2007 is "Osteoporosis. It's Beatable… Continue Reading
