{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"AK\" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-commends-leaders-of-republic-of-korea-and-japan-on-comfort-women-settlement", "Sullivan Commends Leaders of Republic of Korea and Japan on Comfort Women Settlement", "2015-12-28", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.28.15\n\t\t\t Sullivan Commends Leaders of Republic of Korea and Japan on Comfort Women' Settlement \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C--Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement on the settlement of the dispute between the Republic of Korea and Japan over World War II-era Comfort Women.\r\nI commend the leaders of both the Republic of Korea and Japan for directly addressing the painful and difficult issue of Comfort Women' during World War II and the involvement and responsibility of Japan's military. This agreement should further help healing and reconciliation between two of our most important allies in the Asia Pacific and hasten trilateral cooperation on a variety of security, economic and humanitarian issues among our three countries.\r\nSenator Sullivan sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee. As part of his duties on that committee, he has traveled to the Asia Pacific twice in the last year and has met with numerous senior government officials in the region.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=3f088632-4cfd-4ab4-83be-1c2f79ca168b", "Murkowski Wishes Alaskans a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays", "2015-12-24", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.24.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Wishes Alaskans a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski shared her thoughts with Alaskans this holiday season: \r\nThe end of the year is often regarded as a time of celebration, a time of hope, and a time of reflection. And as we gather with our family and friends this year, I encourage you to cherish those you love, and give thanks for that which we hold most dear. Lets also make time to think about the achievements and progress in the past year, and resolve to build upon them. As Alaskans we are blessed with incredible resources; an abundant land and a spirit of ingenuity not least among them. Let us count them among our blessings as we spend time with our loved ones this holiday season.\r\n\r\n(Click image to watch video.)\r\nThis time of year is also the season of giving, and while we tend to get caught in the rush of Christmas shopping and holiday parties, let us not forget those in need and make volunteering a year-round tradition. Alaskans know that the smallest gesture or gift can make a world of difference, and we can all find a way to make a difference in our community. \r\nAnd finally, let us not forget the men and women who serve to protect our country all over the world, many of whom are unable to spend the holidays with their families. To all of our service members and their families, their loved ones: we thank you for your service and all that you do for our nation.\r\nI wish you and your family the very best. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-wishes-alaskans-a-merry-christmas-and-happy-holidays", "Murkowski Wishes Alaskans a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays", "2015-12-24", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.24.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Wishes Alaskans a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski shared her thoughts with Alaskans this holiday season: \r\nThe end of the year is often regarded as a time of celebration, a time of hope, and a time of reflection. And as we gather with our family and friends this year, I encourage you to cherish those you love, and give thanks for that which we hold most dear. Let's also make time to think about the achievements and progress in the past year, and resolve to build upon them. As Alaskans we are blessed with incredible resources; an abundant land and a spirit of ingenuity not least among them. Let us count them among our blessings as we spend time with our loved ones this holiday season.\r\n\r\n(Click image to watch video.)\r\nThis time of year is also the season of giving, and while we tend to get caught in the rush of Christmas shopping and holiday parties, let us not forget those in need and make volunteering a year-round tradition. Alaskans know that the smallest gesture or gift can make a world of difference, and we can all find a way to make a difference in our community. \r\nAnd finally, let us not forget the men and women who serve to protect our country all over the world, many of whom are unable to spend the holidays with their families. To all of our service members and their families, their loved ones: we thank you for your service and all that you do for our nation.\r\nI wish you and your family the very best. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=48a4d17f-a610-48cd-af6e-36966ba25449", "Two Years Later, Still No Help for King Cove", "2015-12-23", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.23.15\n\t\t\t Two Years Later, Still No Help for King Cove \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Obama Administration Has Failed to Act Despite 38 More Medevacs\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement to mark the two-year anniversary of the Obama administrations heartless rejection of a short, life-saving road for the isolated village of King Cove, Alaska.\r\nI will never understand how the administration made its initial decision, or why it has continued to fail the people of King Cove ever since. Instead of protecting human lives, the administration has only managed to waste scarce resources on a shallow study of inferior alternatives.\r\nKing Cove has endured at least 38 more medevacs over the past two years, including 14 that required the men and women of the Coast Guard to risk their own lives in terrible conditions. The worst part is, if King Cove were a foreign village claiming it was threatened by climate change, the administration would be scrambling to send millions of taxpayer dollars its way.\r\nIt has been two years to date since I got the call from Secretary Jewell rejecting this life-saving road and the good people of this isolated community deserve better. And I will keep fighting, every day, to protect their health and safety. This is a matter of life and death that has led to far too much needless suffering. I will never give up, and I will work harder than ever in 2016 to finally secure a life-saving road for King Cove.\r\nIn 2009, Murkowski won congressional and presidential approval of a nearly 300:1 land exchange needed to facilitate a narrow, gravel, non-commercial, 10-mile-long road through a small sliver of the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. The road would provide emergency medical transportation out of King Cove during frequently extreme weather conditions by linking the village to the all-weather runway in nearby Cold Bay.\r\nThe Department of the Interior formally denied the life-saving road on December 23, 2013. The decision has left local residents fearful that they will be unable to reach proper medical care in emergency circumstances. In the absence of a road, some patients needing medevac have been forced to wait hours or even overnight until help could safely arrive to transport them.\r\nMore information about King Coves need for a life-saving road is available on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committees website.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/two-years-later-still-no-help-for-king-cove", "Two Years Later, Still No Help for King Cove", "2015-12-23", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.23.15\n\t\t\t Two Years Later, Still No Help for King Cove \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Obama Administration Has Failed to Act Despite 38 More Medevacs\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement to mark the two-year anniversary of the Obama administration's heartless rejection of a short, life-saving road for the isolated village of King Cove, Alaska.\r\nI will never understand how the administration made its initial decision, or why it has continued to fail the people of King Cove ever since. Instead of protecting human lives, the administration has only managed to waste scarce resources on a shallow study of inferior alternatives.\r\nKing Cove has endured at least 38 more medevacs over the past two years, including 14 that required the men and women of the Coast Guard to risk their own lives in terrible conditions. The worst part is, if King Cove were a foreign village claiming it was threatened by climate change, the administration would be scrambling to send millions of taxpayer dollars its way.\r\nIt has been two years to date since I got the call from Secretary Jewell rejecting this life-saving road and the good people of this isolated community deserve better. And I will keep fighting, every day, to protect their health and safety. This is a matter of life and death that has led to far too much needless suffering. I will never give up, and I will work harder than ever in 2016 to finally secure a life-saving road for King Cove.\r\nIn 2009, Murkowski won congressional and presidential approval of a nearly 300:1 land exchange needed to facilitate a narrow, gravel, non-commercial, 10-mile-long road through a small sliver of the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. The road would provide emergency medical transportation out of King Cove during frequently extreme weather conditions by linking the village to the all-weather runway in nearby Cold Bay.\r\nThe Department of the Interior formally denied the life-saving road on December 23, 2013. The decision has left local residents fearful that they will be unable to reach proper medical care in emergency circumstances. In the absence of a road, some patients needing medevac have been forced to wait hours or even overnight until help could safely arrive to transport them.\r\nMore information about King Cove's need for a life-saving road is available on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's website.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/sullivan-focuses-on-economy-regulation-reform", "Sullivan focuses on economy, regulation reform", "2015-12-23", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.23.15\n\t\t\t Sullivan focuses on economy, regulation reform \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEconomics, regulation and the military ruled the conversation during Sen. Dan Sullivan's speech to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce luncheon on Wednesday.\r\nSullivan, who has just completed his first year in Washington, D.C., presented a crowd of about 80 with a rundown of his views on the current national political situation. Because it is the holiday season, he said he wanted to focus on the positive while still touching on future challenges.\r\nBelieve it or not, you can sometimes get a sense that people are focused on the negative, but I thought it would be good to focus on what a lot of people do over the holidays, on our blessings, Sullivan said. I think a lot of us would agree as Alaskans, as Americans, we are truly blessed.\r\nSullivan said he is not satisfied with the current economic growth in the country, which hovers around 2 percent annually. The gross domestic product, which measures the overall value of everything produced in the country, has grown far more in prior decades than it is now, and Sullivan said overregulation is limiting economic growth.\r\nHe said he plans to target overregulation in the coming year. He referenced a bill he sponsored and introduced in August called the RED Tape Act, which would require any federal agency to include sunset clauses in any new regulations. It would also direct agencies to review their rules and consider repealing them if they have become obsolete, he said.\r\nIt's not just the latest regulation  it's also how long things take in Washington, Sullivan said. I think a lot of this is self-inflicted. Nobody should want this, because it doesn't help our economy.\r\nSetting too many hurdles for businesses to jump through limits economic growth, Sullivan said. He cited a statistic from a 2010 Small Business Administration report that federal regulations cost $1.75 trillion as of 2008.\r\nReining in regulatory agencies would help boost economic growth, which Sullivan said will help average Americans as well as the overall economy. He also expressed concerns about the national debt, which is projected to exceed $20 trillion by the end of next year.\r\nA federal program that does need growth is the military, Sullivan said. Growing threats from the Islamic State and the possibility of Iranian nuclear capability increase the need for national security in his mind, he said. More recruitment into the armed forces should be a priority, he said.\r\nSullivan, a Marine, said he would continue to push for better treatment of veterans as well.\r\nI am somebody that believes that in many areas, the federal government should be doing less  but in terms of taking care of our veterans, I think our government should be doing more, Sullivan said. I know for the veterans, it's been a frustration. We're definitely not there yet, but it's something that I'm working on on a daily basis to get the attention of the senior Veterans Affairs to take better care of our veterans.\r\nThough he has not backed a Republican candidate for the 2016 election yet, with the primary only six weeks away, Sullivan said he had told some of the candidates that he would support them if they came to Alaska to campaign.\r\nI've been somebody who's kept my powder dry, Sullivan said. I've told them, One thing that would be really helpful for me is if you came up to Alaska to campaign.'\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t    By:\n\t\t\t\t    Elizabeth Earl\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\tSource:\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPeninsula Clarion\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=0388d4b0-71e9-4ec5-a48f-1babc1376dbf", "Murkowski: Investment in Arctic Through Omnibus Bill", "2015-12-22", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.22.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Investment in Arctic Through Omnibus Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Year-End Budget Bill Priorities Arctic Needs\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced many provisions within the year-end budget bill to fund the federal government that will lay the groundwork for increased research and investment in the Arctic. Included are provisions to spur construction of a Polar icebreaker, support research both onshore and offshore, and increase safety in Alaskas waters.\r\nThe Arctic is a national asset and should be treated as a national priority. As new possibilities and opportunities emerge in the Arctic, it is imperative that we invest today in the infrastructure and the assets that will be critical to supporting our Arctic strategy, said Senator Murkowski. While the U.S. Chairs the Arctic Council for the next two years, we have not only a big role but a tremendous opportunity to be a global leader in the region, and I believe we are heading in the right direction. Moving forward, I hope that the Administration will recognize the importance of the Arctic by taking the actions necessary in their upcoming budget request to provide the resources our nation needs to be a leader in the region.\r\nImproving Navigational Aid and Weather Forecasting\r\n \r\nIncreases funding for NOAA to conduct hydrographic surveys (or sonar mapping) of the nations coastline. Attached to that funding is a provision from Senator Murkowski emphasizing the need for Arctic mapping and setting hard deadlines with the federal agencies responsible in the region.\r\nSenator Murkowski included a provision to examine the benefit that electronic navigational buoys would provide to vessels transiting the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea.\r\nRequires the National Weather Service to identify any disparity in forecasting occurring in Alaska compared to the Lower 48, as well as to identify what resources are necessary to correct it. Alaska and the Arctic have some of the harshest weather in the nation, but also less forecasting than the Lower 48.\r\nRequires NOAA to identify the gaps in Arctic weather and sea ice observations as well as a strategy to minimize buoy outages in the future. Alaska suffers buoy outages that can take months if not years to correct. These buoys are needed for commercial fisherman, recreation, tourist vessels, and international commerce.\r\n \r\nInvesting in Arctic Infrastructure\r\n \r\nProvides $7.2 million towards a new heavy polar icebreaker.\r\nIncludes $640 million for the construction of a ninth National Security Cutter.\r\nProvides $480,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers investigation funding of the Kotzebue small boat harbor.\r\n \r\nMilitary Support\r\n \r\nProvides $2.5 million for the development of new Arctic camouflage to support U.S. Army Alaska.\r\nFunds the USCG at $10.8 billion, $1 billion more than the Presidents request, to improve readiness, modernize vessels and aircraft, and improve the quality of life for service members.\r\nRequires a report to ensure consistent USCG presence in the Bering Sea, particularly as Arctic activities increase.\r\n \r\nArctic Awareness\r\n \r\nDirects the Department of the Interior to work cooperatively with local stakeholders to enhance economic opportunities for the people who live and work in the Arctic region.\r\n \r\n \r\nRequests the National Science Foundation provide a biennial report on federal activities in the Arctic so lawmakers and the public can better understand the work being done in the Arctic to identify information gaps and opportunities for greater coordination.\r\n \r\nMurkowski is chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. Murkowski is also Co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus. \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-investment-in-arctic-through-omnibus-bill", "Murkowski: Investment in Arctic Through Omnibus Bill", "2015-12-22", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.22.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Investment in Arctic Through Omnibus Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Year-End Budget Bill Priorities Arctic Needs\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski today announced many provisions within the year-end budget bill to fund the federal government that will lay the groundwork for increased research and investment in the Arctic. Included are provisions to spur construction of a Polar icebreaker, support research both onshore and offshore, and increase safety in Alaska's waters.\r\nThe Arctic is a national asset and should be treated as a national priority. As new possibilities and opportunities emerge in the Arctic, it is imperative that we invest today in the infrastructure and the assets that will be critical to supporting our Arctic strategy, said Senator Murkowski. While the U.S. Chairs the Arctic Council for the next two years, we have not only a big role but a tremendous opportunity to be a global leader in the region, and I believe we are heading in the right direction. Moving forward, I hope that the Administration will recognize the importance of the Arctic by taking the actions necessary in their upcoming budget request to provide the resources our nation needs to be a leader in the region.\r\nImproving Navigational Aid and Weather Forecasting\r\n \r\nIncreases funding for NOAA to conduct hydrographic surveys (or sonar mapping) of the nation's coastline. Attached to that funding is a provision from Senator Murkowski emphasizing the need for Arctic mapping and setting hard deadlines with the federal agencies responsible in the region.\r\nSenator Murkowski included a provision to examine the benefit that electronic navigational buoys would provide to vessels transiting the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea.\r\nRequires the National Weather Service to identify any disparity in forecasting occurring in Alaska compared to the Lower 48, as well as to identify what resources are necessary to correct it. Alaska and the Arctic have some of the harshest weather in the nation, but also less forecasting than the Lower 48.\r\nRequires NOAA to identify the gaps in Arctic weather and sea ice observations as well as a strategy to minimize buoy outages in the future. Alaska suffers buoy outages that can take months if not years to correct. These buoys are needed for commercial fisherman, recreation, tourist vessels, and international commerce.\r\n \r\nInvesting in Arctic Infrastructure\r\n \r\nProvides $7.2 million towards a new heavy polar icebreaker.\r\nIncludes $640 million for the construction of a ninth National Security Cutter.\r\nProvides $480,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers investigation funding of the Kotzebue small boat harbor.\r\n \r\nMilitary Support\r\n \r\nProvides $2.5 million for the development of new Arctic camouflage to support U.S. Army Alaska.\r\nFunds the USCG at $10.8 billion, $1 billion more than the President's request, to improve readiness, modernize vessels and aircraft, and improve the quality of life for service members.\r\nRequires a report to ensure consistent USCG presence in the Bering Sea, particularly as Arctic activities increase.\r\n \r\nArctic Awareness\r\n \r\nDirects the Department of the Interior to work cooperatively with local stakeholders to enhance economic opportunities for the people who live and work in the Arctic region.\r\n \r\n \r\nRequests the National Science Foundation provide a biennial report on federal activities in the Arctic so lawmakers and the public can better understand the work being done in the Arctic to identify information gaps and opportunities for greater coordination.\r\n \r\nMurkowski is chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. Murkowski is also Co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus. \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398555", "Alaska Congressman Don Young Shares Thoughts on Passage of Omnibus Appropriations Package", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Alaska Congressman Don Young today shared the following statement after House passage of a bipartisan omnibus appropriations package funding the government through the FY16 Fiscal Year. The bill, which includes a number of tax related measures, passed the House passed 316 to 113.\nEnd of the year deal making is no way to legislate, but shutting down the government is even worse, said Congressman Don Young. Ive argued for years we must restore regular order to the appropriations process something I expressed to Speaker Ryan just this week which will get rid of these 11th hour, must pass negotiations. While I share the priority of exporting crude oil developed on private lands, Im afraid we didnt leverage ourselves well in defending some Alaskan and western priorities. I supported this bill for the numerous Alaska focused provisions we fought for and defended during the appropriations process, but I did so reluctantly. This massive spending bill is a tough pill to swallow mainly for what it lacks, but ultimately is provides a number of important reforms and provisions for Alaska and the nation that would not have been achieved otherwise. Overall, the bill provides for the common defense of our nation, protects our veterans, holds the IRS accountable, and strengthens many programs important to the nation.\nCongressman Don Young Shares Thoughts on Omnibus Appropriations Bill (click here to watch).\nFor Congressman Youngs thoughts on the tax related portions of this bill, which were voted on yesterday in the House,click here. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=42c3b5f5-ecfe-44aa-ba8f-f7f4a4df356f", "Murkowski Hails Path Forward for Point Spencer Development", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.18.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Hails Path Forward for Point Spencer Development \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senate Approves Point Spencer Land Transfer\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Today U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) praised the Senates action to approve the Point Spencer Land Conveyance Act. Murkowski introduced the bicameral legislation with Congressman Don Young (R-AK) in May, to streamline future infrastructure development and potential uses of Point Spencer, Alaska by calling for the conveyance of approximately 2,500 acres of federal lands to local, state, and federal stakeholders. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a co-sponsor of the legislation and a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, supported inclusion of the bill in the Coast Guard Authorization Act (H.R. 4188), which passed the Senate Friday by unanimous consent.\r\nAmerica is an Arctic nation because of Alaska, and its time that we started investing in our future, Murkowski said. Putting in place measures to speed up economic development in Alaskas Arctic will empower us to be a more active participant in activities in the North. Public-private partnerships are an important way to spur investment in the region and with the Senates action today, we are one step closer to making that happen.\r\nThe Point Spencer Land Conveyance Act would establish a public-private partnership between Bering Straits Native Corporation (BSNC) and the State of Alaska in an effort to bring timely development to Alaskas Seward Peninsula. Among stakeholders, the U.S. Coast Guard would retain its footprint in the region to support their statutory mission and duties, while the partnership would be conveyed lands to establish a U.S. Arctic deep draft port.\r\nMurkowski is chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=530baa50-7c33-4b65-83dc-90b515b4e8e9", "Murkowski Champions Alaska Priorities in Year-End Budget Bill", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.18.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Champions Alaska Priorities in Year-End Budget Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday the U.S. Senate approved the year-end budget package, known as the omnibus bill, to fund the federal government for the upcoming fiscal year. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) secured a number of initiatives important to Alaska outside of the jurisdiction of the subcommittee on Interior Appropriations, which she chairs. A summary of Alaska-specific provisions in the omnibus bill appears on the following pages.\r\nClick here to view the Alaska priorities Senator Murkowski was able to secure as Chairman of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.\r\n\r\n\r\n(Murkowski discusses year-end budget billClick image to watch video.) \r\nStrengthening Alaskas Communities\r\n \r\nSupports suicide prevention programs by allocating $35 million for Garrett Lee Smith prevention grants and $2.9 million for the American Indian and Alaskan Native Suicide Prevention Initiative.\r\nIncludes $9 billion in funding for Head Start, which provides educational and health services to over 3,000 young Alaskans in 100 communities. Language in this bill also encourages the Department of Health and Human Services to consider the unique challenges faced by Head Start providers in remote and frontier areas.\r\nIncreases funding by $77 million for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), for a total of $751 million. The purpose of CSBG is to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty. In Alaska, funding is provided for RurAL CAP\r\nMurkowski strongly supports the increase in Child Care and Development Block Grant funding from $2.435 billion to $2.761 billion, to assist states, tribes, and providers in improving the quality of child care for Americas working families.\r\nProvides $286 million for Title X Family Planning Grants, which supports ten family planning facilities in Alaska.\r\nProvides $638 million for the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, to improve the health of mothers and children, including children and youth with special health care needs.\r\nFunds the Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grant at $160 million, which has historically been used in Alaska to support state health programs.\r\nAllocates $22 billion for Child Nutrition programs including School Breakfast, National School Lunch, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service.\r\nFunds Job Corps at $1.7 billion, to provide free career and technical training to young Alaskans.\r\nAllocates $950 million to fund the HOME Investment Partnerships programa critical program to support affordable housing needs.\r\n \r\nBolstering Alaskas Role in our Nations Defense\r\n \r\nFully funds three military construction projects in Alaska:\r\n\r\n$37 million for the F-35 simulator building at Eielson;\r\n$34 million for the Eielson Central Heat and Power Plant, and\r\n$7.8 million for fitness facilities at Fort Greely.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nAllocates $156 million for Combat Rescue Helicopter development, which will replace the HH-60s flown by Alaska Air National Guard search and rescue teams.\r\nProvides strong funding for the nations ground base midcourse interceptors at Fort Greely, research and development money for improvements to the interceptors, and requests funding to support development of the Long Range Discrimination Radar to be built at Clear Air Force Station.\r\nSenator Murkowski secured a $5 million increase in the Defense Departments Innovative Readiness Training Program, through which military reservists construct infrastructure and provide healthcare in remote parts of Alaska to fulfill their annual training requirements.\r\nSenator Murkowski secured another $2.5 million for research and development into new Arctic camouflage to support U.S. Army Alaska.\r\nMurkowski also helped to secure an additional $10.5 million to support the lifesaving work of Civil Air Patrol squadrons in Alaska and throughout the nation.\r\nProtects commissaries by rejecting the administrations proposed $300 million cut, and notes that defense appropriations subcommittees are willing to consider efficiencies proposed by the administration in the future, but the commissaries must be kept open, affordable and accessible to military families.\r\nRequires the Secretary of Defense to report on the analytics and factors that are considered in determining Basic Allowance for Housing rates in rural states and regions.\r\n \r\nTaking Care of Alaskas Veterans\r\n \r\nIncludes a provision inserted by Senator Murkowski mandating a report on the nationwide implementation of the Veterans Choice Program, specifically how and why it has become an unmitigated disaster in Alaska.\r\nAlso requests a report on how provisions of the 2015 Choice Act, requiring the consolidation of all VA care in community programs, will be implemented in Alaska.\r\nExpressly authorizes the VA to purchase care from the Alaska Native healthcare system to service the needs of rural veterans.\r\n \r\nKeeping Alaskas Waters and Coasts Safe\r\n \r\nAllocates $27 million for hydrographic surveys (sonar mapping) of the nations coastline. Attached to that funding is a provision from Senator Murkowski emphasizing the need for Arctic mapping and setting hard deadlines with the federal agencies responsible in the region.\r\nFunds the National Weather Service (NWS) at $988.8 billion, and requests the following reports:\r\nA report requiring the National Weather Service to identify any disparity in forecasting occurring in Alaska compared to the Lower 48, as well as to identify what resources are necessary to correct it. Alaska and the Arctic have some of the harshest weather in the nation, but also less forecasting than the Lower 48.\r\nA report requiring NOAA to identify the gaps in Arctic weather and sea ice observations as well as a strategy to minimize buoy outages in the future. Alaska suffers buoy outages that can take months if not years to correct. These buoys are needed for commercial fisherman, recreation, tourist vessels, and international commerce.\r\nRequests the National Science Foundation provide a biennial report on federal activities in the Arctic so lawmakers and the public can better understand the work being done in the Arctic to identify information gaps and opportunities for greater coordination.\r\nSenator Murkowski has stressed that sincethousands of miles of Alaskas coastline are federally managed, the federal government should adequately fund clean-up efforts on the lands that it owns. She supported the following language to bolster marine debris clean-up:\r\n \r\nThe Committee supports the requested level for NOAAs marine debris program. In addition to the ongoing efforts to fully address marine debris created by the 2011 Japanese tsunami in the Pacific, consideration should be given to the marine debris projects in urban communities that include removal of abandoned vessels and piling that harm the ecosystem and hinder recreational fishing.\r\nBoosting U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Resources\r\n \r\nFunds the USCG at $10.8 billion, $1 billion more than the Presidents request, to improve readiness, modernize vessels and aircraft, and improve the quality of life for service members.\r\n\r\nIncludes $640 million for the construction of a ninth National Security Cutter.\r\nIncludes $7.2 million to continue the development of a new Polar icebreaker.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski included a provision to examine the benefit that electronic navigational buoys would provide to vessels the transiting the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea.\r\nRequires a report to ensure consistent USCG presence in the Bering Sea, particularly as Arctic activities increase.\r\n \r\nSupporting Alaskas Fisheries\r\n \r\nMurkowski successfully included a provision that blocks the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from introducing genetically engineered (GE) salmon into the market until it publishes labeling guidelines so consumers are aware of whats contained in the product theyre purchasing. Further, Murkowski directed the FDA to develop and implement a program to inform consumers whether or not the salmon for sale is genetically engineered.\r\nSenator Murkowski included language that expresses the interest of the Appropriations Committees to include fish species shown to be nutritious and low in mercury (especially wild Alaska salmon) in WIC Food Packages that serve children age 1 to 4 years and pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women.\r\nIncludes a provision directing the FDA to ensure that pregnant women receive consistent and understandable nutrition advice on what seafood is safe and healthy to consume that based on the FDAs latest scientific review of the net effects of seafood consumption.\r\nIncludes language in this years bill prohibiting federal agencies from using outside groups to certify the quality of fish caught in U.S. waters.\r\nFunded at $5.6 million dollars, NOAA and NMFS are directed to provide a report to the Senate detailing cost estimates for an electronic monitoring program and to apply practical cost saving measures in the new estimates.\r\nIncludes a provision that allows only pollock caught in Alaskan waters and U.S. waters out to 200 nautical miles to be marketed as Alaska Pollock, to prevent any future low-quality Russian pollock from being falsely marketed as Alaska in U.S. stores nationwide.\r\nMurkowski secured a provision supporting the J-1 Visa program through 2016 the next fiscal year. This is an important program relied on by many Alaska seafood processors who struggle to fill large numbers of seasonal jobs locally, in-state, or domestically.\r\nAdditionally, Murkowski was able to secure language to provide additional resources for the prompt processing of foreign labor certificates for the H-2B Visa program, to allow businesses to hire workers from foreign countries for positions and jobs they otherwise cannot, often providing the staffing that is crucial to Alaskas seafood industry.\r\nFunds the Pacific Salmon Treaty at $10.9 million.\r\nProvides for $65 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery fund, which aims to restore Pacific salmon populations.\r\nSenator Murkowski secured robust funding levels for:\r\n\r\nData collection, surveys and assessments: $163 million\r\nRegional councils and fisheries commissions: $33.5 million\r\nSalmon management activities: $33.5 million\r\nElectronic monitoring and reporting: $5.6 million\r\n\r\n \r\nImproving Alaskas Ports, Harbors, and Roads\r\n \r\nCorps of Engineers General Investigations Funding:\r\n\r\n$480,000 for Kotzebue Small Boat Harbor\r\n$500,000 for St. George Harbor\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nCorps of Engineers Operations and Maintenance Funding:\r\n\r\n$11,904,000 for Anchorage\r\n$3,615,000 for Chena River Lakes\r\n$400,000 for Chignik Harbor\r\n$950,000 for Dillingham\r\n$462,000 for Homer\r\n$334,000 for Ketchikan\r\n$2,286,000 for Lowell Creek Tunnel\r\n$1,550,000 for Ninilchik Harbor\r\n$4,000,000 for St. Paul Harbor\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nIncreases funding to $7 million for the Corps to construct small projects without Congressional authorization.\r\n \r\nSpurring Energy Development and Affordability\r\n \r\n$11 million is allocated for the Denali Commission, which is tasked with coordinating construction and infrastructure efforts in rural Alaska.\r\nIncludes nearly $20 million to further research the production of natural gas from methane hydrates. Alaskas Arctic contains an estimated 32,600 trillion cubic feet of natural gas locked in ice crystals  enough energy to power the entire nation for 1,000 years.\r\nAllocates $211 million for weatherization assistance nationally. The program helps improve energy efficiency in rural Alaska where high energy prices take a larger percentage of household budgets.\r\nFunds the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program at $3.39 billion. These funds act as a crucial supplement for many Alaskans who face the highest energy prices in the nation.\r\nProvides $16 million for the Office of Indian Energy Policy, an Energy Department initiative that assists tribes with energy needs and projects on their lands.\r\n \r\nRecognizing Alaskas Unique Needs\r\n \r\nFunds ferry boats and related facilities at $80 million.\r\nFunds the Tribal Transportation Program at $465 million, the first programmatic increase in five years.\r\nProvides $716 million for the Indian Housing Block Grant Program and the Indian Community Development Fund.\r\nAllows earmarked funds not expended in the last ten years to be used for projects within a 50 mile radius of the previously identified project, which will help rural areas that have not been able to proceed yet with their earmarked project.\r\nProhibits the FAA from increasing airport facilities fees unless it can justify that all fees are related to aeronautical navigation products.\r\nAllocates $5.5 million for the Unmanned Centers of Excellence, to develop technologies and policies for the use of unmanned aerial systems.\r\nDirects the IRS to maintain adequate staff in Taxpayer Advocate Service Centers in states such as Alaska and Hawaii, where it might be difficult to receive needed tax assistance through the national toll-free line.\r\nIncludes language directing the FCC to increase broadband access on tribal lands, and recommends $300,000 be spent to support consultation with federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native villages and corporations.\r\nDirects the U.S. Postal Service to maintain six day delivery and rural delivery without reduction, and prohibits consolidation or closure of rural and other small post offices.\r\n \r\nProviding Relief for Taxpayers\r\n \r\nThe implementation of the Affordable Care Acts Cadillac tax will be delayed for two years. This tax on high-cost insurance plans hits Alaska harder than anywhere else in the nation, simply because health care is more expensive in a rural, low population state.\r\nThe ACA-mandated tax on medical devices on pacemakers, joint replacements, defibrillators, and other items will be delayed for two years as well.\r\nProvides for a permanent extension of certain business expenses found in section 179 of the tax code that are particularly beneficial to small businesses.\r\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=711bcbb4-0df1-471d-a0a0-6d780172b137", "Murkowski Announces Interior Provisions in Year-End Omnibus Bill to Benefit Alaska", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.18.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Announces Interior Provisions in Year-End Omnibus Bill to Benefit Alaska \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSenator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced a series of provisions within the year-end omnibus budget package that will approve, support, and fund a broad range of initiatives important to Alaska. Murkowski secured many of the provisions through her role as Chairman of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, which provides Alaska with a strong voice in federal budget negotiations. Today the Senate voted on the bill which passed in a vote of 65-33.\r\n\r\n(Senator Murkowski highlights wins for AlaskaClick image to watch video)\r\nMurkowski developed a strong Interior Appropriations bill that was marked up in the Appropriations Committee in June 2015. After the bill was reported, Senate Democrats repeatedly blocked the consideration of individual appropriations bills. Left with no choice but to turn an omnibus measure, Murkowski worked with her colleagues to include funding and policy initiatives that address a wide range of Alaska-specific priorities. Those provisions include support for energy development in the state; greater funding for alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs; the continuation of the backhaul waste removal program; a prohibition on the regulation of lead content in ammunition and fishing tackle; and full funding for contract support costs for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service.\r\nA summary of Alaska-specific provisions in the omnibus appears on the following pages.\r\nFulfilling Federal Responsibility to Alaskan Communities\r\n \r\nFully funds the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program at $452 million.\r\n\r\nIn FY15, Alaska received more than $28 million in PILT payments.\r\nPILT compensates local governments for tax revenues lost due to federal land ownership, and provides for vital services such as firefighting and police protection, the construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations.\r\n\r\n\r\nRestores the National Wildlife Refuge fund (PILT for Fish and Wildlife Service lands), which the President had proposed to cut. \r\n \r\nSupporting Energy Development in Alaska\r\nONSHORE\r\n \r\nProvides a $23 million increase for onshore energy programs on public lands, which will boost capacity for development within the NPR-A and on other BLM lands in Alaska.\r\nCompels BLM to find a path forward on oil production in the NPR-A by solving metering issues.\r\nFunds accounts necessary to facilitate transmission lines in Southeast for renewable energy.\r\n \r\nOFFSHORE\r\n \r\nProvides necessary funds to support both offshore conventional and renewable energy development.\r\nProvides funds for Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to work on the next 5-year leasing plan.\r\n \r\nHonoring Responsibilities to Alaska Natives and Native Americans\r\n \r\nProvides full contract support costs (CSC) for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Indian Health Service (IHS) as well as creates a separate appropriations account so that other agency funds cannot be taken to pay for the legal obligation to pay full CSCs.\r\nProvides an additional $195 million to address safety, education, and infrastructure needs.\r\n\r\nProvides an additional $25 million for BIA with important increases to programs that help combat domestic violence, substance abuse, and other public safety initiatives.\r\n\r\nThis includes $10 million in Tribal Court funding for P.L. 280 states such as Alaska. This is the first time tribal courts in Alaska have received federal funding.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nProvides an increase of $9 million for the Tiwahe initiative, which will help communities design a comprehensive approach for the delivery of social services and justice programs.\r\nProvides $40 million for IHS to address critical infrastructure needs in villages and on reservations nationwide.\r\nProvides $20 million for IHS construction projects.\r\nProvides full funding for IHS staffing packages at new facilities.\r\nProvides $2 million for Village Built Clinics, a program unique to Alaska that supports health care clinics in villages and rural areas.\r\nProvides an additional $10 million for IHS alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs.\r\n \r\nEnhances Land Access and Opportunities for Sportsmen\r\n \r\nProvides new funding to the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service for recreational access. The total for recreational access funding is $20.5 million.\r\nPrevents the Department of the Interior from designating de facto wilderness by prohibiting funding for the wildlands program and urges the Administration to receive state and local support for any designation of a monument.\r\nDirects more recreation dollars for the National Forests in Alaska to enhance visitor services and recreation opportunities.\r\nProhibits EPA from regulating lead content of ammunition and fishing tackle. \r\n \r\nFunds Conservation Priorities\r\n \r\nProvides $450 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).\r\n\r\nThis includes $110 million for the state-side of the LWCF program, which provides grants to State and local governments. This is the largest amount directed to state-side LWCF since 2002.\r\nProvides $943,000 to acquire 500 acres in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.\r\n\r\n\r\nIncreases funding to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) to conserve migratory bird habitat across the country and ensures that specific mandatory funding for NAWCA will continue for the next 10 years.\r\nProvides additional funding for the State Wildlife Grants Program to improve habitat for potentially endangered species to help protect species from the need for ESA listings.\r\n \r\nSupporting Rational Wildlife Management \r\n \r\nProhibits the Fish and Wildlife Service from using funds to conduct a caribou hunt on Kagalaska Island in Alaska.\r\nProhibits costly and impractical efforts to remove cattle from Chirikof Island.\r\n \r\nNational Park Service\r\n \r\nProvides an additional $236 million for the National Park Service ($135 million of which is for the Centennial Initiative) and addresses deferred construction and maintenance backlog to prepare parks and communities for increased tourism as part of the Centennial Initiative.\r\nFunds two deferred maintenance projects in Alaska:\r\n\r\n$3.6 million for utility replacements in Denali National Park.\r\n$2.2 million to complete a bridge replacement and provide trail access in Katmai National Park.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nMapping and Monitoring for Improving Safety and Resource Development \r\n \r\nProvides $48 million for energy and mineral resources programs.\r\n\r\nRestores $2 million in proposed cuts for geologic mapping initiatives for unmapped areas of the country, especially in Alaska.\r\nProvides an additional $2.4 million to support critical minerals research.\r\n\r\n\r\nProvides an additional $1.32 million for 3D Alaska mapping initiative.\r\nProvides over $86 million for earthquake and volcano hazards as part of the Natural Hazards program.\r\n\r\nAn additional $1 million is included for repairing and upgrading volcano monitoring systems. \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nFully Funds Wildland Fire Fighting \r\n \r\nProvides 100% of funding requested for wildfire preparedness and suppression, to ensure that the resources necessary to combat wildfire are available.\r\nMakes $593 million in additional funding available above the 10-year average to prevent fire borrowing if regular fire suppression funds are exhausted.\r\nProvides $545 million for hazardous fuels reduction.  \r\n \r\nFulfilling Commitments Made Under ANCSA\r\n \r\nFunds the Alaska land conveyance program at $22 million to continue momentum toward the completion of land exchanges.\r\nRequires completion of an inventory of contaminated Alaska Native lands in need of remediation and directs BLM to coordinate with all responsible federal agencies to clean lands up as soon as possible.\r\nInstructs BLM to work with the State of Alaska to efficiently rectify erroneous land conveyances made to the state.\r\n \r\nPromoting Alaskas Mining Industry\r\n \r\nProvides regulatory relief by instructing BLM to develop a definition of re-vegetation that takes into account the unique challenges in Alaska.\r\nCompels BLM to work with miners to evaluate and make reclamation determinations in an effort to support placer miners.\r\n \r\nSupporting Alaskas Timber Industry \r\n \r\nCompels the Forest Service to offer timber sales in the Tongass National Forest.\r\nTakes the recommendations of the Tongass Advisory Committee and requires the Forest Service to find out if there is actually enough young growth timber to sustain the industry before they attempt to continue the transition from old growth to young growth.\r\nRequires that timber sales from Alaska Red Cedar be economic and for the U.S. Forest Service to use an appraisal system best suited to the unique needs of Alaska.\r\nIncreases funding for Forest Inventory Analysis program to conduct inventories in Interior Alaska for potential timber activity.\r\n \r\nMaking EPA Work in Alaska\r\n \r\nFunds a grant program to allow for wood stove change out in areas like Fairbanks where wood stoves have been a major cause of the community not meeting air quality standards.\r\n\r\nFunds may also be used to support the conversion of residential boilers to achieve attainment.\r\n\r\n\r\nEnsures that the EPA continues operating the backhaul program for five years to remove solid waste and garbage from communities in rural Alaska.\r\nIncludes an additional $10 million of funding for the Alaska Native Villages Water Program (for a total of $20 million), assisting Alaska communities with improving drinking water and wastewater systems.\r\n \r\nOpportunities in the Arctic\r\n \r\nDirects the Department of the Interior to work cooperatively with local stakeholders to enhance economic opportunities for the people who live and work in the Arctic region. \r\n \r\nMurkowski is Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-announces-interior-provisions-in-year-end-omnibus-bill-to-benefit-alaska", "Murkowski Announces Interior Provisions in Year-End Omnibus Bill to Benefit Alaska", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.18.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Announces Interior Provisions in Year-End Omnibus Bill to Benefit Alaska \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSenator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today announced a series of provisions within the year-end omnibus budget package that will approve, support, and fund a broad range of initiatives important to Alaska. Murkowski secured many of the provisions through her role as Chairman of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, which provides Alaska with a strong voice in federal budget negotiations. Today the Senate voted on the bill which passed in a vote of 65-33.\r\n\r\n(Senator Murkowski highlights wins for AlaskaClick image to watch video)\r\nMurkowski developed a strong Interior Appropriations bill that was marked up in the Appropriations Committee in June 2015. After the bill was reported, Senate Democrats repeatedly blocked the consideration of individual appropriations bills. Left with no choice but to turn an omnibus measure, Murkowski worked with her colleagues to include funding and policy initiatives that address a wide range of Alaska-specific priorities. Those provisions include support for energy development in the state; greater funding for alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs; the continuation of the backhaul waste removal program; a prohibition on the regulation of lead content in ammunition and fishing tackle; and full funding for contract support costs for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service.\r\nA summary of Alaska-specific provisions in the omnibus appears on the following pages.\r\nFulfilling Federal Responsibility to Alaskan Communities\r\n \r\nFully funds the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program at $452 million.\r\n\r\nIn FY15, Alaska received more than $28 million in PILT payments.\r\nPILT compensates local governments for tax revenues lost due to federal land ownership, and provides for vital services such as firefighting and police protection, the construction of public schools and roads, and search-and-rescue operations.\r\n\r\n\r\nRestores the National Wildlife Refuge fund (PILT for Fish and Wildlife Service lands), which the President had proposed to cut. \r\n \r\nSupporting Energy Development in Alaska\r\nONSHORE\r\n \r\nProvides a $23 million increase for onshore energy programs on public lands, which will boost capacity for development within the NPR-A and on other BLM lands in Alaska.\r\nCompels BLM to find a path forward on oil production in the NPR-A by solving metering issues.\r\nFunds accounts necessary to facilitate transmission lines in Southeast for renewable energy.\r\n \r\nOFFSHORE\r\n \r\nProvides necessary funds to support both offshore conventional and renewable energy development.\r\nProvides funds for Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to work on the next 5-year leasing plan.\r\n \r\nHonoring Responsibilities to Alaska Natives and Native Americans\r\n \r\nProvides full contract support costs (CSC) for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Indian Health Service (IHS) as well as creates a separate appropriations account so that other agency funds cannot be taken to pay for the legal obligation to pay full CSC's.\r\nProvides an additional $195 million to address safety, education, and infrastructure needs.\r\n\r\nProvides an additional $25 million for BIA with important increases to programs that help combat domestic violence, substance abuse, and other public safety initiatives.\r\n\r\nThis includes $10 million in Tribal Court funding for P.L. 280 states such as Alaska. This is the first time tribal courts in Alaska have received federal funding.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nProvides an increase of $9 million for the Tiwahe initiative, which will help communities design a comprehensive approach for the delivery of social services and justice programs.\r\nProvides $40 million for IHS to address critical infrastructure needs in villages and on reservations nationwide.\r\nProvides $20 million for IHS construction projects.\r\nProvides full funding for IHS staffing packages at new facilities.\r\nProvides $2 million for Village Built Clinics, a program unique to Alaska that supports health care clinics in villages and rural areas.\r\nProvides an additional $10 million for IHS alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs.\r\n \r\nEnhances Land Access and Opportunities for Sportsmen\r\n \r\nProvides new funding to the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service for recreational access. The total for recreational access funding is $20.5 million.\r\nPrevents the Department of the Interior from designating de facto wilderness by prohibiting funding for the wildlands program and urges the Administration to receive state and local support for any designation of a monument.\r\nDirects more recreation dollars for the National Forests in Alaska to enhance visitor services and recreation opportunities.\r\nProhibits EPA from regulating lead content of ammunition and fishing tackle. \r\n \r\nFunds Conservation Priorities\r\n \r\nProvides $450 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).\r\n\r\nThis includes $110 million for the state-side of the LWCF program, which provides grants to State and local governments. This is the largest amount directed to state-side LWCF since 2002.\r\nProvides $943,000 to acquire 500 acres in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.\r\n\r\n\r\nIncreases funding to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) to conserve migratory bird habitat across the country and ensures that specific mandatory funding for NAWCA will continue for the next 10 years.\r\nProvides additional funding for the State Wildlife Grants Program to improve habitat for potentially endangered species to help protect species from the need for ESA listings.\r\n \r\nSupporting Rational Wildlife Management \r\n \r\nProhibits the Fish and Wildlife Service from using funds to conduct a caribou hunt on Kagalaska Island in Alaska.\r\nProhibits costly and impractical efforts to remove cattle from Chirikof Island.\r\n \r\nNational Park Service\r\n \r\nProvides an additional $236 million for the National Park Service ($135 million of which is for the Centennial Initiative) and addresses deferred construction and maintenance backlog to prepare parks and communities for increased tourism as part of the Centennial Initiative.\r\nFunds two deferred maintenance projects in Alaska:\r\n\r\n$3.6 million for utility replacements in Denali National Park.\r\n$2.2 million to complete a bridge replacement and provide trail access in Katmai National Park.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nMapping and Monitoring for Improving Safety and Resource Development \r\n \r\nProvides $48 million for energy and mineral resources programs.\r\n\r\nRestores $2 million in proposed cuts for geologic mapping initiatives for unmapped areas of the country, especially in Alaska.\r\nProvides an additional $2.4 million to support critical minerals research.\r\n\r\n\r\nProvides an additional $1.32 million for 3D Alaska mapping initiative.\r\nProvides over $86 million for earthquake and volcano hazards as part of the Natural Hazards program.\r\n\r\nAn additional $1 million is included for repairing and upgrading volcano monitoring systems. \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nFully Funds Wildland Fire Fighting \r\n \r\nProvides 100% of funding requested for wildfire preparedness and suppression, to ensure that the resources necessary to combat wildfire are available.\r\nMakes $593 million in additional funding available above the 10-year average to prevent fire borrowing if regular fire suppression funds are exhausted.\r\nProvides $545 million for hazardous fuels reduction.  \r\n \r\nFulfilling Commitments Made Under ANCSA\r\n \r\nFunds the Alaska land conveyance program at $22 million to continue momentum toward the completion of land exchanges.\r\nRequires completion of an inventory of contaminated Alaska Native lands in need of remediation and directs BLM to coordinate with all responsible federal agencies to clean lands up as soon as possible.\r\nInstructs BLM to work with the State of Alaska to efficiently rectify erroneous land conveyances made to the state.\r\n \r\nPromoting Alaska's Mining Industry\r\n \r\nProvides regulatory relief by instructing BLM to develop a definition of re-vegetation that takes into account the unique challenges in Alaska.\r\nCompels BLM to work with miners to evaluate and make reclamation determinations in an effort to support placer miners.\r\n \r\nSupporting Alaska's Timber Industry \r\n \r\nCompels the Forest Service to offer timber sales in the Tongass National Forest.\r\nTakes the recommendations of the Tongass Advisory Committee and requires the Forest Service to find out if there is actually enough young growth timber to sustain the industry before they attempt to continue the transition from old growth to young growth.\r\nRequires that timber sales from Alaska Red Cedar be economic and for the U.S. Forest Service to use an appraisal system best suited to the unique needs of Alaska.\r\nIncreases funding for Forest Inventory Analysis program to conduct inventories in Interior Alaska for potential timber activity.\r\n \r\nMaking EPA Work in Alaska\r\n \r\nFunds a grant program to allow for wood stove change out in areas like Fairbanks where wood stoves have been a major cause of the community not meeting air quality standards.\r\n\r\nFunds may also be used to support the conversion of residential boilers to achieve attainment.\r\n\r\n\r\nEnsures that the EPA continues operating the backhaul program for five years to remove solid waste and garbage from communities in rural Alaska.\r\nIncludes an additional $10 million of funding for the Alaska Native Villages Water Program (for a total of $20 million), assisting Alaska communities with improving drinking water and wastewater systems.\r\n \r\nOpportunities in the Arctic\r\n \r\nDirects the Department of the Interior to work cooperatively with local stakeholders to enhance economic opportunities for the people who live and work in the Arctic region. \r\n \r\nMurkowski is Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-champions-alaska-priorities-in-year-end-budget-bill", "Murkowski Champions Alaska Priorities in Year-End Budget Bill", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.18.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Champions Alaska Priorities in Year-End Budget Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday the U.S. Senate approved the year-end budget package, known as the omnibus bill, to fund the federal government for the upcoming fiscal year. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) secured a number of initiatives important to Alaska outside of the jurisdiction of the subcommittee on Interior Appropriations, which she chairs. A summary of Alaska-specific provisions in the omnibus bill appears on the following pages.\r\nClick here to view the Alaska priorities Senator Murkowski was able to secure as Chairman of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.\r\n\r\n\r\n(Murkowski discusses year-end budget billClick image to watch video.) \r\nStrengthening Alaska's Communities\r\n \r\nSupports suicide prevention programs by allocating $35 million for Garrett Lee Smith prevention grants and $2.9 million for the American Indian and Alaskan Native Suicide Prevention Initiative.\r\nIncludes $9 billion in funding for Head Start, which provides educational and health services to over 3,000 young Alaskans in 100 communities. Language in this bill also encourages the Department of Health and Human Services to consider the unique challenges faced by Head Start providers in remote and frontier areas.\r\nIncreases funding by $77 million for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), for a total of $751 million. The purpose of CSBG is to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty. In Alaska, funding is provided for RurAL CAP\r\nMurkowski strongly supports the increase in Child Care and Development Block Grant funding from $2.435 billion to $2.761 billion, to assist states, tribes, and providers in improving the quality of child care for America's working families.\r\nProvides $286 million for Title X Family Planning Grants, which supports ten family planning facilities in Alaska.\r\nProvides $638 million for the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, to improve the health of mothers and children, including children and youth with special health care needs.\r\nFunds the Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grant at $160 million, which has historically been used in Alaska to support state health programs.\r\nAllocates $22 billion for Child Nutrition programs including School Breakfast, National School Lunch, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service.\r\nFunds Job Corps at $1.7 billion, to provide free career and technical training to young Alaskans.\r\nAllocates $950 million to fund the HOME Investment Partnerships programa critical program to support affordable housing needs.\r\n \r\nBolstering Alaska's Role in our Nation's Defense\r\n \r\nFully funds three military construction projects in Alaska:\r\n\r\n$37 million for the F-35 simulator building at Eielson;\r\n$34 million for the Eielson Central Heat and Power Plant, and\r\n$7.8 million for fitness facilities at Fort Greely.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nAllocates $156 million for Combat Rescue Helicopter development, which will replace the HH-60s flown by Alaska Air National Guard search and rescue teams.\r\nProvides strong funding for the nation's ground base midcourse interceptors at Fort Greely, research and development money for improvements to the interceptors, and requests funding to support development of the Long Range Discrimination Radar to be built at Clear Air Force Station.\r\nSenator Murkowski secured a $5 million increase in the Defense Department's Innovative Readiness Training Program, through which military reservists construct infrastructure and provide healthcare in remote parts of Alaska to fulfill their annual training requirements.\r\nSenator Murkowski secured another $2.5 million for research and development into new Arctic camouflage to support U.S. Army Alaska.\r\nMurkowski also helped to secure an additional $10.5 million to support the lifesaving work of Civil Air Patrol squadrons in Alaska and throughout the nation.\r\nProtects commissaries by rejecting the administration's proposed $300 million cut, and notes that defense appropriations subcommittees are willing to consider efficiencies proposed by the administration in the future, but the commissaries must be kept open, affordable and accessible to military families.\r\nRequires the Secretary of Defense to report on the analytics and factors that are considered in determining Basic Allowance for Housing rates in rural states and regions.\r\n \r\nTaking Care of Alaska's Veterans\r\n \r\nIncludes a provision inserted by Senator Murkowski mandating a report on the nationwide implementation of the Veterans Choice Program, specifically how and why it has become an unmitigated disaster in Alaska.\r\nAlso requests a report on how provisions of the 2015 Choice Act, requiring the consolidation of all VA care in community programs, will be implemented in Alaska.\r\nExpressly authorizes the VA to purchase care from the Alaska Native healthcare system to service the needs of rural veterans.\r\n \r\nKeeping Alaska's Waters and Coasts Safe\r\n \r\nAllocates $27 million for hydrographic surveys (sonar mapping) of the nation's coastline. Attached to that funding is a provision from Senator Murkowski emphasizing the need for Arctic mapping and setting hard deadlines with the federal agencies responsible in the region.\r\nFunds the National Weather Service (NWS) at $988.8 billion, and requests the following reports:\r\nA report requiring the National Weather Service to identify any disparity in forecasting occurring in Alaska compared to the Lower 48, as well as to identify what resources are necessary to correct it. Alaska and the Arctic have some of the harshest weather in the nation, but also less forecasting than the Lower 48.\r\nA report requiring NOAA to identify the gaps in Arctic weather and sea ice observations as well as a strategy to minimize buoy outages in the future. Alaska suffers buoy outages that can take months if not years to correct. These buoys are needed for commercial fisherman, recreation, tourist vessels, and international commerce.\r\nRequests the National Science Foundation provide a biennial report on federal activities in the Arctic so lawmakers and the public can better understand the work being done in the Arctic to identify information gaps and opportunities for greater coordination.\r\nSenator Murkowski has stressed that sincethousands of miles of Alaska's coastline are federally managed, the federal government should adequately fund clean-up efforts on the lands that it owns. She supported the following language to bolster marine debris clean-up:\r\n \r\nThe Committee supports the requested level for NOAA's marine debris program. In addition to the ongoing efforts to fully address marine debris created by the 2011 Japanese tsunami in the Pacific, consideration should be given to the marine debris projects in urban communities that include removal of abandoned vessels and piling that harm the ecosystem and hinder recreational fishing.\r\nBoosting U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Resources\r\n \r\nFunds the USCG at $10.8 billion, $1 billion more than the President's request, to improve readiness, modernize vessels and aircraft, and improve the quality of life for service members.\r\n\r\nIncludes $640 million for the construction of a ninth National Security Cutter.\r\nIncludes $7.2 million to continue the development of a new Polar icebreaker.\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski included a provision to examine the benefit that electronic navigational buoys would provide to vessels the transiting the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea.\r\nRequires a report to ensure consistent USCG presence in the Bering Sea, particularly as Arctic activities increase.\r\n \r\nSupporting Alaska's Fisheries\r\n \r\nMurkowski successfully included a provision that blocks the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from introducing genetically engineered (GE) salmon into the market until it publishes labeling guidelines so consumers are aware of what's contained in the product they're purchasing. Further, Murkowski directed the FDA to develop and implement a program to inform consumers whether or not the salmon for sale is genetically engineered.\r\nSenator Murkowski included language that expresses the interest of the Appropriations Committee's to include fish species shown to be nutritious and low in mercury (especially wild Alaska salmon) in WIC Food Packages that serve children age 1 to 4 years and pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women.\r\nIncludes a provision directing the FDA to ensure that pregnant women receive consistent and understandable nutrition advice on what seafood is safe and healthy to consume that based on the FDA's latest scientific review of the net effects of seafood consumption.\r\nIncludes language in this year's bill prohibiting federal agencies from using outside groups to certify the quality of fish caught in U.S. waters.\r\nFunded at $5.6 million dollars, NOAA and NMFS are directed to provide a report to the Senate detailing cost estimates for an electronic monitoring program and to apply practical cost saving measures in the new estimates.\r\nIncludes a provision that allows only pollock caught in Alaskan waters and U.S. waters out to 200 nautical miles to be marketed as Alaska Pollock, to prevent any future low-quality Russian pollock from being falsely marketed as Alaska in U.S. stores nationwide.\r\nMurkowski secured a provision supporting the J-1 Visa program through 2016 the next fiscal year. This is an important program relied on by many Alaska seafood processors who struggle to fill large numbers of seasonal jobs locally, in-state, or domestically.\r\nAdditionally, Murkowski was able to secure language to provide additional resources for the prompt processing of foreign labor certificates for the H-2B Visa program, to allow businesses to hire workers from foreign countries for positions and jobs they otherwise cannot, often providing the staffing that is crucial to Alaska's seafood industry.\r\nFunds the Pacific Salmon Treaty at $10.9 million.\r\nProvides for $65 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery fund, which aims to restore Pacific salmon populations.\r\nSenator Murkowski secured robust funding levels for:\r\n\r\nData collection, surveys and assessments: $163 million\r\nRegional councils and fisheries commissions: $33.5 million\r\nSalmon management activities: $33.5 million\r\nElectronic monitoring and reporting: $5.6 million\r\n\r\n \r\nImproving Alaska's Ports, Harbors, and Roads\r\n \r\nCorps of Engineers General Investigations Funding:\r\n\r\n$480,000 for Kotzebue Small Boat Harbor\r\n$500,000 for St. George Harbor\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nCorps of Engineers Operations and Maintenance Funding:\r\n\r\n$11,904,000 for Anchorage\r\n$3,615,000 for Chena River Lakes\r\n$400,000 for Chignik Harbor\r\n$950,000 for Dillingham\r\n$462,000 for Homer\r\n$334,000 for Ketchikan\r\n$2,286,000 for Lowell Creek Tunnel\r\n$1,550,000 for Ninilchik Harbor\r\n$4,000,000 for St. Paul Harbor\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nIncreases funding to $7 million for the Corps to construct small projects without Congressional authorization.\r\n \r\nSpurring Energy Development and Affordability\r\n \r\n$11 million is allocated for the Denali Commission, which is tasked with coordinating construction and infrastructure efforts in rural Alaska.\r\nIncludes nearly $20 million to further research the production of natural gas from methane hydrates. Alaska's Arctic contains an estimated 32,600 trillion cubic feet of natural gas locked in ice crystals  enough energy to power the entire nation for 1,000 years.\r\nAllocates $211 million for weatherization assistance nationally. The program helps improve energy efficiency in rural Alaska where high energy prices take a larger percentage of household budgets.\r\nFunds the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program at $3.39 billion. These funds act as a crucial supplement for many Alaskans who face the highest energy prices in the nation.\r\nProvides $16 million for the Office of Indian Energy Policy, an Energy Department initiative that assists tribes with energy needs and projects on their lands.\r\n \r\nRecognizing Alaska's Unique Needs\r\n \r\nFunds ferry boats and related facilities at $80 million.\r\nFunds the Tribal Transportation Program at $465 million, the first programmatic increase in five years.\r\nProvides $716 million for the Indian Housing Block Grant Program and the Indian Community Development Fund.\r\nAllows earmarked funds not expended in the last ten years to be used for projects within a 50 mile radius of the previously identified project, which will help rural areas that have not been able to proceed yet with their earmarked project.\r\nProhibits the FAA from increasing airport facilities fees unless it can justify that all fees are related to aeronautical navigation products.\r\nAllocates $5.5 million for the Unmanned Centers of Excellence, to develop technologies and policies for the use of unmanned aerial systems.\r\nDirects the IRS to maintain adequate staff in Taxpayer Advocate Service Centers in states such as Alaska and Hawaii, where it might be difficult to receive needed tax assistance through the national toll-free line.\r\nIncludes language directing the FCC to increase broadband access on tribal lands, and recommends $300,000 be spent to support consultation with federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native villages and corporations.\r\nDirects the U.S. Postal Service to maintain six day delivery and rural delivery without reduction, and prohibits consolidation or closure of rural and other small post offices.\r\n \r\nProviding Relief for Taxpayers\r\n \r\nThe implementation of the Affordable Care Act's Cadillac tax will be delayed for two years. This tax on high-cost insurance plans hits Alaska harder than anywhere else in the nation, simply because health care is more expensive in a rural, low population state.\r\nThe ACA-mandated tax on medical devices on pacemakers, joint replacements, defibrillators, and other items will be delayed for two years as well.\r\nProvides for a permanent extension of certain business expenses found in section 179 of the tax code that are particularly beneficial to small businesses.\r\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-hails-path-forward-for-point-spencer-development", "Murkowski Hails Path Forward for Point Spencer Development", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.18.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Hails Path Forward for Point Spencer Development \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senate Approves Point Spencer Land Transfer\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Today U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) praised the Senate's action to approve the Point Spencer Land Conveyance Act. Murkowski introduced the bicameral legislation with Congressman Don Young (R-AK) in May, to streamline future infrastructure development and potential uses of Point Spencer, Alaska by calling for the conveyance of approximately 2,500 acres of federal lands to local, state, and federal stakeholders. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a co-sponsor of the legislation and a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, supported inclusion of the bill in the Coast Guard Authorization Act (H.R. 4188), which passed the Senate Friday by unanimous consent.\r\nAmerica is an Arctic nation because of Alaska, and it's time that we started investing in our future, Murkowski said. Putting in place measures to speed up economic development in Alaska's Arctic will empower us to be a more active participant in activities in the North. Public-private partnerships are an important way to spur investment in the region and with the Senate's action today, we are one step closer to making that happen.\r\nThe Point Spencer Land Conveyance Act would establish a public-private partnership between Bering Straits Native Corporation (BSNC) and the State of Alaska in an effort to bring timely development to Alaska's Seward Peninsula. Among stakeholders, the U.S. Coast Guard would retain its footprint in the region to support their statutory mission and duties, while the partnership would be conveyed lands to establish a U.S. Arctic deep draft port.\r\nMurkowski is chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-unanimously-passes-coast-guard-authorization-bill", "Senate Unanimously Passes Coast Guard Authorization Bill", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.18.15\n\t\t\t Senate Unanimously Passes Coast Guard Authorization Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Bill Strengthens Coast Guard, Protects Alaska's Fishermen, Transfers Federal Lands to Alaska, Buoys Expansion of Icebreaker Fleet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, today welcomed unanimous passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act, which included several key provisions vital to Alaskans' interests.\r\nToday's unanimous passage of this important legislation demonstrates Congress's strong commitment to the U.S. Coast Guard, which serves countless Alaskans in every corner of our state, said Senator Sullivan. Working with members of the Senate Commerce Committee as well as Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young, I am pleased to have included important provisions for Alaska's commercial fishermen, the transfer of federal lands back into the hands of Alaskans, and for the expansion of our icebreaker fleet.\r\nSpecifically, the Coast Guard Authorization Act includes:\r\n \r\nThe Port Spencer Land Conveyance Act, which conveys land at Point Spencer to the Bering Straits Native Corporation and the State of Alaska for potential infrastructure development.\r\nA land conveyance in Tok, which will allow the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) to continue operating the Tok Area Counseling Center, the only behavioral health center in the region.\r\nA provision that would reduce the cost of building a new fishing vessel, thereby encouraging new construction by providing a safe alternative to requiring costly certification by classification societies.\r\nLanguage that would pave the way for growing America's polar icebreaker fleet by allowing the Coast Guard to pay for a polar icebreaker incrementally, rather than requiring full funding in a single year. The bill would also require the Coast Guard to determine the feasibility of refurbishing the icebreaker, Polar Sea, which has been laid up since suffering a catastrophic engine failure in 2010.\r\n \r\nSenator Sullivan also championed the following three amendments that were included in the final bill:\r\n \r\nThe Pribilof Islands Transition Act Amendments of 2015, which would finalize land transfers and conveyances owed to the people of St. Paul under the Fur Seal Act Amendments of 1983 and the Pribilof Transition Act of 2000.\r\nCosponsored an amendment sponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), which extends combat-related special compensation to members of the Coast Guard, commensurate with other branches of the military.\r\nCosponsored an amendment sponsored by Sen. Cantwell (D-WA), which authorizes $4 million in FY 2016, and $10 million FY 2017 for a feasibility study, specification development, and any other pre-acquisition activities necessary for procuring a polar icebreaker.\r\n \r\nThe legislation, which heads to the House of Representatives for passage, authorizes funding to support the mission and needs of the U.S. Coast Guard through 2017.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-votes-against-2200-page-18-trillion-spending-and-tax-reform-bill", "Sullivan Votes Against 2,200 Page $1.8 Trillion Spending and Tax Reform Bill", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.18.15\n\t\t\t Sullivan Votes Against 2,200 Page $1.8 Trillion Spending and Tax Reform Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement today after voting against H.R. 2029, the Omnibus Appropriations Act, a $1.8 trillion spending and tax reform bill:\r\nThis was a difficult vote for me.This 2,200 page $1.8 trillion spending and tax reform bill contains several provisions that I have advocated for, and will continue to press for, that benefit some Alaskans, small business owners, and the energy sector. However, voting in favor of such a massive and consequential piece of legislation, without having had the opportunity to fully understand and vet its positive and negative implications for Alaska and our nation, or offer amendments, is something that I could not do in good conscience.\r\nThe way in which we fund our federal government  in this case, 72 hours to read a 2,200 page $1.8 trillion take-it-or-leave-it bill, negotiated behind closed doors by just a few members of Congress and the White House  is broken and not worthy of our great nation nor the people we represent. It is also a principal reason why we have seen such an explosion of trillions of dollars in debt, which this bill adds to, that imperils our nation's fiscal stability and our children's future.\r\nAlaskans are currently debating  through a transparent, open, and yes, contentious process  how to best address the state's very significant fiscal challenges.The federal government should be doing the same.This bill and the process that produced it demonstrates we aren't.Going forward, I will continue to work with my colleagues to improve this process. That is what Alaskans and the American people deserve.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398553", "Pro-Growth Tax Package Focused on Protecting American Families and Small Businesses Passes House", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  A bipartisan package aimed at providing common sense tax relief to American families and small businesses passed the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 318 to 109. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015, supported by Alaska Congressman Don Young, encourages growth and opportunity across the U.S. economy by improving transparency and operations within the IRS, providing much needed relief and certainty for the American taxpayer, and reducing the nations growing tax burden.\nThe best way to grow and strengthen the economy is by protecting families and small businesses from the heavy hand of the IRS, said Congressman Don Young. Reforming the American tax code has long been overdue, not only because its become entirely too complicated and burdensome but because it continues to harm hardworking Americans and job creators. This package represents only a small step towards improving our broken tax code and reigning in the IRS. Through more than 50 permanent and temporary tax extensions, and a number of serious measures to hold the IRS accountable, we restore a level of certainty that Americans count on when planning for tomorrow and making investments for their futures.\nImportantly, the PATH Act includes legislation authored by Congressman Young to provide Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) an equitable tax reduction for the donation of conservation easements. Youngs language would raise the tax deduction cap for conservation easement donations made by ANCs, bringing deductions in line with what is currently available for certain farmers and ranchers making similar donations. Click here to read more about Youngs provision, which previously passed the House in a separate tax package.\nANCs generally pay federal corporate taxes at the highest marginal rate, but are not eligible for the same corporate tax credits available to other corporations,said Congressman Don Young earlier this year.In order to ensure the tax code for ANCs is in line with other non-Alaska Native corporations who donate conservation easements, I believe raising the cap is the right thing to do. This change will further the spirit of ANCSA by allowing ANCSA Native Corporations to maintain the underlying ownership of their lands, while maximizing its economic, cultural, and conservation values.\nAdditionally, the PATH Act places a two-year delay on a major provision of Obamacare known as the Cadillac tax, which calls for a 40% excise tax on countless Alaskan health plans starting in 2018. The legislation also suspends the 2.3% medical device tax for calendar years 2016 and 2017.\nI am a cosponsor of legislation to terminate both the medical device tax and a major provision of Obamacare known as the Cadillac tax, which calls for a 40% excise tax on countless Alaskan health plans, said Congressman Young. The Cadillac tax, which will hit the American people in 2018, disincentivizes responsible healthcare behavior by targeting businesses that offer quality health insurance. The medical device tax is another undue burden of the misguided healthcare law that has caused prices of critical medical devices, including pacemakers and insulin pumps, to skyrocket. While I maintain Obamacare must be repealed and replaced, I have consistently supported removing these harmful taxes on the American public. \nThe PATH Act represents a broad scope of permanent and temporary extensions in addition to numerous efforts to hold the IRS accountable. For a section by section summary of the PATH Act, click here.\nIRS Accountability Measures:\n \n    Taxpayer Bill of Rights - provides all Americans with basic protections under the law, including the right to receive quality service from the IRS, the right to confidentiality, the right to be informed of decisions about their tax accounts, the right to challenge the IRS position, and the right to receive a prompt and fair response.\n    Prevent Targeting at the IRS authorizes the immediate termination of IRS employees who target individuals or organizations based on their political beliefs.\n    IRS Email Transparency  prohibits IRS officers and employees from using personal email accounts to conduct official business.\n    Ensuring Tax Exempt Organizations the Right to Appeal  codifies the right to an appeals process for non-profit organizations whose tax-exempt status has been denied.\n \n   \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=17d47af5-3c0d-4642-a05e-e6a6dc7b88c0", "Senator Murkowski Ensures Fully-Funded Wildfire Budget", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.17.15\n\t\t\t Senator Murkowski Ensures Fully-Funded Wildfire Budget \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Reiterates Commitment to Long-Term Legislative Solution for Fire-Borrowing, Suppression Efforts, Forest Management\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today highlighted her efforts to ensure that the omnibus appropriations bill included language to fully fund wildfire suppression efforts for the rest of Fiscal Year 2016. As part of her remarks, delivered this afternoon on the Senate floor, Murkowski reiterated that a long-term wildfire and forestry management bill is one of her top priorities as chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\r\n     \r\nIt should go without saying that our nations wildfire epidemic is a serious challenge that demands attention from every one of us. Each year the wildfire season seems to include new worsts and shattered records, and 2015 has been particularly devastating, Murkowski said.\r\nAs chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Murkowski developed legislation earlier this year to fully fund our nations wildland firefighting efforts while ending the pattern of fire borrowing and increasing the budget for preventative measures. The omnibus takes a shorter-term approach, but as a result of Murkowskis leadership contains an unprecedented $1.6 billion for fire suppression ($600 million more than the average federal cost of fighting wildfires over the past ten years), $545 million for hazardous fuels reduction, and $360 million for the Forest Services timber program.\r\nThe omnibus is our path forward on wildfire funding for this year. It devotes greater resources to fire prevention and hazardous fuels reduction. It contains real money, not an empty account, those funds will be available immediately, and we can use the window it provides to develop long-term solutions, said Murkowski.\r\nMurkowski also explained why Congress chose not to include a flawed administration proposal in the omnibus, and further cited concerns raised by a number of stakeholders.\r\nI believe the administrations proposal could set a bad precedent, prove unworkable, and fall short of its own goals, Murkowski said. It was supposed to be coupled with a set of productive forest management reforms, but does not do enough to help our firefighters or our vulnerable communities. It has not been fully vetted, and it has already drawn opposition from outside groups whose members are on the ground, actually fighting fires.\r\nAt the conclusion of her remarks, Murkowski reiterated her commitment to working with her colleagues to develop legislation that permanently resolves the fire-borrowing problem and addresses forest management needs. She noted that the omnibus provides a multi-month window for that work, and reaffirmed that it will be a focus for the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in 2016.\r\nMurkowski, while strongly supportive of the wildfire management provisions included in the omnibus, has not yet decided whether to support the bills final passage.\r\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=7745faa6-1752-4fed-9bd2-71697c8fcf70", "Senator Murkowski Releases Statement on Fairbanks Four", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.17.15\n\t\t\t Senator Murkowski Releases Statement on Fairbanks Four \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) shared her thoughts on the outcome of the Fairbanks Four case:\r\nI am pleased that the State of Alaska agreed to set aside the convictions of the Fairbanks Four based on the new evidence that has been developed and that Judge Lyle has accepted the settlement agreement today. I first took up the cause of the Fairbanks Four in 2013, asking the State of Alaska to take a hard look at whether their convictions were just. I concurrently asked the US Department of Justice to examine whether the civil rights of the Fairbanks Four were violated. I commend UAF Journalism Professor Brian ODonoghue for his dogged investigation and the outstanding attorneys of the Alaska Innocence Project and Dorsey & Whitney for their diligent representation. I also commend the members of the Fairbanks community who have stood vigil to ensure that the cause of the Fairbanks Four was not forgotten. Justice prevails!\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=bc5fb310-4726-4e5a-a28b-156d3ed64c94", "Murkowski Works to Support Alaskas Fisheries and Protect Consumers through Omnibus Bill", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.17.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Works to Support Alaskas Fisheries and Protect Consumers through Omnibus Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the addition of multiple provisions she sponsored in the year-end budget bill to fund the federal government that will both protect American consumers and support Alaskas vital fishing industry. These provisions include a labelling mandate for genetically engineered (GE) salmon, a change in nomenclature of Alaska pollock to minimize consumer confusion, support for visa programs that provide much-needed workers during the busy fish processing season, recommendations for nutritional advice on seafood, and protection against the influence of third parties on the definition of sustainable seafood in Alaska.\r\nAlaska is known around the world for our sustainably-caught, wild, delicious seafood, and provisions within this omnibus package ensure we maintain this reputation for years to come, said Murkowski. We must support Alaskas fisheries that contribute so much to our state, an industry that employs 63,000 Alaskans and provides billions to the states economy. Whether this includes protecting our healthy salmon stocks from the many threats of Frankenfish or making sure Alaskas fisheries have the staff they need during the busy season, I intend to do anything I can to support our thriving seafood industry into the future. \r\nGE Salmon: After the FDAs decision last month to approve GE salmon for human consumption, Senator Murkowski promised to fight back for the health of both consumers and Alaskas fisheries. Murkowski successfully fought to include a provision in the omnibus bill that blocks the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from introducing GE salmon into the market until it publishes labeling guidelines so consumers are aware of what is contained in the product they are purchasing. Further, Murkowski directed the FDA to develop labeling guidelines and implement a program to inform consumers whether or not the salmon for sale is genetically engineered. \r\nClick here to view video of Senator Murkowski discussing the GE salmon labeling provisions. \r\nWIC Food Packages: Senator Murkowski included language that expresses the interest of the Appropriations Committee to include fish species shown to be nutritious and low in mercury (especially wild Alaska salmon) in WIC Food Packages that serve children age 1 to 4 years and pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women.\r\nSeafood Advice: Included is a provision directing the FDA to ensure that pregnant women receive consistent and understandable nutrition advice on what seafood is safe and healthy to consume that is based on the FDAs latest scientific review of the net effects of seafood consumption. \r\nSeafood Sustainability: Senator Murkowski is continuing her fight against the influence of non-governmental organizations seeking to judge the sustainability of Alaskan seafood, inserting language in this years bill prohibiting federal agencies from using outside groups to certify the quality of fish caught in U.S. waters.\r\nElectronic Monitoring: Funded at $5.6 million dollars, NOAA and NMFS are directed to provide a report to the Senate detailing cost estimates for an electronic monitoring program and to apply practical cost saving measures in the new estimates. Replacing the observers required on board to collect fisheries data, often on a vessel with barely enough space for the crew, with an electronic monitoring system has remained a top priority of Senator Murkowskis. \r\nPollock Nomenclature: Senator Murkowski also included a provision that allows only pollock caught in Alaskan waters and U.S. waters out to 200 nautical miles to be marketed as Alaska Pollock. This change will prevent any future low-quality Russian pollock to be falsely marketed as Alaska in U.S. stores nationwide. \r\nJ-1 Visas: Murkowski secured a provision supporting the J-1 Visa program through the next fiscal year. This is an important program relied on by many of Alaskas seafood processors who struggle to fill large numbers of seasonal jobs locally, in-state, or domestically due to a lack of applicants, and are forced to hire staff from outside the United States through a temporary education visa program.\r\nH-2B Visas: Additionally, Murkowski was able to secure language to provide additional resources for the prompt processing of foreign labor certificates for the H-2B Visa program. This will allow businesses to hire workers from foreign countries for positions and jobs they otherwise cannot fill, often providing the staffing that is crucial to Alaskas seafood industry. These provisions also require the federal government to look at how the current program affects the hire of seasonal workers in Alaskas fisheries and tourism industries and blocks the most controversial portions of the Department of Labors new H-2B Visa Program and wage regulations.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-works-to-support-alaskas-fisheries-and-protect-consumers-through-omnibus-bill", "Murkowski Works to Support Alaskas Fisheries and Protect Consumers through Omnibus Bill", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.17.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Works to Support Alaska's Fisheries and Protect Consumers through Omnibus Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the addition of multiple provisions she sponsored in the year-end budget bill to fund the federal government that will both protect American consumers and support Alaska's vital fishing industry. These provisions include a labelling mandate for genetically engineered (GE) salmon, a change in nomenclature of Alaska pollock to minimize consumer confusion, support for visa programs that provide much-needed workers during the busy fish processing season, recommendations for nutritional advice on seafood, and protection against the influence of third parties on the definition of sustainable seafood in Alaska.\r\nAlaska is known around the world for our sustainably-caught, wild, delicious seafood, and provisions within this omnibus package ensure we maintain this reputation for years to come, said Murkowski. We must support Alaska's fisheries that contribute so much to our state, an industry that employs 63,000 Alaskans and provides billions to the state's economy. Whether this includes protecting our healthy salmon stocks from the many threats of Frankenfish' or making sure Alaska's fisheries have the staff they need during the busy season, I intend to do anything I can to support our thriving seafood industry into the future. \r\nGE Salmon: After the FDA's decision last month to approve GE salmon for human consumption, Senator Murkowski promised to fight back for the health of both consumers and Alaska's fisheries. Murkowski successfully fought to include a provision in the omnibus bill that blocks the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from introducing GE salmon into the market until it publishes labeling guidelines so consumers are aware of what is contained in the product they are purchasing. Further, Murkowski directed the FDA to develop labeling guidelines and implement a program to inform consumers whether or not the salmon for sale is genetically engineered. \r\nClick here to view video of Senator Murkowski discussing the GE salmon labeling provisions. \r\nWIC Food Packages: Senator Murkowski included language that expresses the interest of the Appropriations Committee to include fish species shown to be nutritious and low in mercury (especially wild Alaska salmon) in WIC Food Packages that serve children age 1 to 4 years and pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women.\r\nSeafood Advice: Included is a provision directing the FDA to ensure that pregnant women receive consistent and understandable nutrition advice on what seafood is safe and healthy to consume that is based on the FDA's latest scientific review of the net effects of seafood consumption. \r\nSeafood Sustainability: Senator Murkowski is continuing her fight against the influence of non-governmental organizations seeking to judge the sustainability of Alaskan seafood, inserting language in this year's bill prohibiting federal agencies from using outside groups to certify the quality of fish caught in U.S. waters.\r\nElectronic Monitoring: Funded at $5.6 million dollars, NOAA and NMFS are directed to provide a report to the Senate detailing cost estimates for an electronic monitoring program and to apply practical cost saving measures in the new estimates. Replacing the observers required on board to collect fisheries data, often on a vessel with barely enough space for the crew, with an electronic monitoring system has remained a top priority of Senator Murkowski's. \r\nPollock Nomenclature: Senator Murkowski also included a provision that allows only pollock caught in Alaskan waters and U.S. waters out to 200 nautical miles to be marketed as Alaska Pollock. This change will prevent any future low-quality Russian pollock to be falsely marketed as Alaska in U.S. stores nationwide. \r\nJ-1 Visas: Murkowski secured a provision supporting the J-1 Visa program through the next fiscal year. This is an important program relied on by many of Alaska's seafood processors who struggle to fill large numbers of seasonal jobs locally, in-state, or domestically due to a lack of applicants, and are forced to hire staff from outside the United States through a temporary education visa program.\r\nH-2B Visas: Additionally, Murkowski was able to secure language to provide additional resources for the prompt processing of foreign labor certificates for the H-2B Visa program. This will allow businesses to hire workers from foreign countries for positions and jobs they otherwise cannot fill, often providing the staffing that is crucial to Alaska's seafood industry. These provisions also require the federal government to look at how the current program affects the hire of seasonal workers in Alaska's fisheries and tourism industries and blocks the most controversial portions of the Department of Labor's new H-2B Visa Program and wage regulations.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/senator-murkowski-ensures-fully-funded-wildfire-budget", "Senator Murkowski Ensures Fully-Funded Wildfire Budget", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.17.15\n\t\t\t Senator Murkowski Ensures Fully-Funded Wildfire Budget \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Reiterates Commitment to Long-Term Legislative Solution for Fire-Borrowing, Suppression Efforts, Forest Management\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today highlighted her efforts to ensure that the omnibus appropriations bill included language to fully fund wildfire suppression efforts for the rest of Fiscal Year 2016. As part of her remarks, delivered this afternoon on the Senate floor, Murkowski reiterated that a long-term wildfire and forestry management bill is one of her top priorities as chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\r\n     \r\nIt should go without saying that our nation's wildfire epidemic is a serious challenge that demands attention from every one of us. Each year the wildfire season seems to include new worsts' and shattered records, and 2015 has been particularly devastating, Murkowski said.\r\nAs chairman of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Murkowski developed legislation earlier this year to fully fund our nation's wildland firefighting efforts while ending the pattern of fire borrowing and increasing the budget for preventative measures. The omnibus takes a shorter-term approach, but as a result of Murkowski's leadership contains an unprecedented $1.6 billion for fire suppression ($600 million more than the average federal cost of fighting wildfires over the past ten years), $545 million for hazardous fuels reduction, and $360 million for the Forest Service's timber program.\r\nThe omnibus is our path forward on wildfire funding for this year. It devotes greater resources to fire prevention and hazardous fuels reduction. It contains real money, not an empty account, those funds will be available immediately, and we can use the window it provides to develop long-term solutions, said Murkowski.\r\nMurkowski also explained why Congress chose not to include a flawed administration proposal in the omnibus, and further cited concerns raised by a number of stakeholders.\r\nI believe the administration's proposal could set a bad precedent, prove unworkable, and fall short of its own goals, Murkowski said. It was supposed to be coupled with a set of productive forest management reforms, but does not do enough to help our firefighters or our vulnerable communities. It has not been fully vetted, and it has already drawn opposition from outside groups whose members are on the ground, actually fighting fires.\r\nAt the conclusion of her remarks, Murkowski reiterated her commitment to working with her colleagues to develop legislation that permanently resolves the fire-borrowing problem and addresses forest management needs. She noted that the omnibus provides a multi-month window for that work, and reaffirmed that it will be a focus for the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in 2016.\r\nMurkowski, while strongly supportive of the wildfire management provisions included in the omnibus, has not yet decided whether to support the bill's final passage.\r\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/senator-murkowski-releases-statement-on-fairbanks-four", "Senator Murkowski Releases Statement on Fairbanks Four", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.17.15\n\t\t\t Senator Murkowski Releases Statement on Fairbanks Four \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) shared her thoughts on the outcome of the Fairbanks Four' case:\r\nI am pleased that the State of Alaska agreed to set aside the convictions of the Fairbanks Four based on the new evidence that has been developed and that Judge Lyle has accepted the settlement agreement today. I first took up the cause of the Fairbanks Four in 2013, asking the State of Alaska to take a hard look at whether their convictions were just. I concurrently asked the US Department of Justice to examine whether the civil rights of the Fairbanks Four were violated. I commend UAF Journalism Professor Brian O'Donoghue for his dogged investigation and the outstanding attorneys of the Alaska Innocence Project and Dorsey & Whitney for their diligent representation. I also commend the members of the Fairbanks community who have stood vigil to ensure that the cause of the Fairbanks Four was not forgotten. Justice prevails!\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=123f84c5-12d7-46b3-8b8f-eff9b2addc5c", "Murkowski: End of the Year Package Could Have Big Impacts on Alaska", "2015-12-16", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.16.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: End of the Year Package Could Have Big Impacts on Alaska \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Legislation Includes Wide Ranging Tax Relief, Policy Provisions, and Funding Proposals\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Congress has reached an agreement on a year-end spending and tax package that sets federal funding levels for the next year and extends a series of tax breaks. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, had a major role in crafting the final package. The spending bill sustains Alaskas contribution to national defense, funds the delivery of the benefits that our veterans have earned, protects our fisheries, and fulfills the federal governments commitments to Alaska Natives. Alaskans will also enjoy tax relief as the legislation temporarily delays the implementation the Cadillac Tax, one of the Affordable Care Acts more costly provisions. The bill also halts any new funding for the Environmental Protection Agency and prevents continued overreach.\r\nBoth the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are expected to vote on the legislation this week.\r\n\r\n(Senator Murkowski discusses the spending billClick image to watch video)\r\nFisheries: Major wins for Alaskas seafood industry are included, such as:\r\n \r\nGE Salmon: Senator Murkowski made major successful strides fighting against Frankenfish by securing language to block the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from introducing genetically engineered salmon into the market until it publishes labeling guidelines so consumers are aware of whats contained in the product theyre purchasing. Further, Murkowski directed the FDA to develop labeling guidelines and implement a program to inform consumers whether or not the salmon for sale is genetically engineered. This comes on the heels of the FDA approving the production and sale of genetically engineered salmon last month.\r\n \r\n \r\nPollock Nomenclature: Senator Murkowski also included a provision that allows only pollock caught in Alaskan waters and U.S. waters out to 200 nautical miles to be marketed as Alaska Pollock. This change will prevent any future low-quality Russian pollock to be falsely marketed as Alaska in U.S. stores nationwide. \r\n \r\n \r\nJ-1 Visas: Murkowski secured a provision supporting the J-1 Visa program through the next fiscal year, to help many of Alaskas seafood processors who struggle to fill large numbers of seasonal jobs locally, in-state, or domestically due to a lack of applicants. \r\n \r\n \r\nH-2B Visas: Additionally, Murkowski was able to secure language to provide additional resources for the prompt processing of foreign labor certificates for the H-2B Visa program, and require the agency look at how the current program affects the hire of seasonal workers in Alaskas fisheries and tourism industries. The provision also blocks the most controversial portions of the Department of Labors new H-2B Visa Program and wage regulations. \r\n \r\nDefense: Alaskan military bases benefit in the following ways: \r\n \r\nThe bill provides strong funding for the nations ground base midcourse interceptors at Fort Greely, research and development money for improvements to the interceptors, and requests funding to support development of the Long Range Discrimination Radar to be built at Clear Air Force Station. \r\n \r\n \r\nThe bill supports military construction projects in Alaska:\r\n\r\n$37 million for a new F-35 simulator building at Eielson Air Force Base in anticipation of the F-35s coming to Alaska,\r\n$34.4 million for improvements to the Eielson Air Force Base Central Heat and Power Plant,\r\n$7.8 million for a long-awaited physical training facility at Fort Greely. \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski secured a $5 million increase in the Defense Departments Innovative Readiness Training Program, through which military reservists construct infrastructure and provide healthcare in remote parts of Alaska to fulfill their annual training requirements. \r\n \r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski secured another $2.5 million for research and development into new Arctic camouflage to support US Army Alaska. \r\n \r\n \r\nMurkowski also helped to secure an additional $10.5 million to support the lifesaving work of Civil Air Patrol squadrons in Alaska and throughout the nation. \r\n \r\nSupport for Veterans: Senator Murkowski laid the groundwork for major reforms to the nationwide Veterans Choice Program which has frustrated veterans in Alaska and across the nation. Murkowski has two amendments in the bill, one of which requires the Government Accountability Office to independently assess why the Choice Program is failing veterans, both in Alaska and around the country. The other amendment requires that the VA report to Congress on its plans going forward for providing healthcare to Alaska veterans in their home communities when the VA cannot provide it in their own facilities. \r\nAlaska Native Programs: Senator Murkowski secured a provision to fully fund contract support coststhe operational costs of tribes to deliver federal Indian programs. This provision also creates a separate appropriations account to protect other Indian programs from having to pay for contract support cost shortfalls. The bill also provides an additional $25 million for the Bureau of Indian Affairs with important increases to programs that help combat domestic violence, substance abuse, and other public safety initiatives which includes $10 million in Tribal Court funding for P.L. 280 states such as Alaska.\r\nMaking the EPA Work in Alaska: The bill ensures that the EPA continues operating the backhaul program for five years to remove solid waste and garbage from communities in rural Alaska.\r\nTax Relief: Included in the spending and tax bills are a series of tax relief provisions: \r\n \r\nCadillac Tax: The implementation of the Affordable Care Acts Cadillac tax will be delayed for two years. This tax on high-cost insurance plans hits Alaska harder than anywhere else in the nation, simply because health care is more expensive in a rural, low population state. \r\n \r\n \r\nMedical Device Tax: The ACA-mandated tax on medical devices on pacemakers, joint replacements, defibrillators, and other items will be delayed for two years as well. \r\n \r\n \r\nSmall Business Expensing: Increases the expensing limit from $200,000 to $500,000, provides indexing over time and extends the provisions out for two years. Rather than a year-end retroactive fix, this allows our construction and heavy equipment companies across the state to plan for large purchases rather than hedge at the end of the year. \r\n \r\n \r\nConservation Easement Reform: Contributions of land into conservation easements are now allowable charitable contributions. This will benefit Alaska Native Corporations across the state.\r\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=3435ecdb-d369-4cd1-aafe-33915440d9d0", "Murkowski: Oil Export Ban Repeal is Win for Alaska, Nation", "2015-12-16", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.16.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Oil Export Ban Repeal is Win for Alaska, Nation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Omnibus Provision Enhances Americas Position as Global Energy Superpower\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed inclusion in the year-end spending bill of language she has long championed to repeal the decades-long ban on crude oil exports. \r\nAllowing oil exports is an important step forward in ensuring that our energy policies reflect our nations renewed abundance of resources. Not only will oil exports help safeguard our long-term economic prosperity, but it will also spur job creation across the country and deliver much-needed revenue to state and local governments, Murkowski said. With the threat of terrorism growing daily, oil exports are needed now more than ever to reduce volatility and provide our allies, and the world, a stable and secure source of energy. \r\nTodays action by Congress to allow oil exports is a culmination of Murkowskis work on this important geopolitical and national security issue. \r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, first proposed lifting the 40-year-old ban on oil exports in a speech at the Brookings Institution in January 2014. She continued to build a solid case for modernizing U.S. energy trade policies with a series of white papers, speeches and calls for government and independent analysis. In July, the energy panel favorably reported out Murkowskis Offshore Production and Energizing National Security Act (S. 2011), including language to fully repeal the outdated restrictions on exporting American oil. \r\nWe have an opportunity to modernize our energy export policy and make America a world leader on issues of trade, the environment, and energy production, but we must seize it, Murkowski said. If we fail to act, we risk losing the gains in economic activity and job creation that weve seen in recent years in the energy sector. \r\nThe bipartisan agreement announced early Wednesday morning as part of a 2016 budget deal would repeal all restrictions on the export of U.S. crude oil under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, including requirements on producers in Alaska to obtain a presidential national interest finding before shipping oil abroad. Limited export of oil from the trans-Alaska pipeline has been allowed, with presidential approval, since 1996.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-end-of-the-year-package-could-have-big-impacts-on-alaska", "Murkowski: End of the Year Package Could Have Big Impacts on Alaska", "2015-12-16", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.16.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: End of the Year Package Could Have Big Impacts on Alaska \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Legislation Includes Wide Ranging Tax Relief, Policy Provisions, and Funding Proposals\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Congress has reached an agreement on a year-end spending and tax package that sets federal funding levels for the next year and extends a series of tax breaks. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, had a major role in crafting the final package. The spending bill sustains Alaska's contribution to national defense, funds the delivery of the benefits that our veterans have earned, protects our fisheries, and fulfills the federal government's commitments to Alaska Natives. Alaskans will also enjoy tax relief as the legislation temporarily delays the implementation the Cadillac Tax, one of the Affordable Care Act's more costly provisions. The bill also halts any new funding for the Environmental Protection Agency and prevents continued overreach.\r\nBoth the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are expected to vote on the legislation this week.\r\n\r\n(Senator Murkowski discusses the spending billClick image to watch video)\r\nFisheries: Major wins for Alaska's seafood industry are included, such as:\r\n \r\nGE Salmon: Senator Murkowski made major successful strides fighting against Frankenfish by securing language to block the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from introducing genetically engineered salmon into the market until it publishes labeling guidelines so consumers are aware of what's contained in the product they're purchasing. Further, Murkowski directed the FDA to develop labeling guidelines and implement a program to inform consumers whether or not the salmon for sale is genetically engineered. This comes on the heels of the FDA approving the production and sale of genetically engineered salmon last month.\r\n \r\n \r\nPollock Nomenclature: Senator Murkowski also included a provision that allows only pollock caught in Alaskan waters and U.S. waters out to 200 nautical miles to be marketed as Alaska Pollock. This change will prevent any future low-quality Russian pollock to be falsely marketed as Alaska in U.S. stores nationwide. \r\n \r\n \r\nJ-1 Visas: Murkowski secured a provision supporting the J-1 Visa program through the next fiscal year, to help many of Alaska's seafood processors who struggle to fill large numbers of seasonal jobs locally, in-state, or domestically due to a lack of applicants. \r\n \r\n \r\nH-2B Visas: Additionally, Murkowski was able to secure language to provide additional resources for the prompt processing of foreign labor certificates for the H-2B Visa program, and require the agency look at how the current program affects the hire of seasonal workers in Alaska's fisheries and tourism industries. The provision also blocks the most controversial portions of the Department of Labor's new H-2B Visa Program and wage regulations. \r\n \r\nDefense: Alaskan military bases benefit in the following ways: \r\n \r\nThe bill provides strong funding for the nation's ground base midcourse interceptors at Fort Greely, research and development money for improvements to the interceptors, and requests funding to support development of the Long Range Discrimination Radar to be built at Clear Air Force Station. \r\n \r\n \r\nThe bill supports military construction projects in Alaska:\r\n\r\n$37 million for a new F-35 simulator building at Eielson Air Force Base in anticipation of the F-35s coming to Alaska,\r\n$34.4 million for improvements to the Eielson Air Force Base Central Heat and Power Plant,\r\n$7.8 million for a long-awaited physical training facility at Fort Greely. \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski secured a $5 million increase in the Defense Department's Innovative Readiness Training Program, through which military reservists construct infrastructure and provide healthcare in remote parts of Alaska to fulfill their annual training requirements. \r\n \r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski secured another $2.5 million for research and development into new Arctic camouflage to support US Army Alaska. \r\n \r\n \r\nMurkowski also helped to secure an additional $10.5 million to support the lifesaving work of Civil Air Patrol squadrons in Alaska and throughout the nation. \r\n \r\nSupport for Veterans: Senator Murkowski laid the groundwork for major reforms to the nationwide Veterans Choice Program which has frustrated veterans in Alaska and across the nation. Murkowski has two amendments in the bill, one of which requires the Government Accountability Office to independently assess why the Choice Program is failing veterans, both in Alaska and around the country. The other amendment requires that the VA report to Congress on its plans going forward for providing healthcare to Alaska veterans in their home communities when the VA cannot provide it in their own facilities. \r\nAlaska Native Programs: Senator Murkowski secured a provision to fully fund contract support coststhe operational costs of tribes to deliver federal Indian programs. This provision also creates a separate appropriations account to protect other Indian programs from having to pay for contract support cost shortfalls. The bill also provides an additional $25 million for the Bureau of Indian Affairs with important increases to programs that help combat domestic violence, substance abuse, and other public safety initiatives which includes $10 million in Tribal Court funding for P.L. 280 states such as Alaska.\r\nMaking the EPA Work in Alaska: The bill ensures that the EPA continues operating the backhaul program for five years to remove solid waste and garbage from communities in rural Alaska.\r\nTax Relief: Included in the spending and tax bills are a series of tax relief provisions: \r\n \r\nCadillac Tax: The implementation of the Affordable Care Act's Cadillac tax will be delayed for two years. This tax on high-cost insurance plans hits Alaska harder than anywhere else in the nation, simply because health care is more expensive in a rural, low population state. \r\n \r\n \r\nMedical Device Tax: The ACA-mandated tax on medical devices on pacemakers, joint replacements, defibrillators, and other items will be delayed for two years as well. \r\n \r\n \r\nSmall Business Expensing: Increases the expensing limit from $200,000 to $500,000, provides indexing over time and extends the provisions out for two years. Rather than a year-end retroactive fix, this allows our construction and heavy equipment companies across the state to plan for large purchases rather than hedge at the end of the year. \r\n \r\n \r\nConservation Easement Reform: Contributions of land into conservation easements are now allowable charitable contributions. This will benefit Alaska Native Corporations across the state.\r\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-oil-export-ban-repeal-is-win-for-alaska-nation", "Murkowski: Oil Export Ban Repeal is Win for Alaska, Nation", "2015-12-16", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.16.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Oil Export Ban Repeal is Win for Alaska, Nation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Omnibus Provision Enhances America's Position as Global Energy Superpower\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today welcomed inclusion in the year-end spending bill of language she has long championed to repeal the decades-long ban on crude oil exports. \r\nAllowing oil exports is an important step forward in ensuring that our energy policies reflect our nation's renewed abundance of resources. Not only will oil exports help safeguard our long-term economic prosperity, but it will also spur job creation across the country and deliver much-needed revenue to state and local governments, Murkowski said. With the threat of terrorism growing daily, oil exports are needed now more than ever to reduce volatility and provide our allies, and the world, a stable and secure source of energy. \r\nToday's action by Congress to allow oil exports is a culmination of Murkowski's work on this important geopolitical and national security issue. \r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, first proposed lifting the 40-year-old ban on oil exports in a speech at the Brookings Institution in January 2014. She continued to build a solid case for modernizing U.S. energy trade policies with a series of white papers, speeches and calls for government and independent analysis. In July, the energy panel favorably reported out Murkowski's Offshore Production and Energizing National Security Act (S. 2011), including language to fully repeal the outdated restrictions on exporting American oil. \r\nWe have an opportunity to modernize our energy export policy and make America a world leader on issues of trade, the environment, and energy production, but we must seize it, Murkowski said. If we fail to act, we risk losing the gains in economic activity and job creation that we've seen in recent years in the energy sector. \r\nThe bipartisan agreement announced early Wednesday morning as part of a 2016 budget deal would repeal all restrictions on the export of U.S. crude oil under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, including requirements on producers in Alaska to obtain a presidential national interest finding before shipping oil abroad. Limited export of oil from the trans-Alaska pipeline has been allowed, with presidential approval, since 1996.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-reacts-to-epas-illegal-use-of-lobbying-and-propaganda-to-promote-wotus-rule", "Sullivan Reacts to EPAs Illegal Use of Lobbying and Propaganda to Promote WOTUS Rule", "2015-12-14", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.14.15\n\t\t\t Sullivan Reacts to EPA's Illegal Use of Lobbying and Propaganda to Promote WOTUS Rule \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement today regarding the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) legal decision that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) broke laws when it pushed for public support for the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Rule in 2014 and 2015. Specifically, the GAO's report said that the EPA had unlawfully used taxpayer dollars to use social media for lobbying and propaganda purposes.\r\nThe EPA consistently earns it's moniker as a rogue agency,' with its persistent disregard for the rule of law, said Senator Sullivan. The agency's Waters of the U.S. Rule  which would give the agency vast new authority over our lands and waters  is a prime example. As we learned today, not only is the substance of the rule an overreach, but the EPA also broke laws in the way that it tried to sell the rule to Congress and the public. Once again, the EPA's demonstrated that it will go to any lengths to push its extreme environmental agenda.\r\nRead today's New York Times story on the report here. Here are some quotes from the GAO's report:\r\n \r\nAs explained below, we conclude that EPA's use of Thunderclap constitutes covert propaganda, in violation of the publicity or propaganda prohibition.\r\nWe conclude that EPA violated the anti-lobbying provisions contained in appropriations acts for FY 2015 when it obligated and expended funds in connection with establishing the hyperlinks to the webpages of environmental action groups.\r\nBecause EPA obligated and expended appropriated funds in violation of specific prohibitions, we also conclude that EPA violated the Antideficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. 1341(a)(1)(A), as the agency's appropriations were not available for these prohibited purposes.\r\n \r\nBackground:\r\nOn May 22, 2015, Senators Dan Sullivan and Mike Rounds (R-SD) joined Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) in sending a letter to EPA requesting documents and information about EPA's use of social media.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/obamacare-hurts-alaska-most", "Obamacare hurts Alaska most", "2015-12-13", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.13.15\n\t\t\t Obamacare hurts Alaska most \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nRecently, while home in Anchorage, in the course of two hours, three people in three differentplaces  a gas station, Carr's and Lowe's  talked to me about how Obamacare is wiping themout. Hardly a day passes when I don't hear from or read about Alaskans harmed by Obamacare.\r\n\r\n\r\nOne Alaska family tells me they now pay $1,200 per month in premiums with a $10,000deductible. Another couple pays more than $3,000 per month in premiums, almost $38,000 per year.Here's an excerpt from a constituent letter: The renewal paperwork that I just receivedestimated our new payment to be just over $1,000/month  doubling our monthly expense ...What is a young family to do?\r\n\r\n\r\nAnother: Insurance rates are killing my small business ... We have tried to keep our employeesand their families covered but don't see how we can continue to.\r\n\r\n\r\nPlease, please help us!! an Alaskan wrote to me.\r\n\r\n\r\nWorkers and families are suffering. Small businesses are being squeezed. Job creation isstymied. Nearly every promise made by the president and those who voted for the AffordableCare Act has been broken.\r\n\r\n\r\nIf you like your health care plan, you can keep it, the president told us. If you like yourdoctor, you can keep your doctor, he said. The law, he promised, means more choice, morecompetition, lower costs for millions of Americans.He also promised family premiums would be reduced on average by $2,500 per year.\r\n\r\n\r\nInstead, costs are soaring. A bronze plan, the least expensive available, averages $420 per month,with a deductible of $5,653 for an individual and $11,600 for a family.\r\n\r\n\r\nFormer House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised Obamacare would create 4 million jobs 400,000 jobs almost immediately. But the Congressional Budget Office projectsObamacare will result in 2 million fewer full-time jobs by 2017, and 2.5 million fewer by 2024.\r\n\r\n\r\nNo state has been hurt more than Alaska. Five insurance companies originally offered individualcoverage in the exchange. Today, only two are left. Both are increasing premiums by about 40percent in 2015. In Anchorage, the lowest level bronze plan will rise 46 percent in just one year,making it among the most expensive in the country. Under the plan, a non-smoking 40-year-oldnot receiving subsidies will pay $579 a month with a $5,750 deductible, or $678 a month with a$5,250 deductible.\r\n\r\n\r\nDespite these crushing costs, Obamacare requires Alaskans to purchase these plans  the firsttime in U.S. history Congress mandated individual Americans to buy something.\r\n\r\n\r\nMany in Alaska and across the country have chosen to go without coverage, instead paying theexpensive yearly fine.Americans are rightfully asking: What's the point of having healthinsurance that's being forced on us if we can't afford it?\r\n\r\n\r\nOthers just forego seeing their doctors. A recent Gallup poll found that in 2014, one in threeAmericans put off needed medical treatment because of cost. As costs rise, so will that number.\r\n\r\n\r\nFor Alaskans, the problems only get worse. The Cadillac Tax, which taxes premiums, takeseffect in 2018, and will impact an estimated 90 percent of Alaska businesses. A company with 20covered employees will be required to pay another $28,000 per year in taxes.\r\n\r\n\r\nThese extra costs on small businesses will be handed down to their employees in the form ofreduced benefits and wages. State and local governments will pay increased taxes. And hard-working Alaskans covered by union plans will also pay more under the Cadillac Tax.\r\n\r\n\r\nOne of my campaign promises was to vote to repeal Obamacare, which I did on Thursday. Thepresident has vowed to veto it, claiming the Affordable Care Act is working.\r\n\r\n\r\nUnited Health, one of the nation's biggest insurance companies, says that because of losses, itmay pull out of Obamacare altogether.Premera, one of the two health insurers left in Alaska, says it can't continue to sustain losses.\r\n\r\n\r\nFor the sake of millions of Americans who have been misled, we can't afford to wait forObamacare to self-destruct.Providing affordable health care for all Americans is a very important goal, but Obamacare isn'teven succeeding at that. It's estimated that 33 million Americans in 2014 still didn't havecoverage. According to the Congressional Budget Office, in 10 years 27 million Americans willstill be without insurance.\r\n\r\n\r\nMoreover, a health care program that is economically wiping out middle class families and smallbusinesses is simply not sustainable. It's imperative that we repeal this law and replace it withone that includes tort reform, enables interstate competition, allows small business the samehealthcare tax deductions as big business, is transparent so people know what they are buyingand ensures people with pre-existing conditions get covered.\r\n\r\n\r\nThere are a number of bills that have been introduced that would enact these solutions.\r\n\r\n\r\nWhen selling the law to the public, President Obama invoked The fierce urgency of now.\r\n\r\n\r\nThat's exactly what I hear when Alaskans write: What is a young family to do? Please, pleasehelp us!!\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t    By:\n\t\t\t\t    Sen. Dan Sullivan\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\tSource:\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFairbanks Daily News-Miner", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398550", "Young Defends 2nd Amendment on House Floor", "2015-12-10", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Alaska Congressman Don Young today spoke on the House floor in defense of the 2nd Amendment:\nCongressman Young speaking on the House Floor (click here).\nGiven the challenges we face today, it is unproductive, dangerous and distracting for the White House and those in Congress to assert that terrorists are free to purchase firearms, and that law enforcement groups are unaware or unable to take the appropriate follow-up actions they deem necessary.\nFBI Director James Comey told the Senate Judiciary Committee, under the current system, law enforcement is notified every time a person on the no fly list attempts to buy a firearm. If terrorists are really buying guns legally and walking the streets with them, why haven't they been arrested?\nThis watch list is not a vetted list of bad guys. How you get on and how you get off is unclear. A paperwork error can get you on the list. A name similar to your own can get you on the list. There are many ways for mistakes or abuses to occur, resulting in Americans having their 2nd Amendment rights taken away.\nThe entire process is absent of one major pillar of our Constitution, due process. Even the ACLU agrees that due process rights must be respected.\nYou too can get on the no fly list. I myself was included on that list. They didnt tell me who put me on it, why I was put on it, and what was the result. And the process to get off, to prove my own identity, was not short  it took 6 months.\nTo have people say terrorists are running around legally buying guns is not true.\nEven the LA Times editorial page said these efforts are misleading, that under these actions the \"government would be infringing on a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution  and yes, like it or not, the right to buy a gun is a fundamental constitutional right according to the U.S. Supreme Court.\nThis is part of our Constitution. We should uphold the Constitution. Weve sworn to uphold the Constitution. Those that are talking about these proposals are against the Constitution. And I will fight to my dying breath to ensure we have the right to the 2nd Amendment.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398552", "Coast Guard Authorization Unanimously Passes House", "2015-12-10", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Reflecting bipartisan and bicameral negotiations, today the House unanimously passed H.R. 4188, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015. The bill, which includes numerous provisions secured by Alaska Congressman Don Young, advances long sought reforms and priorities to protect the Coast Guards mission of protecting our oceans and waterways. Both Congressman Young and Senator Sullivan, who both serve on Committees of jurisdiction, worked in their respective bodies to negotiate terms of this legislation.\nCongressman Young Shares Thoughts on House Passage of Coast Guard Authorization (click here to watch).\nIm happy to report to Alaskans that today we unanimously passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015.The Coast Guard is a great unit which works well for Alaska and the nation as a whole. With 44,000 miles of coastline in Alaska, its important that we keep our Coast Guard strong and support their critical mission. This bill has a number of important provisions important to Alaska, on top of the reforms and improvements made to reaffirm our commitment to the Coast Guard. Federal land transfers in Tok, at Point Spencer and on the Pribilof Islands are all examples of working together with local governments to find common sense solutions. This bill is a good piece of legislation. Its one of the bright spots we have here in Congress these last waning days filled with a lot of chaos. Im happy to have been part of this process, I was happy to work with Chairman Duncan Hunter, and I look forward to finishing this bill on the Senate side with the help of our Senators and getting it to the Presidents desk.\nH.R. 4188 advances a number of important Alaskan causes offered by Congressman Young, including three stand alone bills he introduced:\n \n    H.R. 2038, the Tok Land Transfer, will authorize the conveyance of U.S. Coast Guard housing facilities in Tok, Alaska to the Tanana Chiefs Conference to ensure the continuation of the regions only behavioral health clinic.\n \n \n    H.R.2284, the Point Spencer Land Conveyance Act, will convey 2,500 acres of federal lands to the Bering Straits Native Corporation, State of Alaska, and United States Coast Guard to streamline future infrastructure development and potential uses of Point Spencer.\n \n \n    H.R.325, the Pribilof Islands Transitions Act of 2015, authorizes the Department of Commerce to transfer or exchange Pribilof Islands lands to the village corporations of Saint Paul and Saint George Islands, and giving those village corporations the first priority right to acquire that land on their respective islands.\n \n \n    Fishing Vessel Classification: Language secured by Congressman Young to create an alternative vessel classification compliance program for the construction of new fishing vessels and fishing tenders from 50 to 79 feet in length. Since coming into effect, new classification rules have caused uncertainty in classification costs, which has had negatively impacted the construction of newer, safer fishing vessels. Through alternative compliance, safety can be achieved without arbitrarily expensive requirements.\n \n \n    Icebreakers: Language supported by Congressman Don Young to advance the nations icebreaking fleet was included in H.R 4188. The language requires a determination on the feasibility of refurbishing the USCG POLAR SEA by the USCG within 1 year of enactment. Further, the bill enlists the National Academy of Sciences to do an in depth cost comparison of various options to meet our immediate icebreaking needs. In addition, the bill includes language that authorizes the Coast Guard to contract for the acquisition of a polar icebreaker using incremental funding. Incremental funding has been used by the U.S. Navy to reduce the overall impact on the services budget during large vessel acquisition. The Coast Guards acquisitions budget of approximately $1 billion would not have the capability to simultaneously support current recapitalization efforts and an icebreaker that may cost nearly $1 billion.\n \nSpecifically, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015 would:\n \n    Authorize the Coast Guard for Fiscal Year 2016 and 2017 at currently authorized levels, ensuring the Service has the resources it needs to successfully conduct its critical missions.\n \n \n    Alleviate administrative burdens on mariners by requiring the Coast Guard to harmonize the expiration of merchant mariner credentials, radar observer endorsements, and medical certificates.\n \n \n    Require the Coast Guard to certify local physicians to make medical fitness determinations of merchant mariners.\n \n \n    Bolster shipyards and mariners by requiring the implementation of a program to promote the transportation of LNG on U.S. flag vessels, using U.S. mariners.\n \n \n    Ensure Coast Guard officers and enlisted service members receive access to the same benefits as their counterparts in the Department of Defense.\n \n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=1fce0748-5565-4414-a735-49ed0ec07374", "Murkowski: Terrorism Should Prompt Renewed Focus on Energy Security", "2015-12-10", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.10.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Terrorism Should Prompt Renewed Focus on Energy Security \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Stresses Strong Link Between Domestic Production, National and Global Security\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today highlighted terrorism and instability throughout the Middle East, Africa, and other oil-producing regions as reasons for policymakers to focus on greater domestic energy production and greater energy security.\r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, made her comments Thursday morning during a hearing she convened to examine the intersection between terrorism and global oil markets. She also criticized a group of Senate Democrats for attempting to permanently block access to strategic energy reserves in Alaska, despite deteriorating conditions abroad and just weeks after they voted to allow Iran to resume exporting oil.\r\n\r\n Click picture to view video of Murkowskis opening statement.\r\nAs terrorists threaten oil supplies in the Middle East, and as the state sponsors of terrorism in Iran prepare to make billions of dollars from selling oil to our allies, some within Congress are talking about intentionally and severely hurting American energy production, like the proposal by some to permanently ban production in a small sliver of the non-wilderness portion of ANWR  which could be the West Coasts strategic reserve, Murkowski said. I think this is wrong, dead wrong.\r\nMurkowski pointed to volatile areas around the world that pose threats to the global oil supply and underscored the need to lift the current ban on domestic crude oil exports as a way to minimize disruptions.\r\n\r\nClick picture to view video of Murkowski about the potential impact of sanctions on rogue oil sales.\r\nOil production in countries like Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and Sudan has been knocked offline due to terrorism and related violence. We also know that Iran will soon be rejoining the global oil market, if President Obama gets his way, even as he continues to fight efforts by many of us to repeal the antiquated ban on exporting American oil to our allies, Murkowski said. In addition, continued violence in Libya threatens our allies in Europe who rely on that nations significant source of light crude oil. If we are smart enough to lift the ban on our oil exports, our nation could sell light crude to our partners in Europe.\r\nMurkowski said Thursdays hearing was an opportunity for lawmakers to learn more about the economic and geopolitical issues facing our country in the face of growing terror threats to the worlds energy supplies. \r\nShe also re-released three reports her staff produced during the past year on the growing volatility in Iraq, the rise of ISIS and its black market oil sales, and the relationship between global petroleum outages and instability.\r\nThe reports are available under the documents section of the energy committees website and directly through the links below.\r\n\r\nOil Production Outages and Strategic Warning\r\nA Dark Pool in the Mideast: The Problem of ISIS Oil Sales\r\nIraq through the Lens of Energy\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-terrorism-should-prompt-renewed-focus-on-energy-security", "Murkowski: Terrorism Should Prompt Renewed Focus on Energy Security", "2015-12-10", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.10.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Terrorism Should Prompt Renewed Focus on Energy Security \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Stresses Strong Link Between Domestic Production, National and Global Security\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today highlighted terrorism and instability throughout the Middle East, Africa, and other oil-producing regions as reasons for policymakers to focus on greater domestic energy production and greater energy security.\r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, made her comments Thursday morning during a hearing she convened to examine the intersection between terrorism and global oil markets. She also criticized a group of Senate Democrats for attempting to permanently block access to strategic energy reserves in Alaska, despite deteriorating conditions abroad and just weeks after they voted to allow Iran to resume exporting oil.\r\n\r\n Click picture to view video of Murkowski's opening statement.\r\nAs terrorists threaten oil supplies in the Middle East, and as the state sponsors of terrorism in Iran prepare to make billions of dollars from selling oil to our allies, some within Congress are talking about intentionally and severely hurting American energy production, like the proposal by some to permanently ban production in a small sliver of the non-wilderness portion of ANWR  which could be the West Coast's strategic reserve, Murkowski said. I think this is wrong, dead wrong.\r\nMurkowski pointed to volatile areas around the world that pose threats to the global oil supply and underscored the need to lift the current ban on domestic crude oil exports as a way to minimize disruptions.\r\n\r\nClick picture to view video of Murkowski about the potential impact of sanctions on rogue oil sales.\r\nOil production in countries like Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and Sudan has been knocked offline due to terrorism and related violence. We also know that Iran will soon be rejoining the global oil market, if President Obama gets his way, even as he continues to fight efforts by many of us to repeal the antiquated ban on exporting American oil to our allies, Murkowski said. In addition, continued violence in Libya threatens our allies in Europe who rely on that nation's significant source of light crude oil. If we are smart enough to lift the ban on our oil exports, our nation could sell light crude to our partners in Europe.\r\nMurkowski said Thursday's hearing was an opportunity for lawmakers to learn more about the economic and geopolitical issues facing our country in the face of growing terror threats to the world's energy supplies. \r\nShe also re-released three reports her staff produced during the past year on the growing volatility in Iraq, the rise of ISIS and its black market oil sales, and the relationship between global petroleum outages and instability.\r\nThe reports are available under the documents section of the energy committee's website and directly through the links below.\r\n\r\nOil Production Outages and Strategic Warning\r\nA Dark Pool in the Mideast: The Problem of ISIS Oil Sales\r\nIraq through the Lens of Energy\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=256e0a94-8a6d-4aa2-98d3-4503e6668449", "Murkowski: Energy Vital to National Security", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.09.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Energy Vital to National Security \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Chairman Highlights Reports on Iraq, ISIS, Instability Ahead of Thursdays Hearing\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today highlighted three reports produced during the past year by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources majority staff on the growing volatility in Iraq, the rise of ISIS and its black market oil sales, and the relationship between global petroleum outages and instability.\r\nUnderstanding whats happening when it comes to the links between terrorism and the sale of oil into the world market will inform our own policies as we seek to ensure that America and our allies have access to secure and abundant supplies of energy, said Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\r\nThe reports are available under the documents section of the energy committees website and directly through the links below.\r\nOil Production Outages and Strategic WarningA Dark Pool in the Mideast: The Problem of ISIS Oil SalesIraq through the Lens of Energy\r\nThe Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on Dec. 10 to examine the relationship between terrorism and global oil markets and whether terrorist groups pose an economic threat to the United States.\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=c5d75b0d-b924-4793-aa8e-930dfe4e281a", "Murkowski: Americas Public Lands Should be Open Unless Closed", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.09.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Americas Public Lands Should be Open Unless Closed \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today spoke on the Senate floor to highlight important legislation she has sponsored to provide millions of sportsmen and sportswomen with greater access to and new opportunities on public lands.\r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, urged her Senate colleagues to support her Sportsmens Act (S. 556), which she shepherded through the committee in November. That measure, along with a measure (S. 659) being considered by the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, combine to form the Bipartisan Sportsmens Act that Murkowski introduced with Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) earlier this year.\r\n   Click picture to view video\r\nThe heart of the Sportsmens Act is its provision to make federal lands open unless closed, which establishes a new standard for access to public lands across the country, Murkowski said. Our federal lands will be open unless closed, not closed until opened or closed by bureaucratic inertia. It doesnt get any simpler than this: Americans should be able to access and enjoy their public lands.\r\nMurkowski pointed to the committees bipartisan work, under her leadership as chairman, to overcome the political brinkmanship that has previously stood in the way of the Sportsmens Acts advancement in the Senate.\r\nSportsmens legislation has a long history of strong bipartisan support here in the Senate, but it has failed to advance because this was, for years, a largely dysfunctional chamber, Murkowski said. But this year is different. The Senate is back to regular order and the committees are working hard to prepare legislation for consideration on the Senate floor.\r\nMurkowski also discussed her willingness to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)  a provision added to the bill in committee  provided that it is reformed to limit federal land acquisition and adhere to the congressionally intended balance of funding to States.\r\nStates are leaders on recreation and conservation. The reforms included for LWCF try to restore balance to the state and federal split by ensuring that at least 40 percent of LWCF dollars are allocated to states for state-based programs, Murkowski said. Like many Western members, I am deeply concerned about unfettered land acquisition by the federal government. These reforms are a step in the right direction and provide a great framework for further discussion.\r\nMurkowski noted her support for a Sportsmens provision  the reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act  that is being considered by the EPW Committee. She also expressed her optimism that the full Bipartisan Sportsmens Act will up brought up for passage on the Senate floor next year.\r\nI am very pleased we are on a better track for this legislation in the 114th Congress, and want to again thank my colleagues for working with me to get there, Murkowski said. As a result of our hard work, millions of hunters, fishermen, recreational shooters, and other outdoor enthusiasts could soon have greater access and greater opportunities on federal lands. Thats something we should all be proud to support.\r\nClick here to view video of Murkowski discussing the advancement of the Sportsmens Act through the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\r\nClick here to view video of Murkowski discussing reforms to the LWCF, including her desire to empower states and limit federal land acquisition.\r\nClick here to view the full video of Murkowskis address on Sportsmens legislation.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=c9cca619-a96d-4120-a066-2dc830048774", "Senate Passes Major Education Reform Bill", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "04.12.16\n\t\t\t Senate Passes Major Education Reform Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Returns Control Over Alaskas Schools to Alaskans\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Today Senator Lisa Murkowski voted in support of the final version of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the long-overdue overhaul of the No Child Left Behind Act, which became law in 2002. Todays legislation passed by a vote of 85-12. The House of Representatives passed the bill on December 2nd by a vote of 359-64.It now heads to the Presidents desk to be signed into law.\r\n\r\nSenator Murkowski had a major hand in drafting this legislation, both as a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which produced the Every Child Achieves Act (ECCA) with many provisions beneficial to Alaska, and as a member of the conference committee that negotiated the differences between ECCA and the House of Representatives Student Success Act. As a result, Senator Murkowski was able to give Alaskas unique education interests and priorities a voice throughout the year-long process.\r\nPrior to final passage of the bill, Senator Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor about what the bill will do to return control over education decisions back to the states:\r\nI am more than pleased to join with superintendents, principals, and school board members who celebrate that federal bureaucrats will be prohibited from dictating standards, assessments, and school accountability plans. No more federal control, no more waivers with strings, no more one-size-fits-all education mandates that really never fit us in Alaska The Every Student Succeeds Act guarantees that our parents, teachers, tribes, community leaders, and principals have a seat at the table to design how our schools serve our children.\r\n\r\n(Click image to watch video.)\r\nESSA gives control back to states, educators, parents, school boards, and tribes by:\r\n \r\nEliminating Adequate Yearly Progress  States will be in charge of determining how to identify schools that are not meeting state goals, and deciding how to intervene in those schools that need help to improve.\r\nEliminating Highly Qualified Teacher Standards  States will regain sole charge of determining what standards teachers must meet for certification and licensure.\r\nEliminating Teacher and Principal Evaluations  It will be up to states and local school boards whether to evaluate teachers and principals and if so, how.\r\nMaintaining Once-Yearly Assessments  Maintains current requirement for once a year statewide assessments in grades 3-8 and once in high school for English, language arts and math, and once per grade span in science to determine how well students are progressing on state standards, but will allow states to decide how much these assessments count in determining school quality.\r\nLimiting Federal Control  There are multiple, substantive prohibitions that bar the Secretary of Education or any federal employee from imposing mandates, direction, or control or incentivizing, coercing, or placing conditions over Alaskas standards, assessments, curriculum, programs of instruction, and instructional content.\r\n \r\nThe final legislation also includes the provisions that Senator Murkowski included in the Senate version of the bill:\r\n \r\nReauthorization of the Alaska Native Educational Equity Program (ANEP) with changes that include limiting eligibility to Alaska Native tribes and Alaska Native organizations;\r\nReauthorization of 21st Century Community Learning Centers as a stand-alone program to give working parents the peace of mind that their children are in a safe and enriching environment after school;\r\nAuthorization of a program to support Native language immersion schools and programs to help revitalize Native languages;\r\nInclusion of a provision to significantly reduce burdensome paperwork for rural Alaskan school districts that apply for Impact Aid funds;\r\nRequirement that states consult with tribes when formulating State Plans, and that districts engage in meaningful and timely consultation with local tribal representatives about how ESEA funds can best serve Native students;\r\nFlexibility for Alaska to calculate graduation rates appropriately in very small schools;\r\nProhibiting the U.S. Department of Education from requiring any more data collection than is currently required.\r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski also worked with her colleagues to include in the Every Student Succeeds Act:\r\n \r\nReauthorization of Ready to Learn Television as a stand-alone program.\r\nContinued support for arts, civics, and geography education.\r\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Related Issues:\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t         \n\t\t\t\t\t     \n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tEducation\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-americas-public-lands-should-be-open-unless-closed", "Murkowski: Americas Public Lands Should be Open Unless Closed", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.09.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: America's Public Lands Should be Open Unless Closed \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today spoke on the Senate floor to highlight important legislation she has sponsored to provide millions of sportsmen and sportswomen with greater access to and new opportunities on public lands.\r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, urged her Senate colleagues to support her Sportsmen's Act (S. 556), which she shepherded through the committee in November. That measure, along with a measure (S. 659) being considered by the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, combine to form the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act that Murkowski introduced with Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) earlier this year.\r\n   Click picture to view video\r\nThe heart of the Sportsmen's Act is its provision to make federal lands open unless closed,' which establishes a new standard for access to public lands across the country, Murkowski said. Our federal lands will be open unless closed,' not closed until opened or closed by bureaucratic inertia. It doesn't get any simpler than this: Americans should be able to access and enjoy their public lands.\r\nMurkowski pointed to the committee's bipartisan work, under her leadership as chairman, to overcome the political brinkmanship that has previously stood in the way of the Sportsmen's Act's advancement in the Senate.\r\nSportsmen's legislation has a long history of strong bipartisan support here in the Senate, but it has failed to advance because this was, for years, a largely dysfunctional chamber, Murkowski said. But this year is different. The Senate is back to regular order and the committees are working hard to prepare legislation for consideration on the Senate floor.\r\nMurkowski also discussed her willingness to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)  a provision added to the bill in committee  provided that it is reformed to limit federal land acquisition and adhere to the congressionally intended balance of funding to States.\r\nStates are leaders on recreation and conservation. The reforms included for LWCF try to restore balance to the state and federal split by ensuring that at least 40 percent of LWCF dollars are allocated to states for state-based programs, Murkowski said. Like many Western members, I am deeply concerned about unfettered land acquisition by the federal government. These reforms are a step in the right direction and provide a great framework for further discussion.\r\nMurkowski noted her support for a Sportsmen's provision  the reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act  that is being considered by the EPW Committee. She also expressed her optimism that the full Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act will up brought up for passage on the Senate floor next year.\r\nI am very pleased we are on a better track for this legislation in the 114th Congress, and want to again thank my colleagues for working with me to get there, Murkowski said. As a result of our hard work, millions of hunters, fishermen, recreational shooters, and other outdoor enthusiasts could soon have greater access and greater opportunities on federal lands. That's something we should all be proud to support.\r\nClick here to view video of Murkowski discussing the advancement of the Sportsmen's Act through the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\r\nClick here to view video of Murkowski discussing reforms to the LWCF, including her desire to empower states and limit federal land acquisition.\r\nClick here to view the full video of Murkowski's address on Sportsmen's legislation.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-energy-vital-to-national-security", "Murkowski: Energy Vital to National Security", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.09.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Energy Vital to National Security \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Chairman Highlights Reports on Iraq, ISIS, Instability Ahead of Thursday's Hearing\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today highlighted three reports produced during the past year by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources majority staff on the growing volatility in Iraq, the rise of ISIS and its black market oil sales, and the relationship between global petroleum outages and instability.\r\nUnderstanding what's happening when it comes to the links between terrorism and the sale of oil into the world market will inform our own policies as we seek to ensure that America and our allies have access to secure and abundant supplies of energy, said Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\r\nThe reports are available under the documents section of the energy committee's website and directly through the links below.\r\nOil Production Outages and Strategic WarningA Dark Pool in the Mideast: The Problem of ISIS Oil SalesIraq through the Lens of Energy\r\nThe Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on Dec. 10 to examine the relationship between terrorism and global oil markets and whether terrorist groups pose an economic threat to the United States.\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-supports-major-education-reform-bill", "Sullivan Supports Major Education Reform Bill", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.09.15\n\t\t\t Sullivan Supports Major Education Reform Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Legislation Eliminates Common Core Mandate, Restores Local & State Control\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement today after voting in support ofthe Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), which passed the U.S. Senate on a vote of 85-12.This bipartisan bill is the most significant education reform since 2001, and will replace the outdated and ineffective standards that were forced on states under the No Child Left Behind Act. The ESSA removes control of education from the federal government and rightfully returns it back to the states and local communities.\r\nI came to Washington with the goal of taking power and responsibility away from the federal government, and returning it to state and local hands, said Senator Sullivan. With overwhelming passage of bipartisan education reform legislation in both the House and Senate  the first in over a decade  we have begun to do that.The ESSA eliminates the federal Common Core mandate, which so many Alaskans have opposed, and prevents the federal government from acting as a national school board.And while this bill isn't perfect, it restores control of schools back to teachers, local school boards, states, and engaged parents, who are the best educators. Finally, I want to thank Senator Lisa Murkowski for her steadfast commitment to education reform for Alaska and for all the years that she's worked to make this legislation happen.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398548", "House Passes Legislation to Strengthen Visa Waiver Program with Near Unanimous Support", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Passes Legislation to Strengthen Visa Waiver Program with Near Unanimous Support \r\n   \r\n    \r\n      Closes Massive National Security Holes in Our Already Dismal Immigration System \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, D.C.,\r\n        December 8, 2015\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n       Washington, D.C.  Alaska Congressman Don Young today shared the following message after House passage of H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act: \r\n The strength and security of our nation is paramount, including our ability to prevent foreign enemies from entering our country. Today, the House voted to reinforce our Visa Waiver Program and close massive national security holes in our already dismal immigration system. This bill, which overwhelmingly passed 407 to 19, ensures Visa Waiver countries share critical intelligence and counter-terrorism information to better equip ourselves when identifying those wishing to cause harm. By enhancing screening and background checks, we also close gaps in our global travel system identified by U.S. intelligence. And to prevent global terrorists from penetrating U.S. soil, this bill denies Visa Waiver status to those who have visited terrorist hotspots. This is just one small step in an overall effort to protect Americans from the growing threats of radical extremism. \r\n ###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=487c9d6c-b21c-44ff-9e63-be226bf599e9", "Murkowski: National Park Centennial Opportunity to Ensure Sustainability for Next 100 Years", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.08.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: National Park Centennial Opportunity to Ensure Sustainability for Next 100 Years \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Chairman Calls for Addressing Maintenance, Encourages Alternative Funding\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today urged National Park Service (NPS) officials to look for innovative ways to fund the nations park systems on the 100th anniversary of the agency and to take steps to meet the evolving needs of the next generation of visitors.\r\n\r\nClick picture to view video of Murkowskis opening statement.\r\nThe centennial offers us a chance to ensure the national park systems sustainability for the next 100 years. And it will take a serious effort to achieve that goal, Murkowski said. The National Park Service estimates its maintenance backlog at approximately $11.5 billion right now  and its anticipated that the backlog will continue to grow.\r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, called the maintenance backlog a travesty that must be addressed.\r\nTo me, there is little point in conserving lands  or allowing the federal government to acquire even more land  if we are not going to take proper care of them, she said.\r\nMurkowski said the administrations proposal, The National Park Service Centennial Act (S. 2257), was a good start to an overdue conversation on ensuring the long-term sustainability of the park system. But she dismissed the administrations request for $1.5 billion in mandatory spending without identifying where the new money is supposed to come from.\r\n\r\n\r\nClick picture to view video of Murkowski talking about alternative funding streams for NPS.\r\nI do not think this is an instance where we can simply throw money at the problem and consider it solved. I disagree that simply providing more funding  as the administration proposes  is the best approach. Murkowski said. Our nation is facing a very serious fiscal crisis; we simply cannot spend however much we want, on whatever we want, whenever we perceive a need. Instead, we should look at new and alternative ways to fund our parks, strive to be more efficient with appropriated dollars, and reassess our funding priorities.\r\nMurkowski highlighted proposals to engage the private sector as an additional source of support for the nations 409 park units and efforts to manage those parks more efficiently.\r\nMurkowski has advanced measures to provide additional sources of funding for the national parks, including $50 million in mandatory funds from federal helium sales to pay for deferred maintenance; the establishment of a commemorative coin and donor recognition program to correspond with the 100th anniversary of the NPS. As chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Murkowski continues to seek alternative ways to maintain our national treasures, including proposing the creation of a national park maintenance fund in the committee-approved broad, bipartisan energy bill and the Sportsmen's Act.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=1786552d-e62e-49ed-a181-4967233679b9", "FLOOR SPEECH: Final Passage of Every Child Succeeds Act", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.08.15\n\t\t\t FLOOR SPEECH: Final Passage of Every Child Succeeds Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMr. President, I would like to take just a moment to talk very briefly about the Every Student Succeeds Act.\r\nI know that several of my colleagues have come down to the floor, just a couple of minutes ago the Senator from Wyoming, to really talk about the good things weve seen in this education reform bill and celebrate how the bill ends the national school board by putting more control for our schools in our state and local hands.And I think that is worthy of note. For the schools, for the administrators, for the teachers, for the parentsI think this is worthy of celebration. \r\nI am more than pleased that the Every Student Succeeds Act will finally allow our states to judge our schools by more than just test results, and allow our teachers to do what they want to do. They want to be able to teach our kids, and really engage in the art and the love of learning, and not just prepare for a test. We all know that our children are more than what can be described in some of these fill in the bubble exercise tests. And teachers are more than robots that just stand in front of a class to follow a script that has been orchestrated from elsewhere. I tell many, both Alaskans and Outside, that I got my political start, if you will, as the president of my sons PTA in our local neighborhood school. And I came to understand, very up-front and personal, what No Child Left Behind meant, not only just for my sons school but for schools all across Alaska. You have an area of a lot of geography and not a lot of numbers in terms of populations. NCLB did not work for us as a very rural state. One-size-fits-all did not work. My sons school, our public school, was deemed a failing school in the first year that Adequate Yearly Progress was the standard of measurement. And we were dubbed a failing school because we had one subcategory of students where the numbers were so small, but we didnt have enough students show up to take the test on that day. We all know there were 31 different ways to fail AYP, and little Government Hill Elementary in Anchorage, Alaska failed that first year. Thats tough as a neighborhood. Youre saying why?, whats wrong with our school?, whats wrong with our neighborhood? And really there was nothing wrong with our school, there was nothing wrong with our neighborhood. What we had was a directive that came out of Washington, DC, some 4,000 miles away, and it just didnt work for us. \r\nSo I am more than pleased to join with superintendents, principals, and school board members who celebrate that federal bureaucrats will be prohibited from dictating standards, assessments, and school ability plans. No more federal control, no more waivers with strings, no more one-size-fits-all education mandates that really never fit us in Alaska. \r\nI also place a high value on the fact that this bill recognizes the rights of our American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian peoples throughout the country and makes sure that they know they have a greater say in how public schools will serve their children.And also that this bill will support the revitalization of Native languages by supporting Native language immersion schoolsalways one of my priorities, and Im pleased we see this in the Every Student Succeeds Act. \r\nI am very grateful for the support of colleagues on both sides of the aisle, Senator Boxer worked with me on this, to make sure that we maintained federal support for afterschool programs that allow parents to remain at work if they need to after the school day ends, knowing that their children are safe and engaged in good and enriching activities that help them learn in a fun way.So making sure we had that critical piece in the bill was important.\r\nI am also grateful for the support for a number of Alaska-specific provisions that will ensure that this billunlike No Child Left Behindwill truly fit Alaskas needs. I appreciate a great deal the work Senator Alexander put into working through these issues, understanding the Alaska piece, recognizing that sometimes we have entities that are different than what you have in the Lower 48, and how you translate that when youre drafting language to make sure it works is key. And his staff worked with mine to make sure that we didnt drop the balls in this area. \r\nThose of us who are parents realize that this legislation will give us a stronger voice in our childrens education and encourage parents to take the lead in helping our schools communicate better with parents rather than the other way around.Coming into the politics of the schools, knowing that your parents have a voice in what is happening with the schools is critically important. \r\nOver the years, we have all met with the teachers, school board members, parents, teachers, principals, superintendents and even students from our states who are so discouraged, very discouraged, sometimes just plain fed up with No Child Left Behinds top down control over every decision. \r\nThe Every Student Succeeds Act guarantees that our parents, teachers, tribes, community leaders, and principals have a seat at the table to design how our schools serve our children. It even guarantees our governors a voice while drastically reducing the role of the Secretary of Education here in Washington, D.C. \r\nI want to acknowledge the good work of the members of the Senate HELP Committee, and their staffswe all know that their staffs just put in amazing hours to get the bill to this pointworking together, compromising, negotiating, and making their cases for the priorities of their constituents. This bill is, Mr. President, one of the great examples, the poster child if you will, of how Congress should be working around here. Its hard work, it requires compromise, and an open amendment process in committee which we absolutely had, days and days of process in committee, on the floor, and in conference committee. We had a real, live, old-fashioned conference committee. And it was an absolute pleasure to be part of a process where you could go in with your colleagues from the House, on the other side of the table, going back and forth and further perfecting a bill.  \r\nIn just a few days, the baton now on education reform will be handed off to the people of our states. I look forward to this, and Im encourage everyone back home to get involved, be aware, know whats going on. \r\nIt will be a responsibility that every one of our constituents must take seriously. No matter what role they play in a students life, what happens next in each of our states will be determined by the people who show up, who share their perspectives with their state departments of education and their school boards. I believe that coming together this way, at the local level, at that state level, together will be a good job for Alaskas children, for our nations children. \r\nThank you. I yield the floor.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-national-park-centennial-opportunity-to-ensure-sustainability-for-next-100-years", "Murkowski: National Park Centennial Opportunity to Ensure Sustainability for Next 100 Years", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.08.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: National Park Centennial Opportunity to Ensure Sustainability for Next 100 Years \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Chairman Calls for Addressing Maintenance, Encourages Alternative Funding\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today urged National Park Service (NPS) officials to look for innovative ways to fund the nation's park systems on the 100th anniversary of the agency and to take steps to meet the evolving needs of the next generation of visitors.\r\n\r\nClick picture to view video of Murkowski's opening statement.\r\nThe centennial offers us a chance to ensure the national park system's sustainability for the next 100 years. And it will take a serious effort to achieve that goal, Murkowski said. The National Park Service estimates its maintenance backlog at approximately $11.5 billion right now  and it's anticipated that the backlog will continue to grow.\r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, called the maintenance backlog a travesty that must be addressed.\r\nTo me, there is little point in conserving lands  or allowing the federal government to acquire even more land  if we are not going to take proper care of them, she said.\r\nMurkowski said the administration's proposal, The National Park Service Centennial Act (S. 2257), was a good start to an overdue conversation on ensuring the long-term sustainability of the park system. But she dismissed the administration's request for $1.5 billion in mandatory spending without identifying where the new money is supposed to come from.\r\n\r\n\r\nClick picture to view video of Murkowski talking about alternative funding streams for NPS.\r\nI do not think this is an instance where we can simply throw money at the problem and consider it solved. I disagree that simply providing more funding  as the administration proposes  is the best approach. Murkowski said. Our nation is facing a very serious fiscal crisis; we simply cannot spend however much we want, on whatever we want, whenever we perceive a need. Instead, we should look at new and alternative ways to fund our parks, strive to be more efficient with appropriated dollars, and reassess our funding priorities.\r\nMurkowski highlighted proposals to engage the private sector as an additional source of support for the nation's 409 park units and efforts to manage those parks more efficiently.\r\nMurkowski has advanced measures to provide additional sources of funding for the national parks, including $50 million in mandatory funds from federal helium sales to pay for deferred maintenance; the establishment of a commemorative coin and donor recognition program to correspond with the 100th anniversary of the NPS. As chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Murkowski continues to seek alternative ways to maintain our national treasures, including proposing the creation of a national park maintenance fund in the committee-approved broad, bipartisan energy bill and the Sportsmen's Act.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398547", "Young Responds to Presidents Oval Office Address", "2015-12-07", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Alaska Congressman Don Young today shared the following statement in response to the Presidents address to the nation:\r\nLast night, the President gathered the nation to discuss ongoing security threats and counterterrorism efforts. What should have been a demonstration of leadership and strength, including a strategic and comprehensive plan to defeat radical Islamic terrorism and ensure the safety of Americans, was nothing more than the same failed policies that continue to underestimate our global enemies. \r\nFor months, Congress and the American people have called upon the President to develop a comprehensive strategy to weaken, deter and eliminate ISIS. Yet, while our global enemies grow  spreading fear and destruction, our President seems more concerned with defending his pitiful attempt at foreign policy and attacking the rights of millions of law abiding citizens.\r\nAmericans deserve a commander-in-chief committed to building solutions to defeat ISIS. Until he can provide that leadership, his calls for Congress to pass an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF)  which ties the hands of our military men and women  is both disingenuous and insincere. \r\nI remain committed to protecting the safety and security of our citizens. In the coming days, the House will take additional steps to strengthen our nation by approving bipartisan legislation to close the glaring security gaps in our visa waiver program.\r\n\r\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=0cf57ed8-c3ed-4efa-875f-213a8acb1173", "Sen. Murkowski Highlights Alaskas Leadership in Energy Innovation", "2015-12-07", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.07.15\n\t\t\t Sen. Murkowski Highlights Alaskas Leadership in Energy Innovation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week highlighted the energy innovation occurring in some of Alaskas most isolated communities as local leaders seek to reduce the cost of electricity through a variety of cutting-edge technologies.\r\n\r\nClick here to view video of Thursdays event\r\nSpeaking Thursday at an event hosted by The Hill newspaper on microgrids and innovation, Murkowski said that integrating a mix of local renewable resources  hydro and wind, chiefly  is a way for many Alaska communities to cut their dependence on expensive diesel that must be shipped in. About 70 communities in Alaska have reportedly integrated renewable energy with traditional diesel generation.\r\n\r\n\r\nAlaska has dozens of isolated communities that arent within a hundred miles of an electric grid. Every one of them relies on a microgrid because they have no other choice, and the cost of energy for those communities is extremely high, said Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\r\nMurkowski also noted that Hybrid microgrids dont make sense for everyone, but for more and more Alaska communities, integrating renewables and storage is a viable option. Theyre doing it to reduce their diesel use  to lower their heating and electricity costs, gain a little more control over their supply, and increase its reliability. Microgrids are also being used to connect villages that are close to each other, which vastly increases their options if a generator goes down. That can be a matter of life and death due to the harsh winters in rural Alaska.\r\nMurkowski highlighted the community of Kodiak, which is currently producing 99.7 percent of its electricity from renewable energy. Kodiaks isolated microgrid uses wind, hydro, batteries, and a flywheel to generate power.\r\nIt is the perfect example for the rest of the country to follow, Murkowski said. Kodiaks renewable energy use is not only reducing its dependence on diesel, it is also spurring economic growth by lowering the cost of power in the community considerably.\r\nMurkowski has long supported advancing the use of microgrid technology in Alaska. She also included a provision to promote microgrid technology in the broad, bipartisan energy bill reported 18-4 by the energy committee earlier this year.\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=7127b91d-04f3-4262-af3a-2d80dd23dda7", "Sen. Murkowski Highlights Alaskas Leadership in Energy Innovation", "2015-12-07", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.07.15\n\t\t\t Sen. Murkowski Highlights Alaskas Leadership in Energy Innovation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week highlighted the energy innovation occurring in some of Alaskas most isolated communities as local leaders seek to reduce the cost of electricity through a variety of cutting-edge technologies.\r\n\r\nClick here to view video of Thursdays event\r\nSpeaking Thursday at an event hosted by The Hill newspaper on microgrids and innovation, Murkowski said that integrating a mix of local renewable resources  hydro and wind, chiefly  is a way for many Alaska communities to cut their dependence on expensive diesel that must be shipped in. About 70 communities in Alaska have reportedly integrated renewable energy with traditional diesel generation.\r\n\r\nAlaska has dozens of isolated communities that arent within a hundred miles of an electric grid. Every one of them relies on a microgrid because they have no other choice, and the cost of energy for those communities is extremely high, said Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\r\nMurkowski also noted that Hybrid microgrids dont make sense for everyone, but for more and more Alaska communities, integrating renewables and storage is a viable option. Theyre doing it to reduce their diesel use  to lower their heating and electricity costs, gain a little more control over their supply, and increase its reliability. Microgrids are also being used to connect villages that are close to each other, which vastly increases their options if a generator goes down. That can be a matter of life and death due to the harsh winters in rural Alaska.\r\nMurkowski highlighted the community of Kodiak, which is currently producing 99.7 percent of its electricity from renewable energy. Kodiaks isolated microgrid uses wind, hydro, batteries, and a flywheel to generate power.\r\nIt is the perfect example for the rest of the country to follow, Murkowski said. Kodiaks renewable energy use is not only reducing its dependence on diesel, it is also spurring economic growth by lowering the cost of power in the community considerably.\r\nMurkowski has long supported advancing the use of microgrid technology in Alaska. She also included a provision to promote microgrid technology in the broad, bipartisan energy bill reported 18-4 by the energy committee earlier this year.\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/sen-murkowski-highlights-alaskas-leadership-in-energy-innovation", "Sen. Murkowski Highlights Alaskas Leadership in Energy Innovation", "2015-12-07", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.07.15\n\t\t\t Sen. Murkowski Highlights Alaska's Leadership in Energy Innovation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, this week highlighted the energy innovation occurring in some of Alaska's most isolated communities as local leaders seek to reduce the cost of electricity through a variety of cutting-edge technologies.\r\n\r\nClick here to view video of Thursday's event\r\nSpeaking Thursday at an event hosted by The Hill newspaper on microgrids and innovation, Murkowski said that integrating a mix of local renewable resources  hydro and wind, chiefly  is a way for many Alaska communities to cut their dependence on expensive diesel that must be shipped in. About 70 communities in Alaska have reportedly integrated renewable energy with traditional diesel generation.\r\n\r\n\r\nAlaska has dozens of isolated communities that aren't within a hundred miles of an electric grid. Every one of them relies on a microgrid because they have no other choice, and the cost of energy for those communities is extremely high, said Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\r\nMurkowski also noted that Hybrid microgrids don't make sense for everyone, but for more and more Alaska communities, integrating renewables and storage is a viable option. They're doing it to reduce their diesel use  to lower their heating and electricity costs, gain a little more control over their supply, and increase its reliability. Microgrids are also being used to connect villages that are close to each other, which vastly increases their options if a generator goes down. That can be a matter of life and death due to the harsh winters in rural Alaska.\r\nMurkowski highlighted the community of Kodiak, which is currently producing 99.7 percent of its electricity from renewable energy. Kodiak's isolated microgrid uses wind, hydro, batteries, and a flywheel to generate power.\r\nIt is the perfect example for the rest of the country to follow, Murkowski said. Kodiak's renewable energy use is not only reducing its dependence on diesel, it is also spurring economic growth by lowering the cost of power in the community considerably.\r\nMurkowski has long supported advancing the use of microgrid technology in Alaska. She also included a provision to promote microgrid technology in the broad, bipartisan energy bill reported 18-4 by the energy committee earlier this year.\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-applauds-passage-of-long-term-highway-reauthorization-bill", "Sullivan Applauds Passage of Long-Term Highway Reauthorization Bill", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.04.15\n\t\t\t Sullivan Applauds Passage of Long-Term Highway Reauthorization Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Alaska Priorities Included in Bipartisan FAST Act Headed to President's Desk\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, DC Yesterday evening, Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) joined 82 of his colleagues in passing the bipartisan Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which provides funding for our nation's surface transportation needs over the next five years.\r\nPassage of a long-term highway bill will provide Alaskans with much-needed certainty in infrastructure investments throughout our state, Senator Sullivan said. Building off Congressman Young's work as a past chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Senator Murkowski's position on the Surface Transportation Conference Committee, combined with my position on both the Environment and Public Works and Commerce Committees, we were able to secure a number of Alaska-specific provisions that will increase transportation funding for corehighwayprograms, tribal transportation and the ferry system that are so vital to Alaska's economic future. The bill also includes reforms to our permitting system, which will help cut through project-killing red tape and streamline regulatory burdens. This bill amounts to a big win for Alaska as it will allow us to not only address our infrastructure needs but also promote and sustain economic growth throughout the state.\r\nFunding for Alaska:\r\nThe FAST Act is a five-year bill that sets funding levels above the baseline in the first year.From there, the bill sets growth of the program at inflation for the following 4 years.\r\nThe bill maintains the current formula that delivers a high rate of return for Alaska.\r\nFAST ACT APPORTIONMENT FOR ALASKA\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFY16\r\n\r\n\r\n508,614,600\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFY17\r\n\r\n\r\n519,117,557\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFY18\r\n\r\n\r\n530,336,370\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFY19\r\n\r\n\r\n542,306,359\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFY20\r\n\r\n\r\n555,294,332\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAlaska's FY15 total was $483,955,039.\r\nThe Tribal Transportation Program:\r\n \r\nThe tribal transportation program has been flat funded at $450 million in recent years.This bill increases funding to $465 million in the first year and grows the program $10 million a year for the following four years of the bill.\r\n \r\nFerry Funding:\r\n \r\nThe bill increases funding for the ferry system from $67 million to $80 million a year.This translates into $18.6 million for ferries in Alaska, an increase from $18.2 million in FY15, and an annual increase of $400,000  $2.0 million total over the course of the bill.\r\n \r\nSpecific Provisions:\r\nPM 2.5 waiver for Congestion Mitigation programs:\r\n \r\nProvides flexibility for transportation funds under the CMAQ program with respect to the PM2.5 set-aside for states with low population densities.This free up funding to be spent on local priority projects rather than compliance with non-attainment standards.\r\n \r\nLand Swap in Southeast Alaska:\r\n \r\nLanguage clarifies a 2005 statute to ensure the proper exchange of land between Alaska and the United States Forest Service.This effort included 357 easements, 231 marine access points, 126 log transfer facilities, and 19 transportation and utility corridors.The language included in the bill restores the intent of the law and will allow the exchange of all remaining reciprocal easements to continue.\r\n \r\nTribal transportation program amendment:\r\n \r\nDecreases program administrative expenses related to the tribal transportation program from 6% to 5%. Increases the set-aside for high-priority tribal bridges from 2% to 3%. This amendment makes the program more efficient by ensuring funds are being spent on building infrastructure in the program.\r\n \r\nRail Safety:\r\n \r\nProvides funding for Positive Train Control (PTC) infrastructure in order to expedite PTC compliance.\r\n \r\nFederal Freight Program:\r\n\r\n \r\nThe bill creates a new federal Freight Program, and Alaska will receive $80.3 million in funding over the five-year period.\r\nEstablishes a competitive grant program for nationally significant freight and highway projects for large projects that are difficult to complete with existing funds. The grant program will be funded with total of $4.5 billion over the course of the bill. This includes $800 million for FY16.\r\nGrants will be used for highway freight projects, highway or bridge projects, intermodal or rail freight projects, or ports to increase and enhance the flow of freight throughout the country.\r\n \r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398545", "House Approves Major Reforms to K-12 Education Law", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, the House passed bipartisan, bicameral legislation to replace an outdated K-12 education law plaguedwith one-size-fits-all policies and riddled with unreasonable standards. S.1177, the Every Student Succeeds Act, is the first major reform to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act since the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) became law in 2002.\r\nMany will agree that our current education system is broken, filled with unreasonable, unworkable and unmanageable federal standards, said Congressman Young. Alaska suffered greatly under NCLB, a law which failed to take into account our states unique educational challenges. Despite the best efforts of Alaskas educators and administrators, our geographic, economic, and cultural barriers have often prevented schools in the state from complying with NCLB requirements. As a former teacher, I am committed to ensuring our nations children are provided with the best possible education. I believe S.1177 contains a number of critical reforms Alaskan parents and teachers have demanded. By empowering our states and restoring local control, we get the federal government out of the way as we invest in the next generation of our nations leaders.\r\nThe K-12 legislation advanced today would stop the federal governments promotion of Common Core and protect the rights of states and school districts to develop or change their own standards as they see fit. The bicameral bill:\r\n \r\n    Prohibits any agent of the federal government  including the Secretary of Education  from incentivizing, forcing, or coercing states into adopting Common Core,or interfering with a states standards or assessments.\r\n \r\n \r\n    Rejects policies and programs the secretary has used to coerce states to adopt Common Core, including waivers of K-12 education law with strings attached and the Race to the Top program.\r\n \r\n \r\n    Prevents the secretary from imposing additional burdens on states and school districtsthrough the regulatory process in areas of standards, assessments, and state accountability plans.\r\n \r\n \r\n    Eliminate Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) standards for states, which have proved to be burdensome one-size-fits-all requirements rather than catalysts for states to improve student performance. S.1177 replaces AYP with state-determined accountability systems, thereby returning authority for measuring student performance to states and school districts.\r\n \r\n \r\n    End federally mandated interventions currently required of poor performing schools, giving states and districts maximum flexibility to develop appropriate school improvement strategies and rewards for their schools.\r\n \r\nThe Every Student Succeeds Act is a bicameral agreement developed from legislation previously passed in the House and Senate. The bill includes important language crafted from provisions authored by Congressman Don Young and provisions authored by Senator Lisa Murkowski to reauthorize and improve the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian education equity programs. S. 1177 would:\r\n \r\n    Authorize nearly $32 million annually for the Alaska Native Education Program (ANEP);\r\n \r\n \r\n    Reform grantee requirements for ANEP eligibility to ensure that Alaska Native Organizations are always lead recipients and have the primary responsibility for the development and implementation of funded programs. \r\n \r\nThe Senate is expected to consider final passage of S. 1177 in the coming days.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398546", "House Passes 5-Year Transportation Agreement", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Alaska Congressman Don Young, former Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, offered the following statement after House passage of H.R. 22, the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.\nThe last time Congress passed a long-term transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU, I was Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Since then, we have limped along with short-term extension after short-term extension, robbing our states and localities of the certainty they depend on to repair and expand our nations crumbling infrastructure. I proudly worked with Chairman Bill Shuster and Ranking Member Peter DeFazio to break this cycle by producing this meaningful long-term package. This bill, which represents negotiations between the House and Senate, is by no means perfect. However, it makes a number of important reforms and improvements to give states and localities added flexibility, to streamline duplicative permitting processes, to refocus significant resources on moving freight, and to maintain a strong commitment to safety.\nThe success of any states economy directly depends on their ability to move people and products safely and efficiently. That is especially true in a developing and geographically unique state like ours, which is why I worked so hard to secure numerous provisions specifically beneficial to Alaskans  including $31 million annually for the Alaska Railroad, ample funding for our ferry program, and significant increases for the Tribal Transportation Program. Showing the power of a united Alaskan delegation, together Senator Murkowski, Senator Sullivan and I were able to secure these and other provisions for the betterment of our state and people. Overall, Alaska will see an increase of $281 million compared to our current transportation funding levels.\nH.R. 22, which passed today by a vote of 359 to 65, would secure over $2.9 billion in transportation funding for Alaska over the next five years - a $281 million or 10.6% increase above current levels. The FAST Act contains numerous Alaska-focused provisions championed by Congressman Young and the Alaska delegation, including:\n \n    Provisions to clarify congressional intent from a 2005 SAFETEA-LU land swap provision to ensure that all outstanding easements promised by U.S. Forest Service are delivered to the State of Alaska;\n \n \n    $31 million annually for Alaska Railroad through revisions to the FTA formula, approximately $3 million above current levels;\n \n \n    $80 million annually for the National Ferry Program, including an estimated $18.6 million dedicated to Alaska (the largest of any other state in the nation);\n \n \n    A PM2.5 rural state waiver for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program, which will allow low population density states like Alaska to use their set aside funds for other local priority projects, rather than on compliance with nonattainment standards;\n \n \n    $175 million increase above current levels to the Tribal Transportation Program (TTP) over the next five years;\n \n \n    $35 million annually for the Tribal Transit program ($13 million increase above current levels);\n \n \n    A 1% reduction in administrative fees by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Federal Highway Administration.\n \nClickherefor more details about the provisions included in the FAST Act.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=1ec37e5f-fcda-431e-9b96-f9b453ac126c", "Murkowski Votes for Long-Term Highway Bill", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Votes for Long-Term Highway Bill  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Five Year Funding Program Provides Certainty for Alaska Projects\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski voted on the final version of the transportation funding agreement, the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which passed by a vote of 83-16. The legislation provides funding for our nations surface transportation needs over the next five years, from highways to ferries and railroads.\r\nSenator Murkowski was a member of the surface transportation conference committee to negotiate the differences between both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate versions of the bill. Through this leadership position, Murkowski was able to give Alaskas interests and priorities a voice at the negotiating table, and help retain provisions secured by Senator Dan Sullivan (as a member of both the Environment and Public Works Committee and Commerce Committee) and Congressman Don Young (as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee).\r\nThe FAST Act provides annual increases in funding to the state over a five year period. Alaska stands to receive more than $2.6 billion from Fiscal Years (FY) 2016-2020.\r\nAlaska has unique transportation needs and challengeswhether it be due to our states vast size, remoteness, difficult terrain, or harsh climate. Because of this, its imperative that we have the certainty that comes with a long-term transportation funding bill, said Murkowski. We all recognize that Alaska is in the midst of budget crisis, so being able to rely on federal funding for critical infrastructure projects, whether it be on roads, bridges, or ferries, is key to our state. Im proud that with the FAST Act, we have a five year bill with stable fundingthe longest time period for transportation funding that Congress has secured in seventeen years.\r\nAlaska-specific provisions included in the five year transportation bill include:\r\nAlaska Railroad: The bill fixes a technical mistake from MAP-21, the previous transportation bill, which shortchanged funding to the Alaska Railroad. Congressman Don Young included that provision in the House version of the bill, and Senator Murkowski was able to secure it in the final version during the conference process.\r\nFederal Freight Program: The legislation creates a new federal Freight Program, and Alaska will receive $80 million in funding over the five year period.\r\nTribal Transportation Program: Funding for the Tribal Transportation program increases by $15 million in the first year, growing by $10 million each year thereafter. The bill also decreases administrative expenses and establishes a tribal transportation self-governance program at the U.S. Department of Transportation.\r\nFerry Program Funding: The bill increases funding for the ferry system from $67 million to $80 million a year, which translates into $18.6 million for ferries in Alaska. This is an increase from $18.2 million provided in MAP-21 and will be an increase of $2.4 million over the five year period FY 2016-2020.\r\nTongass Easements: Language within this bill clarifies a provision in the SAFETEA-LU transportation bill to ensure that reciprocal easements and rights-of-way in the Tongass National Forest will be granted between the state of Alaska and the U.S. Forest Service. This will benefit road and other infrastructure projects in Southeast Alaska.\r\nWaiver for Congestion Mitigation Program: The FAST Act will provide flexibility for transportation funds under the air quality program with respect to states with low population densities, freeing up funds to be spent on local priority projects rather than compliance fees. This is important for communities such as Fairbanks.\r\nRegulatory Relief/Permitting Reform Provisions: This bill improves and streamlines environmental review processes to help lower costs and reduce delays in essential safety projects.\r\nPositive Train Control: In October 2015, Congress extended the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) for three years. The FAST Act provides new tools to finance the implementation of Positive Train Control.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=8f9bb50b-e988-4e60-b513-60c212120153", "Chairman Murkowski: Democrats Wilderness Proposal Dead On Arrival", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t Chairman Murkowski: Democrats Wilderness Proposal Dead On Arrival \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today dismissed a new bill from a group of Senate Democrats to formally designate the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as permanent wilderness. \r\nI will do everything in my power to make sure this misguided effort does not advance another inch after today, Murkowski said. Once again Alaska is again being attacked by a group of senators who wish to impose President Obamas destructive agenda. Instead of recognizing that the surface development of just 0.01 percent of the non-wilderness portion of ANWR is a great opportunity for our country, these members have chosen to distort the facts of the debate and renege on important promises made to Alaska.\r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, also pointed out the irony of Senate Democrats recent efforts to allow Iran to increase its own oil production while stifling energy production at home.\r\nThe context of this bill is simply stunning. Many of the same Democratic members who sponsored it recently voted to lift sanctions on Iran, Murkowski said. Its beyond me how these senators could support Irans ability to begin exporting up to a million barrels a day  enabling an increase in Iranian production many times greater than Alaskas current production  and yet want to stop development that would disturb less area than the Dulles Airport in Virginia.\r\nPolls routinely show that more than 70 percent of Alaskans support ANWR development. Under the terms of the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), additional wilderness designations are also barred in Alaska without the express approval of Congress. \r\nAlaska already contains more than half of all land in America protected under wilderness status  the federal governments most restrictive management designation. Congress in 1980 also made a conscious decision to keep the coastal plain out of wilderness status because of its massive energy potential, and specifically designated the area for oil and gas exploration.\r\nThe U.S. Geological Survey estimates that this part of the coastal plain has a mean likelihood of containing 10.4 billion barrels of oil and 8.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.\r\nANWR is 19.3 million acres, with 8 million acres of official wilderness. Murkowski has introduced legislation that would allow oil and natural gas activity on just 2,000 acres in the non-wilderness portion, or 0.01 percent of the total refuge.\r\nI stand ready to have meaningful conversations with any my colleagues about how we leverage our natural resources to transition to a cleaner energy future, Murkowski said. But so long as I am here, the only bill related to ANWR that has a chance of passing the Senate will be my bill  not this one. This effort has failed before, and it will fail again.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=aa77ab82-f8ce-45cf-921f-bf6dbb5526da", "Murkowski on Senate Floor: For Whom is the Affordable Care Act Affordable?", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t  Murkowski on Senate Floor: For Whom is the Affordable Care Act Affordable? \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senator Details Harmful Effects of ACA on Alaskans, Announces Support for Repeal Bill\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t As the Senate begins to take a series of votes to repeal key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor to lay out how the ACA is drastically harming the people of Alaska. Senator Murkowski referred to specific examples from Alaskans, including families, small businesses, and school districts across the state, who have reached out to share the financial burdens the failed healthcare law is placing on them.\r\nIn her speech, Murkowski outlined how in Alaska, the rising healthcare costs have gone too far:\r\nAlaskans have the highest insurance premiums in the country, and I hear from folks back home all the time about the burden these costs place on them. Our states largest newspaper has been reporting on the premium increases coming out over the past several months, detailing the incredible rise of premiums throughout the state. The average monthly premium for a single 40-year-old in the state of Alaska is now over $700, more than double the national average. People are paying thousands of dollars each month to insure their families, and costs have been going up somewhere between 25-40 percent each year. How do you budget for that?\r\n\r\n(Murkowski discusses rising premiums in Alaskaclick image to watch video.)\r\nMurkowski explained how detrimental the ACAs Cadillac tax could be on Alaska:\r\nAlaska is facing a fiscal crisis. The state cut the education budget this year and is looking hard at cutting more next year. School districts cannot handle the imposition of hundreds of thousands of dollars in new taxes on top of a budget reduction. The money would be far better spent on paying teachers what they deserve. School districts are now possibly looking to reduce benefits for teachers in order to avoid paying this new tax. With low pay and no benefits, how are our schools going to get ahead? How can we expect schools to attract and retain quality teachers? The answer is: we cant. And without quality teachers, it will be our kids who suffer.\r\n\r\n(Click image to watch video of Senator Murkowski discussing the ACAs impacts on public education.)\r\nSenator Murkowski summarized her reasons for supporting the repeal of the Affordable Care Act:\r\nIve asked this question before, but I will ask it again: for whom is the Affordable Care Act affordable? Certainly not the average, hard-working Alaskans who are being forced to shell out thousands of dollars for their premiums each month. It isnt affordable for school districts and other state entities, who will pay huge taxes. It isnt affordable for kids, whose education will suffer.\r\nThis law is not affordable for anyone in Alaska. That is why I will support the bill that repeals the ACA and wipes out its harmful impacts. I cant watch premiums for Alaskans shoot up by 30 percent or more each year, see businesses artificially constrained, or see the quality of public education decline.\r\n\r\n(Murkowski discusses burdens placed on families, small businesses, and school districts by the ACA. Click image to watch video.)\r\nA transcript of the floor speech can be found here, and a video of the entire speech can be found here.\r\nBackground: Senator Murkowski has long been an opponent of the Affordable Care Act, recognizing from day one that the one-size-fits-all bill would never work in a rural, sparsely populated state such as Alaska.\r\n \r\nDecember 2009: Senator Murkowski votes against S. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.\r\nMay 2013: Murkowski co-sponsors the Forty Hours is Full Time Act, to redefine full-time employee status within the ACA to the conventional 40 hours workweek.\r\nJuly 2013: Murkowski and 45 other Senators write a letter to the White House urging the entire healthcare reform law be permanently postponed.\r\nSeptember 2013: Senator Murkowski co-sponsors one year delay for individual mandate.\r\nOctober 2013: Murkowski votes to repeal the medical device tax on pacemakers, joint replacements, defibrillators, and other items under the ACA.\r\nNovember 2013: Murkowski co-sponsors the If You Like Your Plan, You Can Keep It Act.\r\nSeptember 2014: Murkowski pens an opinion editorial on the harmful impacts of the ACA on Alaskans.\r\nJanuary 2015: Senator Murkowski re-introduces the Forty Hours is Full Time Act, to re-define full time employee status within the ACA to the conventional 40 hour workweek.\r\nJanuary 2015: Murkowski co-sponsors the Hire More Heroes Act, to incentivize companies to hire more American veterans by exempting potential employees already receiving health coverage from being counted toward the 50 employee threshold for the ACAs employer mandate.\r\nJune 2015: Senator Murkowski responds to the announcement that Premera and MODA were forced to drastically increase premium rates as a result of the Affordable Care Act.\r\nJune 2015: Senator Murkowski pens an opinion editorial on how the Affordable Care Act has become one of the most ironically named pieces of legislation for Alaska in history.\r\nSeptember 2015: Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan co-sponsored legislation to repeal the Cadillac Tax, which would place a 40% excise tax on high-cost insurance plans.\r\nOctober 2015: The PACE Act is signed into law, which Senator Murkowski co-sponsored to halt a change of what is considered small employer within the ACA.\r\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=ab0de662-a523-4139-8813-fca0ea4c0f71", "Federal Government Has Failed to Keep Promises Made in ANILCA", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t Federal Government Has Failed to Keep Promises Made in ANILCA \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today called for the federal government to live up to the promises made in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), legislation that was signed into law 35 years ago that has helped protect many of Alaskas most treasured lands.\r\n\r\nClick photo to view video of Murkowskis opening statement.\r\nThe 35th anniversary of ANILCA is an opportunity to examine how the law has  and has not  worked for Alaskans and all Americans. This is also a perfect moment to reassert that the law must be implemented as it was written, not as federal agencies wish it were written. And that means the federal government must honor rural preference, protect subsistence rights, provide Alaskans with access to our lands, and allow us to responsibly develop our resources, said Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\r\nANILCA protected over 100 million acres of federal lands in Alaska, doubling the size of the countrys national park and refuge system, and tripling the amount of land designated as wilderness. Overall, the act designated roughly 57 million acres of Alaska as formal wilderness.\r\nIn exchange for withdrawing so much of Alaska, ANILCA included a lot of promises with respect to Alaskas rights, to allow residents access to inholdings, and to provide continued use of federal lands for recreation, hunting, and the pursuit of economic prosperity. Unfortunately, Murkowski said, those promises have not been kept.\r\n\r\nClick photo to view video of Murkowski asking Alaska state Sen. John Coghill about ANILCAs broken promises.\r\nMurkowski highlighted ANILCAs no more clause, which prohibits the president from ever again using the Antiquities Act to create new monuments in Alaska without congressional approval, as just one of the broken promises.\r\nMore than 40 million more acres of Alaska have been withdrawn or proposed for protection over the past seven years, including half of our National Petroleum Reserve and almost all of ANWR, clearly undercutting ANILCAs no more clause. Nearly 15 million acres have been removed from the timber base in our national forests, contributing to the demise of an industry that once employed thousands in Southeast, Murkowski said. Its clear that the federal government, in ways large and small, is trampling state sovereignty over state lands and private sovereignty over private lands in Alaska.\r\nMurkowski convened Thursdays oversight hearing on ANILCA to receive input from Alaskans and others with an interest in how the law has and has not worked. Witnesses underscored the federal governments lack of balance in the laws implementation and said the two greatest reforms were language guaranteeing no more land withdraws and access to existing conservation units.\r\n\r\nThe federal government is changing its interpretations of ANILCA to suit itself, with bureaucrats seeking to apply the law as they would have written it, but not as it was agreed to by Congress and President Carter. As that happens, no one in Washington, D.C. ever seems to hear the Alaskans who are needlessly impacted by the loss of access, rights, and opportunities that inevitably follow, Murkowski said.\r\nMurkowski asked each witness at Thursdays hearing what improvements Congress could enact that would make ANILCA work better for the people who actually live there. The response she received from Alaska state Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole; Alaska Gov. Bill Walker, Rod Arno of the Alaska Outdoor Council, and other witnesses was an end to federal land withdraws and a guarantee of access to existing conservation units.\r\n\r\nClick photo for video of Murkowski asking witnesses on restoring balance to ANILCA.\r\nMy hope is that this hearing will serve as a starting point to make ANILCA work better for Alaskans, even as we protect our natural treasures and the subsistence rights of Alaska Natives, Murkowski said.\r\nFull archived video of Thursdays hearing, as well as witness testimony, is available on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee website.\r\n\r\nClick photo for video of Murkowski questioning Gov. Walker on federal implementation of ANILCA.\r\nClick on the links for video of the opening statements from U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska; Gov. Bill Walker; Alaska state Sen. John Coghill; Rod Arno of the Alaska Outdoor Council; Joshua Kindred of the Alaska Oil and Gas Council; and J.P. Tangen.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/speeches?ContentRecord_id=dc8ef691-4195-4e91-93bf-3f6316827354", "FLOOR SPEECH: Harmful Impacts of Affordable Care Act on Alaskans", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t FLOOR SPEECH: Harmful Impacts of Affordable Care Act on Alaskans \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMadam President, I have come to the Floor to once again talk about how the Affordable Care Act is harming the people of the State of Alaska.\r\nAlaskans have the highest insurance premiums in the country, and I hear from folks back home all the time about the burden these costs place on them. Our states largest newspaper has been reporting as weve been seeing these premium increases coming out over the past several months, detailing the incredible rise of premiums throughout the state. The average monthly premium for a single 40-year-old in the state of Alaska is now over $700, more than double the national average. People are paying thousands of dollars each month to insure their families, and costs have been going up somewhere between 25-40 percent each year. How do you budget for that? \r\nA family of three in Ketchikan will be paying almost $2,000 per month next year, for one of the cheapest bronze plans available. This plan comes with a $10,500 deductible. Heck of a deal. So despite paying almost $24,000 for insurance, nearly all medical bills will still be paid out-of-pocket by this family. They will not see any benefit until they have spent almost $35,000. Contrast that $2,000 per month for health insurance with their mortgage payment of $1,250. Does that seem right to anyone? It should not cost more to insure your family than to own a home. \r\nA married couple in Wasilla was paying about $850 per month prior to the ACA, but that plan was not acceptable under the new regulations, despite the Presidents promise that if you like your plan, you can keep it, and they had to find another insurer. Next year, they will be paying over $2,300 per month. That means they will be paying over $17,000 more per year for the same coverage. A 268 percent increase in just over one calendar year. This is not right, this is not conscionable. Its not like this married couple have somehow or another increased their income by an additional $17,000 last year. No, this is just the cost to cover their insurance. \r\nA self-employed man in Homer, whose insurance covers himself, his wife, and his son, has seen his costs increase from about $325 per month two years ago to $1,325 per month since the ACA was passed. Thats an additional $1,000 per month these folks are now paying, for the cheapest bronze plan available, with a $12,000 deductible. So this is not some Cadillac plan. This is the cheapest plan available. \r\nThe ACA repeal bill that we are currently debating addresses this problem by reducing the penalty for not buying insurance to $0. Alaskans would be able to choose to buy insurance, or simply to save the thousands of dollars they would be paying every month. That money could be spent on medical bills as needed, but would be available to families to use how they see fit. \r\nOn top of the outrageous cost of the individual mandate, the so-called Cadillac tax hits Alaskans harder than anyone else in the country. Premera, the largest insurer in the state, tells me that about 62 percent of its customers in Alaska will be forced to pay tax penalties in 2018, the first year of the tax, at the average cost of $420 per plan. Due to the high cost of health care in Alaska, the Cadillac tax is not really a Cadillac tax. The tax penalizes Alaskans simply because health care is more expensive in a rural, low population state. This tax will hit the state, it will hit the boroughs, and it will hit school districts. It will take money away from public education and other services the state provides. Im hearing from school districts that are coming to me, instead of saying Im concerned about testing, Im concerned about some issues they are dealing with, they are saying their number 1 concern is the implication of the Cadillac tax coming to them.\r\nThe single greatest threat to quality public education. That is how Robert Boyle, the superintendent of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District, describes the ACA. Ill say it again: the single greatest threat to quality public education. Bobs district is facing a tax penalty of over $500,000 due to the Cadillac tax in 2018. Remember, 2018 is the first year of the tax, and the penalties will only increase from there. So youve got the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District looking at a half a million dollar tax coming due in 2018. Theyre not getting more money to run their school district. This is money out the door that isnt improving the education of a single child in that district. \r\nAlaska is facing a fiscal crisis. The state cut the education budget this year and is looking hard at cutting more next year. Were a state that relies on oil revenues, you see whats going on with the price of oilthats an impact to us. Were feeling it desperately. School districts cannot handle the imposition of hundreds of thousands of dollars in new taxes on top of a budget reduction. The money would be far better spent on paying teachers what they deserve. School districts are now possibly looking to reduce benefits for teachers in order to avoid paying this new tax. With low pay and no benefits, how are our schools going to get ahead? How can we expect schools to attract and retain quality teachers? The answer is: we cant. And without quality teachers, it will be our kids who suffer. \r\nThe bill we are debating solves this problem for six years by delaying the Cadillac tax until 2024. That gives us here in Congress time to find a way to address it permanently, and in a responsible way. And Im one of those who have advocate to eliminate the Cadillac tax altogether.\r\nBut the problems of the ACA dont end with hundreds of thousands of dollars in new taxes on schools, or charging individuals outrageous premiums. It also impacts our small businesses. I have heard from business owners around the state who want to expand, but cant. They simply cant afford to both expand their business, then hit the 50 employee threshold at which they are required to provide insurance. So, at best, these businesses are forced to tread water. \r\nThe ACA requires every business owned by an individual to be grouped together when counting employees. Ive heard from one employer in my state, Bill Vivlamore, owns several businesses in Fairbanks  from a plumbing distribution company to coffee shops to a hotel. For tax purposes, they are treated as separate entities. For legal purposes, they are treated as separate entities. But for some reason, for the purposes of health insurance, they are all lumped in one bucket. He will be required to provide health insurance when the mandate kicks in because he employs more than 50 people across all his companies  even though he does not have 50 employees at every one of his very different businesses. He has talked to me about having to downsize because the cost of doing business under the ACA is too high. \r\nThis issue is also resolved in the bill by reducing the penalty for non-compliance with the employer mandate to $0. Employers will once again be free to offer workers more hours, hire more staff or expand operations without facing a large tax penalty for not offering insurance or an equally significant cost increase when they are forced to provide insurance. \r\nIve asked this question before, but I will ask it again: for whom is the Affordable Care Act actually affordable? Certainly not the average, hard-working Alaskans who are being forced to shell out thousands of dollars for their premiums each month. It isnt affordable for school districts and other state entities, who will pay huge taxes. It isnt affordable for kids, whose education will potentially suffer.\r\nThis law is not affordable for us in Alaska. That is why I will support the bill that repeals the ACA and wipes out its harmful impacts. I cant watch premiums for Alaskans shoot up by 30 percent or more each year, see businesses artificially constrained, or see the quality of public education decline. It just doesnt work. \r\nSo with that, Madam President, I thank you for the time this morning and look forward to the opportunity this afternoon to weigh in on some of these significant issues that have a great and considerable impact on the people of Alaska.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/-murkowski-on-senate-floor-for-whom-is-the-affordable-care-act-affordabled", "Murkowski on Senate Floor: For Whom is the Affordable Care Act Affordable?", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t  Murkowski on Senate Floor: For Whom is the Affordable Care Act Affordable? \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senator Details Harmful Effects of ACA on Alaskans, Announces Support for Repeal Bill\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t As the Senate begins to take a series of votes to repeal key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor to lay out how the ACA is drastically harming the people of Alaska. Senator Murkowski referred to specific examples from Alaskans, including families, small businesses, and school districts across the state, who have reached out to share the financial burdens the failed healthcare law is placing on them.\r\nIn her speech, Murkowski outlined how in Alaska, the rising healthcare costs have gone too far:\r\nAlaskans have the highest insurance premiums in the country, and I hear from folks back home all the time about the burden these costs place on them. Our state's largest newspaper has been reporting on the premium increases coming out over the past several months, detailing the incredible rise of premiums throughout the state. The average monthly premium for a single 40-year-old in the state of Alaska is now over $700, more than double the national average. People are paying thousands of dollars each month to insure their families, and costs have been going up somewhere between 25-40 percent each year. How do you budget for that?\r\n\r\n(Murkowski discusses rising premiums in Alaskaclick image to watch video.)\r\nMurkowski explained how detrimental the ACA's Cadillac tax could be on Alaska:\r\nAlaska is facing a fiscal crisis. The state cut the education budget this year and is looking hard at cutting more next year. School districts cannot handle the imposition of hundreds of thousands of dollars in new taxes on top of a budget reduction. The money would be far better spent on paying teachers what they deserve. School districts are now possibly looking to reduce benefits for teachers in order to avoid paying this new tax. With low pay and no benefits, how are our schools going to get ahead? How can we expect schools to attract and retain quality teachers? The answer is: we can't. And without quality teachers, it will be our kids who suffer.\r\n\r\n(Click image to watch video of Senator Murkowski discussing the ACA's impacts on public education.)\r\nSenator Murkowski summarized her reasons for supporting the repeal of the Affordable Care Act:\r\nI've asked this question before, but I will ask it again: for whom is the Affordable Care Act affordable? Certainly not the average, hard-working Alaskans who are being forced to shell out thousands of dollars for their premiums each month. It isn't affordable for school districts and other state entities, who will pay huge taxes. It isn't affordable for kids, whose education will suffer.\r\nThis law is not affordable for anyone in Alaska. That is why I will support the bill that repeals the ACA and wipes out its harmful impacts. I can't watch premiums for Alaskans shoot up by 30 percent or more each year, see businesses artificially constrained, or see the quality of public education decline.\r\n\r\n(Murkowski discusses burdens placed on families, small businesses, and school districts by the ACA. Click image to watch video.)\r\nA transcript of the floor speech can be found here, and a video of the entire speech can be found here.\r\nBackground: Senator Murkowski has long been an opponent of the Affordable Care Act, recognizing from day one that the one-size-fits-all bill would never work in a rural, sparsely populated state such as Alaska.\r\n \r\nDecember 2009: Senator Murkowski votes against S. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.\r\nMay 2013: Murkowski co-sponsors the Forty Hours is Full Time Act, to redefine full-time employee status within the ACA to the conventional 40 hours workweek.\r\nJuly 2013: Murkowski and 45 other Senators write a letter to the White House urging the entire healthcare reform law be permanently postponed.\r\nSeptember 2013: Senator Murkowski co-sponsors one year delay for individual mandate.\r\nOctober 2013: Murkowski votes to repeal the medical device tax on pacemakers, joint replacements, defibrillators, and other items under the ACA.\r\nNovember 2013: Murkowski co-sponsors the If You Like Your Plan, You Can Keep It Act.\r\nSeptember 2014: Murkowski pens an opinion editorial on the harmful impacts of the ACA on Alaskans.\r\nJanuary 2015: Senator Murkowski re-introduces the Forty Hours is Full Time Act, to re-define full time employee status within the ACA to the conventional 40 hour workweek.\r\nJanuary 2015: Murkowski co-sponsors the Hire More Heroes Act, to incentivize companies to hire more American veterans by exempting potential employees already receiving health coverage from being counted toward the 50 employee threshold for the ACA's employer mandate.\r\nJune 2015: Senator Murkowski responds to the announcement that Premera and MODA were forced to drastically increase premium rates as a result of the Affordable Care Act.\r\nJune 2015: Senator Murkowski pens an opinion editorial on how the Affordable Care Act has become one of the most ironically named pieces of legislation for Alaska in history.\r\nSeptember 2015: Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan co-sponsored legislation to repeal the Cadillac Tax, which would place a 40% excise tax on high-cost insurance plans.\r\nOctober 2015: The PACE Act is signed into law, which Senator Murkowski co-sponsored to halt a change of what is considered small employer within the ACA.\r\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/chairman-murkowski-democrats-wilderness-proposal-dead-on-arrival", "Chairman Murkowski: Democrats Wilderness Proposal Dead On Arrival", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t Chairman Murkowski: Democrats' Wilderness Proposal Dead On Arrival \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today dismissed a new bill from a group of Senate Democrats to formally designate the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as permanent wilderness. \r\nI will do everything in my power to make sure this misguided effort does not advance another inch after today, Murkowski said. Once again Alaska is again being attacked by a group of senators who wish to impose President Obama's destructive agenda. Instead of recognizing that the surface development of just 0.01 percent of the non-wilderness portion of ANWR is a great opportunity for our country, these members have chosen to distort the facts of the debate and renege on important promises made to Alaska.\r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, also pointed out the irony of Senate Democrats' recent efforts to allow Iran to increase its own oil production while stifling energy production at home.\r\nThe context of this bill is simply stunning. Many of the same Democratic members who sponsored it recently voted to lift sanctions on Iran, Murkowski said. It's beyond me how these senators could support Iran's ability to begin exporting up to a million barrels a day  enabling an increase in Iranian production many times greater than Alaska's current production  and yet want to stop development that would disturb less area than the Dulles Airport in Virginia.\r\nPolls routinely show that more than 70 percent of Alaskans support ANWR development. Under the terms of the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), additional wilderness designations are also barred in Alaska without the express approval of Congress. \r\nAlaska already contains more than half of all land in America protected under wilderness status  the federal government's most restrictive management designation. Congress in 1980 also made a conscious decision to keep the coastal plain out of wilderness status because of its massive energy potential, and specifically designated the area for oil and gas exploration.\r\nThe U.S. Geological Survey estimates that this part of the coastal plain has a mean likelihood of containing 10.4 billion barrels of oil and 8.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.\r\nANWR is 19.3 million acres, with 8 million acres of official wilderness. Murkowski has introduced legislation that would allow oil and natural gas activity on just 2,000 acres in the non-wilderness portion, or 0.01 percent of the total refuge.\r\nI stand ready to have meaningful conversations with any my colleagues about how we leverage our natural resources to transition to a cleaner energy future, Murkowski said. But so long as I am here, the only bill related to ANWR that has a chance of passing the Senate will be my bill  not this one. This effort has failed before, and it will fail again.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/federal-government-has-failed-to-keep-promises-made-in-anilca", "Federal Government Has Failed to Keep Promises Made in ANILCA", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t Federal Government Has Failed to Keep Promises Made in ANILCA \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today called for the federal government to live up to the promises made in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), legislation that was signed into law 35 years ago that has helped protect many of Alaska's most treasured lands.\r\n\r\nClick photo to view video of Murkowski's opening statement.\r\nThe 35th anniversary of ANILCA is an opportunity to examine how the law has  and has not  worked for Alaskans and all Americans. This is also a perfect moment to reassert that the law must be implemented as it was written, not as federal agencies wish it were written. And that means the federal government must honor rural preference, protect subsistence rights, provide Alaskans with access to our lands, and allow us to responsibly develop our resources, said Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.\r\nANILCA protected over 100 million acres of federal lands in Alaska, doubling the size of the country's national park and refuge system, and tripling the amount of land designated as wilderness. Overall, the act designated roughly 57 million acres of Alaska as formal wilderness.\r\nIn exchange for withdrawing so much of Alaska, ANILCA included a lot of promises with respect to Alaska's rights, to allow residents access to inholdings, and to provide continued use of federal lands for recreation, hunting, and the pursuit of economic prosperity. Unfortunately, Murkowski said, those promises have not been kept.\r\n\r\nClick photo to view video of Murkowski asking Alaska state Sen. John Coghill about ANILCA's broken promises.\r\nMurkowski highlighted ANILCA's no more clause, which prohibits the president from ever again using the Antiquities Act to create new monuments in Alaska without congressional approval, as just one of the broken promises.\r\nMore than 40 million more acres of Alaska have been withdrawn or proposed for protection over the past seven years, including half of our National Petroleum Reserve and almost all of ANWR, clearly undercutting ANILCA's no more' clause. Nearly 15 million acres have been removed from the timber base in our national forests, contributing to the demise of an industry that once employed thousands in Southeast, Murkowski said. It's clear that the federal government, in ways large and small, is trampling state sovereignty over state lands and private sovereignty over private lands in Alaska.\r\nMurkowski convened Thursday's oversight hearing on ANILCA to receive input from Alaskans and others with an interest in how the law has and has not worked. Witnesses underscored the federal government's lack of balance in the law's implementation and said the two greatest reforms were language guaranteeing no more land withdraws and access to existing conservation units.\r\n\r\nThe federal government is changing its interpretations of ANILCA to suit itself, with bureaucrats seeking to apply the law as they would have written it, but not as it was agreed to by Congress and President Carter. As that happens, no one in Washington, D.C. ever seems to hear the Alaskans who are needlessly impacted by the loss of access, rights, and opportunities that inevitably follow, Murkowski said.\r\nMurkowski asked each witness at Thursday's hearing what improvements Congress could enact that would make ANILCA work better for the people who actually live there. The response she received from Alaska state Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole; Alaska Gov. Bill Walker, Rod Arno of the Alaska Outdoor Council, and other witnesses was an end to federal land withdraws and a guarantee of access to existing conservation units.\r\n\r\nClick photo for video of Murkowski asking witnesses on restoring balance to ANILCA.\r\nMy hope is that this hearing will serve as a starting point to make ANILCA work better for Alaskans, even as we protect our natural treasures and the subsistence rights of Alaska Natives, Murkowski said.\r\nFull archived video of Thursday's hearing, as well as witness testimony, is available on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee website.\r\n\r\nClick photo for video of Murkowski questioning Gov. Walker on federal implementation of ANILCA.\r\nClick on the links for video of the opening statements from U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska; Gov. Bill Walker; Alaska state Sen. John Coghill; Rod Arno of the Alaska Outdoor Council; Joshua Kindred of the Alaska Oil and Gas Council; and J.P. Tangen.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-votes-for-long-term-highway-bill", "Murkowski Votes for Long-Term Highway Bill", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Votes for Long-Term Highway Bill  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Five Year Funding Program Provides Certainty for Alaska Projects\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski voted on the final version of the transportation funding agreement, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which passed by a vote of 83-16. The legislation provides funding for our nation's surface transportation needs over the next five years, from highways to ferries and railroads.\r\nSenator Murkowski was a member of the surface transportation conference committee to negotiate the differences between both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate versions of the bill. Through this leadership position, Murkowski was able to give Alaska's interests and priorities a voice at the negotiating table, and help retain provisions secured by Senator Dan Sullivan (as a member of both the Environment and Public Works Committee and Commerce Committee) and Congressman Don Young (as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee).\r\nThe FAST Act provides annual increases in funding to the state over a five year period. Alaska stands to receive more than $2.6 billion from Fiscal Years (FY) 2016-2020.\r\nAlaska has unique transportation needs and challengeswhether it be due to our state's vast size, remoteness, difficult terrain, or harsh climate. Because of this, it's imperative that we have the certainty that comes with a long-term transportation funding bill, said Murkowski. We all recognize that Alaska is in the midst of budget crisis, so being able to rely on federal funding for critical infrastructure projects, whether it be on roads, bridges, or ferries, is key to our state. I'm proud that with the FAST Act, we have a five year bill with stable fundingthe longest time period for transportation funding that Congress has secured in seventeen years.\r\nAlaska-specific provisions included in the five year transportation bill include:\r\nAlaska Railroad: The bill fixes a technical mistake from MAP-21, the previous transportation bill, which shortchanged funding to the Alaska Railroad. Congressman Don Young included that provision in the House version of the bill, and Senator Murkowski was able to secure it in the final version during the conference process.\r\nFederal Freight Program: The legislation creates a new federal Freight Program, and Alaska will receive $80 million in funding over the five year period.\r\nTribal Transportation Program: Funding for the Tribal Transportation program increases by $15 million in the first year, growing by $10 million each year thereafter. The bill also decreases administrative expenses and establishes a tribal transportation self-governance program at the U.S. Department of Transportation.\r\nFerry Program Funding: The bill increases funding for the ferry system from $67 million to $80 million a year, which translates into $18.6 million for ferries in Alaska. This is an increase from $18.2 million provided in MAP-21 and will be an increase of $2.4 million over the five year period FY 2016-2020.\r\nTongass Easements: Language within this bill clarifies a provision in the SAFETEA-LU transportation bill to ensure that reciprocal easements and rights-of-way in the Tongass National Forest will be granted between the state of Alaska and the U.S. Forest Service. This will benefit road and other infrastructure projects in Southeast Alaska.\r\nWaiver for Congestion Mitigation Program: The FAST Act will provide flexibility for transportation funds under the air quality program with respect to states with low population densities, freeing up funds to be spent on local priority projects rather than compliance fees. This is important for communities such as Fairbanks.\r\nRegulatory Relief/Permitting Reform Provisions: This bill improves and streamlines environmental review processes to help lower costs and reduce delays in essential safety projects.\r\nPositive Train Control: In October 2015, Congress extended the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) for three years. The FAST Act provides new tools to finance the implementation of Positive Train Control.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-lambastes-va-leadership-over-missed-alaska-healthcare-deadline", "Sullivan Lambastes VA Leadership Over Missed Alaska Healthcare Deadline", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t Sullivan Lambastes VA Leadership Over Missed Alaska Healthcare Deadline \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, DC  At a Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing yesterday, U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) changed his tone and lambasted the Deputy Secretary and the Undersecretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on the lack of progress on the Alaska Pilot Program for the Veterans Choice Program. After conducting a field hearing and a series of listening sessions throughout Alaska in August  held at the request of Senator Sullivan  the VA announced the pilot program would be fully implemented by mid-November to help fix the problems Alaska veterans were having with the Choice program.\r\nBut since the announcement, the agreed-upon deadlines for the Alaska Pilot Program have not been met and veterans continue to complain about the implementation of Veterans Choice Program in Alaska.\r\nWhen are you going to fix the problem in Alaska like you committed to when you were there in August? Senator Sullivan asked VA Undersecretary Dr. Shulkin. On behalf on my veterans I'm pissedBy mid-November, it was all going to be done. It's not done.\"\r\nSenator Sullivan continued, [The VA is] asking for $13-14 billion [from Congress] to fix the Choice Act and can't even fix it in my state where you know it is a freaking disasterIt is a nightmare.\r\nDuring the hearing, the VA admitted that they had not met their mid-November deadline, despite agreeing to implement the second and final phase of Alaska's Pilot Program by that time. According to the VA, no staff has been hired and they have yet to even create job descriptions.\r\nDr. Shulkin agreed that the program was taking longer than it should to implement.\r\nIt is taking longer than you or I want and you're right to be impatient, Dr. Shulkin told Senator Sullivan. I know that the deputy secretary and I have spoken about this. He is committed to it, the secretary [of the VA] is committed to itYou have never deviated from this. We're not deviating from itI don't want to be giving excuses. I only want to fix the problem in Alaska and we're going to stick at it.\r\n# # #\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-on-obamacare-no-state-has-been-hurt-more-by-the-law-than-alaska", "Sullivan on Obamacare: No state has been hurt more by the law than Alaska", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.03.15\n\t\t\t Sullivan on Obamacare: No state has been hurt more by the law than Alaska \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) spoke on the Senate floor today, calling on his colleagues to pass the Restoring Americans' Health Care Freedom Reconciliation Act, which would repeal the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare. If it passes, it will be the first time a bill to repeal will end up on the president's desk.\r\nDuring his remarks (available here, with excerpts below), Senator Sullivan talked about how the act was hurting the country, but no place more than in Alaska.\r\nHardly a day passeswhen I'm in D.C. or back homethat I don't hear or read about Alaskans who have been harmed by Obamacare.\r\nI recently heard from an Alaskan who pays $1,200 a month in premiums with a $10,000 deductible. I heard from another couple who will be paying $3,131 a month, almost $38,000 a year.\r\nHere's an excerpt from a constituent letter: The renewal paperwork that I just received estimated our new payment to be just over $1,000/month - doubling our monthly expense What is a young family to do?\r\nAnother: Insurance rates are killing my small businessWe have tried to keep our employees and their families covered but don't see how we can continue to.'\r\nNo state has been hurt more by the law than Alaska. Five insurance companies originally offered individual coverage in the exchange, offering a glimmer of hope that competition might drive down costs. Today, only two are left. Both will be increasing premiums by about 40 percent this year alone. In Anchorage, the lowest level plana bronze planis going up 46 percent in just one year, which makes it among the most expensive in the country.\r\nIn Anchorage, a nonsmoking 40-year-old who doesn't receive subsidies will be forced to pay anywhere from $579 to $678 a month for a bronze plan with a deductible of either $5,250 for the more expensive premium, and $6,850 for the less expensive premium.\r\nThis was not the affordable' health care that was promised. And we can't let it get worse. That's why I am joining with my colleagues to repeal this law and replace it with one that includes tort reform, preserves a strong safety-net for people with pre-existing conditions, works toward a system where insurance can be bought across state lines, encourages patient-centered care, and allows the kind of doctor-patient relationship that has so distinguished American medical care.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-responds-to-senate-democrats-anwr-legislation", "Sullivan Responds to Senate Democrats ANWR Legislation", "2015-12-02", "2015", "2015-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.02.15\n\t\t\t Sullivan Responds to Senate Democrats' ANWR Legislation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today responded to legislation introduced by 34 Senate Democrats to designate the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as Wilderness:\r\nLet me be clear: This bill will never pass this Congress, and those who are offering it know that, said Senator Dan Sullivan. So why are they doing it? The only explanation is that it must be fundraising season again.But it's disappointing no matter what the reasoning. In offering this bill, what they're telling the American people is that they're not interested in strengthening our country's national security through domestic energy security. They're not interested in helping pay down the national debt through the hundreds of billions of dollars that oil production from ANWR is estimated to generate in federal revenue. And they aren't interested in the tens of thousands of jobs oil production from ANWR would create.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=7e03ae60-f8bb-4896-bd3e-34d3ba6d00c4", "U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Tammy Baldwin Introduce Bipartisan Digital Coast Act to Aid Shoreline Communities", "2015-11-25", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.25.15\n\t\t\t U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Tammy Baldwin Introduce Bipartisan Digital Coast Act to Aid Shoreline Communities \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Bill Delivers Next Generation Coastal Information for Improved Water Resource Management, Disaster Response, Long-Term Planning and Restoration\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced bipartisan legislation, the Digital Coast Act, to help coastal communities better prepare for storms, cope with varying water levels, and strengthen coastal economic development planning efforts. \r\nDigital Coast is a valuable tool that can be used by Alaskans across the state to aid in emergency preparedness for storms and coastal erosion, and private, public and commercial development projects. The data helps us to better understand Alaskas and our nations coasts, said Senator Murkowski. We still have a long way to go in completing mapping and surveying Alaska, both inland and along our coasts, but this will help to prioritize Alaska and the Arctic as critical areas that must be mapped.\r\nWisconsins Great Lakes are a great asset for our quality of life and also for our long-term economic security. Our shoreline communities face a variety of challenges to keep their harbors open, their waters clean and their beaches ready for visitors, said Senator Baldwin. This bill ensures that our Great Lakes communities have the resources and tools they need to adapt to changing environmental conditions, maintain healthy shores, and make smart planning decisions to support their local economies and way of life.\r\nThe National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) currently assembles and hosts the Digital Coast Project, a collaborative online database of the most up-to-date coastal information, and makes it available to both the public and private sectors. Digital Coast also provides tools for coastal communities to decipher and use the high-tech mapping data to make accurate decisions and smart investments in coastal communities.\r\nThe Digital Coast Act authorizes the next phase in coastal mapping at NOAA by ensuring that communities will continue to have the data to make smart choices for economic development, shoreline management and coastal restoration. The Act supports further development of the current project, including increasing access to uniform, up-to-date data, to help communities get the coastal data they need to respond to emergencies, plan for long-term coastal resilience, and manage their water resources.\r\n\"Senator Baldwin and Senator Murkowskis leadership on coastal issues supports the work local communities do to manage risk and protect people and property from extreme weather and changing conditions. This legislation will directly improve local disaster response and hazard mitigation planning. This bill will help local communities minimize potential loss of life and damage to infrastructure, private property, and conservation areas. The Digital Coast Act is an important step for effective coastal management, said American Planning Association President Carol Rhea, FAICP.\r\nCommunities in Wisconsin need tools like Digital Coast to make better decisions about the safety and resilience of our coastal regions. Digital Coast empowers communities to better adapt to changing coastal conditions and identify cost effective tools to address those changes. Thank you, Senator Baldwin for your leadership, said 1000 Friends of Wisconsin Executive Director Steve Hiniker.\r\nThe Digital Coast Act is supported by: American Planning Association, Ayres Associates, Association of State Floodplain Managers, Coastal States Organization, Continental Mapping Consultants, Inc., The National Association of Counties, The Nature Conservancy, Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS), National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), National States Geographic Information Council, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, and Ozaukee County Planning and Parks Department.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=8e030ccd-901d-4bba-9947-860956d4888d", "Alaska WWII and Korean War Veteran Looks Back on 27 Years of Service", "2015-11-25", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.25.15\n\t\t\t Alaska WWII and Korean War Veteran Looks Back on 27 Years of Service \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Murkowski Spotlights 91-Year-Old Veteran from Anchorage\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Today Senator Murkowski is releasing her 26th Veteran Spotlight interview, focusing on the military service of WWII and Korean War veteran Robert Grant of Anchorage. Grant was just 18 years old when he volunteered to join the U.S. Army where he served as a ball turret gunner for the Army Air Corps in the 486th Bombardment Group. After being stationed in England during WWII, flying over Germany, he later went on to be a radar observer in the 319th Fighter Squadron during the Korean War. His military career later led him to receive a stage waiver to go through pilot training in the U.S. Air Force.\r\nRobert reflected on his 27 years of service, including his time as ball turret gunner in WWII, The heroes in that war were in the ground. They were the heroes, not me. Those were the guys that did all the real fighting. \r\nDuring his interview, Robert recalled his experience fighting in WWII valuable to helping his fellow serviceman during the Korean War, especially when they came under fire. At this time, Robert was a radar observer, sitting directly behind his pilot. \r\nOur job was to intercept those airplanes at nighttime. My pilot had never been in combat before so it shocked him and surprised him with these explosions going off outside the airplane. That was all new to him, and I was busy with my radar scope and he was flying the airplane and I was telling him, you go left, port, starboard, and all that, said Robert Grant. Sure I was scared, but I didnt have time to be scared. He needed help. He was flying the airplane, and he needed help because it was frightening to him and Id been through it, so I knew what the hell it was.\r\n\r\n(Click image to watch video.)\r\nMajor Robert Grants long career of military service is truly commendable. He has shown tremendous sacrifice, commitment, and bravery to our nation, said Senator Lisa Murkowski. We can all learn from his life storyhis selflessness and his dedication. Mr. Grant truly exemplifies what makes him a part of the Greatest Generation, and that can easily be seen throughout this video.\r\nDuring Robert Grants military career, he was stationed in England, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cuba.\r\nThe Veteran Spotlight project is Senator Murkowskis focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaskas men and women who served. Todays installment is the twenty-fifth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012. Throughout the year, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project which recognized Murkowskis series in 2013 as a model of best practices. You can watch them all by clicking here.\r\nSenator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project. If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/alaska-wwii-and-korean-war-veteran-looks-back-on-27-years-of-service", "Alaska WWII and Korean War Veteran Looks Back on 27 Years of Service", "2015-11-25", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.25.15\n\t\t\t Alaska WWII and Korean War Veteran Looks Back on 27 Years of Service \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Murkowski Spotlights 91-Year-Old Veteran from Anchorage\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Today Senator Murkowski is releasing her 26th Veteran Spotlight interview, focusing on the military service of WWII and Korean War veteran Robert Grant of Anchorage. Grant was just 18 years old when he volunteered to join the U.S. Army where he served as a ball turret gunner for the Army Air Corps in the 486th Bombardment Group. After being stationed in England during WWII, flying over Germany, he later went on to be a radar observer in the 319th Fighter Squadron during the Korean War. His military career later led him to receive a stage waiver to go through pilot training in the U.S. Air Force.\r\nRobert reflected on his 27 years of service, including his time as ball turret gunner in WWII, The heroes in that war were in the ground. They were the heroes, not me. Those were the guys that did all the real fighting. \r\nDuring his interview, Robert recalled his experience fighting in WWII valuable to helping his fellow serviceman during the Korean War, especially when they came under fire. At this time, Robert was a radar observer, sitting directly behind his pilot. \r\nOur job was to intercept those airplanes at nighttime. My pilot had never been in combat before so it shocked him and surprised him with these explosions going off outside the airplane. That was all new to him, and I was busy with my radar scope and he was flying the airplane and I was telling him, you go left, port, starboard, and all that, said Robert Grant. Sure I was scared, but I didn't have time to be scared. He needed help. He was flying the airplane, and he needed help because it was frightening to him and I'd been through it, so I knew what the hell it was.\r\n\r\n(Click image to watch video.)\r\nMajor Robert Grant's long career of military service is truly commendable. He has shown tremendous sacrifice, commitment, and bravery to our nation, said Senator Lisa Murkowski. We can all learn from his life storyhis selflessness and his dedication. Mr. Grant truly exemplifies what makes him a part of the Greatest Generation, and that can easily be seen throughout this video.\r\nDuring Robert Grant's military career, he was stationed in England, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cuba.\r\nThe Veteran Spotlight project is Senator Murkowski's focus on an Alaska veteran of American conflicts worldwide to honor and draw well-deserved attention to Alaska's men and women who served. Today's installment is the twenty-fifth in the series that began on Memorial Day weekend of 2012. Throughout the year, Sen. Murkowski posts a biography and an interview with an Alaskan who served our country abroad in conjunction with the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project which recognized Murkowski's series in 2013 as a model of best practices. You can watch them all by clicking here.\r\nSenator Murkowski invites all Alaskans to nominate a veteran from the 49th state to be featured in the Veteran Spotlight project. If you have a family member or friend in the community you think has a story to share, email Spotlight@Murkowski.Senate.Gov.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/us-senators-lisa-murkowski-and-tammy-baldwin-introduce-bipartisan-digital-coast-act-to-aid-shoreline-communities", "U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Tammy Baldwin Introduce Bipartisan Digital Coast Act to Aid Shoreline Communities", "2015-11-25", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.25.15\n\t\t\t U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Tammy Baldwin Introduce Bipartisan Digital Coast Act to Aid Shoreline Communities \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Bill Delivers Next Generation Coastal Information for Improved Water Resource Management, Disaster Response, Long-Term Planning and Restoration\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced bipartisan legislation, the Digital Coast Act, to help coastal communities better prepare for storms, cope with varying water levels, and strengthen coastal economic development planning efforts. \r\nDigital Coast is a valuable tool that can be used by Alaskans across the state to aid in emergency preparedness for storms and coastal erosion, and private, public and commercial development projects. The data helps us to better understand Alaska's and our nation's coasts, said Senator Murkowski. We still have a long way to go in completing mapping and surveying Alaska, both inland and along our coasts, but this will help to prioritize Alaska and the Arctic as critical areas that must be mapped.\r\nWisconsin's Great Lakes are a great asset for our quality of life and also for our long-term economic security. Our shoreline communities face a variety of challenges to keep their harbors open, their waters clean and their beaches ready for visitors, said Senator Baldwin. This bill ensures that our Great Lakes communities have the resources and tools they need to adapt to changing environmental conditions, maintain healthy shores, and make smart planning decisions to support their local economies and way of life.\r\nThe National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) currently assembles and hosts the Digital Coast Project, a collaborative online database of the most up-to-date coastal information, and makes it available to both the public and private sectors. Digital Coast also provides tools for coastal communities to decipher and use the high-tech mapping data to make accurate decisions and smart investments in coastal communities.\r\nThe Digital Coast Act authorizes the next phase in coastal mapping at NOAA by ensuring that communities will continue to have the data to make smart choices for economic development, shoreline management and coastal restoration. The Act supports further development of the current project, including increasing access to uniform, up-to-date data, to help communities get the coastal data they need to respond to emergencies, plan for long-term coastal resilience, and manage their water resources.\r\n\"Senator Baldwin and Senator Murkowski's leadership on coastal issues supports the work local communities do to manage risk and protect people and property from extreme weather and changing conditions. This legislation will directly improve local disaster response and hazard mitigation planning. This bill will help local communities minimize potential loss of life and damage to infrastructure, private property, and conservation areas. The Digital Coast Act is an important step for effective coastal management, said American Planning Association President Carol Rhea, FAICP.\r\nCommunities in Wisconsin need tools like Digital Coast to make better decisions about the safety and resilience of our coastal regions. Digital Coast empowers communities to better adapt to changing coastal conditions and identify cost effective tools to address those changes. Thank you, Senator Baldwin for your leadership, said 1000 Friends of Wisconsin Executive Director Steve Hiniker.\r\nThe Digital Coast Act is supported by: American Planning Association, Ayres Associates, Association of State Floodplain Managers, Coastal States Organization, Continental Mapping Consultants, Inc., The National Association of Counties, The Nature Conservancy, Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS), National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), National States Geographic Information Council, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, and Ozaukee County Planning and Parks Department.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=d8a6f002-5b2b-4856-aff3-85d135e0d545", "Alaska Delegation Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Support of John Sturgeon Case", "2015-11-24", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.24.15\n\t\t\t Alaska Delegation Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Support of John Sturgeon Case \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThe three members of Alaskas congressional delegation today filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Alaskan John Sturgeon, who is suing the National Park Service over being forced off the Nation River for using a hovercraft to hunt moose, something that he had been doing for decades. The National Park Service claimed it controlled that stretch of the Nation River because it is part of the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. The State of Alaska claims it is theirs to regulate under the Statehood Act. After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit sided with the Park Service inSturgeon v. Masica, giving the Park Service expansive rights over state and native land, Sturgeon sought review by the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court announced in October that it will hear the case. Oral arguments will take place in January 2016.\r\nAt issue in the case is who, under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), controls state and Native property located within the outer boundaries of ANILCA Conservation System Units. As the brief indicates, Alaskas congressional delegation submits that only the State of Alaska and Alaska Native Corporations, and not the federal government, are empowered to make land use decisions on these non-federal lands. A section of ANILCA was carefully written with Alaska sovereignty in mind and clearly prohibits federal control over such lands and waters. The section, 103 (c), states that no lands owned by the State, Native Corporation, or private party shall be subject to the regulations applicable solely to public lands within national parks and preserves.The amicus curiae brief was prepared by Jonathan Katchen and Kyle Parker of Crowell & Moring, Anchorage, Alaska on a pro bono basis for the Alaska congressional delegation.\r\nAs Alaskas Attorney General, I worked to rescind the National Park Service regulations that are at issue in this case and I am pleased that the Supreme Court will be hearing it, Senator Dan Sullivan said. This case is about who should have the right to make land management decisions over state and Native lands  the owners of the land or the National Park Service. Those who made sure that Section 103 (c), as well as other sections that limited federal control, was included in ANILCA  such as Congressman Don Young  envisioned, presciently, that the federal government would persistently attempt to overreach and expand its authority over Alaska lands. Still, the Park Service has chosen to ignore both the letter and the spirit of the law. The Supreme Court should not allow this to stand. As we Alaskans know, our land is our lifeblood. Its our economic and spiritual center. The more the federal government takes, the less control we have over our destiny. Put simply: It is time for the Supreme Court to put to an end the federal governments long history in Alaska of wrongfully seizing power over our lands and resources.\r\nToday Im proud to join Senator Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young to fight back against the latest chapter in federal overreach: the National Park Services prohibition of ordinary navigation on state ownedwaterways that run near or through ANILCA lands. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act was a carefully crafted compromise which was supposed to demonstrate that subsistence and sportsman land uses, development and stewardship could co-exist in the north. However, as Senator Ted Stevens noted in 2005, no sooner was the ink dry than the federal government began to go back on its promises,said Senator Lisa Murkowski.This is one of the most recent examples in the 35 year long post-ANILCA struggle to get the federal government to stop treating Alaska as a colony and recognize that we are a sovereign state, admitted to the union on an equal footing with the other 49 states. The federal governments action also severely undercuts the 1971 Alaska Native land claims settlement. If not overturned, our state and Alaska Native corporations face a real threat of having to ask the federal government for permission to use the lands conveyed to them. The federal government simply needs to stop giving with one hand and taking back with the other.\r\nThe actions of the National Park Service represent a new level of arrogance on the part of the federal government, said Congressman Don Young. The intent of the ANILCA was always clear in the minds of Congress and its authors. Mo Udall, Scoop Jackson, Ted Stevens and I all understood the terms of this legislation, which ensured the protection of Alaskas sovereignty and closed the door to future government encroachment. By ignoring the law and dismissing the intent of Congress, the federal government has once again attempted to expand its authority beyond anything ever imagined. I call upon the Supreme Court to recognize the federal governments relationship with Alaska as defined by ANILCA, ANCSA, and the Alaska Statehood Act.\r\nExcerpts from the Alaska Congressional Delegation Amicus Curiae Brief:\r\n \r\nWhen courts defer to implausible agency interpretations of statutory language, they are not only allowing the executive branch to increase federal authority unilaterally, they are undermining the separation of powers  the balance so carefully struck in the Constitution  and making it nearly impossible for Congress to effectively limit executive agency authority. That is what has happened in this case.\r\n \r\n \r\n[T]he Park Services unilateral expansion of its authority over Alaskas lands not only usurps Congress legislative authority in violation of the separation of powers, it also comes at great expense to the State of Alaska. It is time for this Court to put to an end the federal governments long history of wrongfully seizing power over the State of Alaskas lands and resources to the detriment of the States citizens, such as Mr. Sturgeon.\r\n \r\n \r\nAlaska guards the rights conferred under the Statehood Act and views the management of its lands, and access to them, as an essential aspect of its sovereignty which sustains Alaskas economy, culture, and way of life. Fidelity to the commitments made in the Statehood Act mandate that the State, Alaskans, and Alaskas congressional delegation must vigorously contest any unwarranted expansion of federal jurisdiction that interferes with the use of and access to Alaskas lands and resources. After all, the rights granted to the State of Alaska in the Statehood Act cannot and should not  be unilaterally diminished or abrogated by a federal agency.\r\n \r\n \r\n(B)ecause of the Ninth Circuits holding, which makes a mockery of ANILCAs explicit restrictions on the exercise of federal jurisdiction over nonfederal lands, federal agencies now have the power to promulgate regulations that require Native Corporations to secure approval from the federal government before landing a plane, building a lodge, going for a hike, picking berries, altering a camping site, or even hunting and fishing on Native owned lands located within conservation system units. Consequently, the Ninth Circuits holding is in direct contravention of the unequivocal commitments made to Native Corporations in ANILCA and ANCSA.\r\n \r\nThe amicus brief is attached.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/alaska-delegation-files-supreme-court-amicus-brief-in-support-of-john-sturgeon-case", "Alaska Delegation Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Support of John Sturgeon Case", "2015-11-24", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.24.15\n\t\t\t Alaska Delegation Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Support of John Sturgeon Case \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThe three members of Alaska's congressional delegation today filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Alaskan John Sturgeon, who is suing the National Park Service over being forced off the Nation River for using a hovercraft to hunt moose, something that he had been doing for decades. The National Park Service claimed it controlled that stretch of the Nation River because it is part of the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. The State of Alaska claims it is theirs to regulate under the Statehood Act. After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit sided with the Park Service inSturgeon v. Masica, giving the Park Service expansive rights over state and native land, Sturgeon sought review by the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court announced in October that it will hear the case. Oral arguments will take place in January 2016.\r\nAt issue in the case is who, under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), controls state and Native property located within the outer boundaries of ANILCA Conservation System Units. As the brief indicates, Alaska's congressional delegation submits that only the State of Alaska and Alaska Native Corporations, and not the federal government, are empowered to make land use decisions on these non-federal lands. A section of ANILCA was carefully written with Alaska sovereignty in mind and clearly prohibits federal control over such lands and waters. The section, 103 (c), states that no lands owned by the State, Native Corporation, or private party shall be subject to the regulations applicable solely to public lands within national parks and preserves.The amicus curiae brief was prepared by Jonathan Katchen and Kyle Parker of Crowell & Moring, Anchorage, Alaska on a pro bono basis for the Alaska congressional delegation.\r\nAs Alaska's Attorney General, I worked to rescind the National Park Service regulations that are at issue in this case and I am pleased that the Supreme Court will be hearing it, Senator Dan Sullivan said. This case is about who should have the right to make land management decisions over state and Native lands  the owners of the land or the National Park Service. Those who made sure that Section 103 (c), as well as other sections that limited federal control, was included in ANILCA  such as Congressman Don Young  envisioned, presciently, that the federal government would persistently attempt to overreach and expand its authority over Alaska lands. Still, the Park Service has chosen to ignore both the letter and the spirit of the law. The Supreme Court should not allow this to stand. As we Alaskans know, our land is our lifeblood. It's our economic and spiritual center. The more the federal government takes, the less control we have over our destiny. Put simply: It is time for the Supreme Court to put to an end the federal government's long history in Alaska of wrongfully seizing power over our lands and resources.\r\nToday I'm proud to join Senator Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young to fight back against the latest chapter in federal overreach: the National Park Service's prohibition of ordinary navigation on state ownedwaterways that run near or through ANILCA lands. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act was a carefully crafted compromise which was supposed to demonstrate that subsistence and sportsman land uses, development and stewardship could co-exist in the north. However, as Senator Ted Stevens noted in 2005, no sooner was the ink dry than the federal government began to go back on its promises,said Senator Lisa Murkowski.This is one of the most recent examples in the 35 year long post-ANILCA struggle to get the federal government to stop treating Alaska as a colony and recognize that we are a sovereign state, admitted to the union on an equal footing with the other 49 states. The federal government's action also severely undercuts the 1971 Alaska Native land claims settlement. If not overturned, our state and Alaska Native corporations face a real threat of having to ask the federal government for permission to use the lands conveyed to them. The federal government simply needs to stop giving with one hand and taking back with the other.\r\nThe actions of the National Park Service represent a new level of arrogance on the part of the federal government, said Congressman Don Young. The intent of the ANILCA was always clear in the minds of Congress and its authors. Mo Udall, Scoop Jackson, Ted Stevens and I all understood the terms of this legislation, which ensured the protection of Alaska's sovereignty and closed the door to future government encroachment. By ignoring the law and dismissing the intent of Congress, the federal government has once again attempted to expand its authority beyond anything ever imagined. I call upon the Supreme Court to recognize the federal government's relationship with Alaska as defined by ANILCA, ANCSA, and the Alaska Statehood Act.\r\nExcerpts from the Alaska Congressional Delegation Amicus Curiae Brief:\r\n \r\nWhen courts defer to implausible agency interpretations of statutory language, they are not only allowing the executive branch to increase federal authority unilaterally, they are undermining the separation of powers  the balance so carefully struck in the Constitution  and making it nearly impossible for Congress to effectively limit executive agency authority. That is what has happened in this case.\r\n \r\n \r\n[T]he Park Service's unilateral expansion of its authority over Alaska's lands not only usurps Congress' legislative authority in violation of the separation of powers, it also comes at great expense to the State of Alaska. It is time for this Court to put to an end the federal government's long history of wrongfully seizing power over the State of Alaska's lands and resources to the detriment of the State's citizens, such as Mr. Sturgeon.\r\n \r\n \r\nAlaska guards the rights conferred under the Statehood Act and views the management of its lands, and access to them, as an essential aspect of its sovereignty which sustains Alaska's economy, culture, and way of life. Fidelity to the commitments made in the Statehood Act mandate that the State, Alaskans, and Alaska's congressional delegation must vigorously contest any unwarranted expansion of federal jurisdiction that interferes with the use of and access to Alaska's lands and resources. After all, the rights granted to the State of Alaska in the Statehood Act cannot and should not  be unilaterally diminished or abrogated by a federal agency.\r\n \r\n \r\n(B)ecause of the Ninth Circuit's holding, which makes a mockery of ANILCA's explicit restrictions on the exercise of federal jurisdiction over nonfederal lands, federal agencies now have the power to promulgate regulations that require Native Corporations to secure approval from the federal government before landing a plane, building a lodge, going for a hike, picking berries, altering a camping site, or even hunting and fishing on Native owned lands located within conservation system units. Consequently, the Ninth Circuit's holding is in direct contravention of the unequivocal commitments made to Native Corporations in ANILCA and ANCSA.\r\n \r\nThe amicus brief is attached.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398544", "Alaska Delegation Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Support of John Sturgeon Case", "2015-11-23", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC The three members of Alaskas congressional delegation today filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Alaskan John Sturgeon, who is suing the National Park Service over being forced off the Nation River for using a hovercraft to hunt moose, something that he had been doing for decades. The National Park Service claimed it controlled that stretch of the Nation River because it is part of the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. The State of Alaska claims it is theirs to regulate under the Statehood Act. After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit sided with the Park Service inSturgeon v. Masica, giving the Park Service expansive rights over state and native land, Sturgeon sought review by the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court announced in October that it will hear the case. Oral arguments will take place in January 2016.\nAt issue in the case is who, under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), controls state and Native property located within the outer boundaries of ANILCA Conservation System Units. As the brief indicates, Alaskas congressional delegation submits that only the State of Alaska and Alaska Native Corporations, and not the federal government, are empowered to make land use decisions on these non-federal lands. A section of ANILCA was carefully written with Alaska sovereignty in mind and clearly prohibits federal control over such lands and waters. The section, 103 (c), states that no lands owned by the State, Native Corporation, or private party shall be subject to the regulations applicable solely to public lands within national parks and preserves.The amicus curiae brief was prepared by Jonathan Katchen and Kyle Parker of Crowell & Moring, Anchorage, Alaska on a pro bono basis for the Alaska congressional delegation.\nAs Alaskas Attorney General, I worked to rescind the National Park Service regulations that are at issue in this case and I am pleased that the Supreme Court will be hearing it, Senator Dan Sullivan said. This case is about who should have the right to make land management decisions over state and Native lands  the owners of the land or the National Park Service. Those who made sure that Section 103 (c), as well as other sections that limited federal control, was included in ANILCA  such as Congressman Don Young  envisioned, presciently, that the federal government would persistently attempt to overreach and expand its authority over Alaska lands. Still, the Park Service has chosen to ignore both the letter and the spirit of the law. The Supreme Court should not allow this to stand. As we Alaskans know, our land is our lifeblood. Its our economic and spiritual center. The more the federal government takes, the less control we have over our destiny. Put simply: It is time for the Supreme Court to put to an end the federal governments long history in Alaska of wrongfully seizing power over our lands and resources.\nToday Im proud to join Senator Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young to fight back against the latest chapter in federal overreach: the National Park Services prohibition of ordinary navigation on state ownedwaterways that run near or through ANILCA lands. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act was a carefully crafted compromise which was supposed to demonstrate that subsistence and sportsman land uses, development and stewardship could co-exist in the north. However, as Senator Ted Stevens noted in 2005, no sooner was the ink dry than the federal government began to go back on its promises,said Senator Lisa Murkowski.This is one of the most recent examples in the 35 year long post-ANILCA struggle to get the federal government to stop treating Alaska as a colony and recognize that we are a sovereign state, admitted to the union on an equal footing with the other 49 states. The federal governments action also severely undercuts the 1971 Alaska Native land claims settlement. If not overturned, our state and Alaska Native corporations face a real threat of having to ask the federal government for permission to use the lands conveyed to them. The federal government simply needs to stop giving with one hand and taking back with the other.\nThe actions of the National Park Service represent a new level of arrogance on the part of the federal government, said Congressman Don Young. The intent of the ANILCA was always clear in the minds of Congress and its authors. Mo Udall, Scoop Jackson, Ted Stevens and I all understood the terms of this legislation, which ensured the protection of Alaskas sovereignty and closed the door to future government encroachment. By ignoring the law and dismissing the intent of Congress, the federal government has once again attempted to expand its authority beyond anything ever imagined. I call upon the Supreme Court to recognize the federal governments relationship with Alaska as defined by ANILCA, ANCSA, and the Alaska Statehood Act.\nExcerpts from the Alaska Congressional Delegation Amicus Curiae Brief:\n When courts defer to implausible agency interpretations of statutory language, they are not only allowing the executive branch to increase federal authority unilaterally, they are undermining the separation of powers  the balance so carefully struck in the Constitution  and making it nearly impossible for Congress to effectively limit executive agency authority. That is what has happened in this case.\n [T]he Park Services unilateral expansion of its authority over Alaskas lands not only usurps Congress legislative authority in violation of the separation of powers, it also comes at great expense to the State of Alaska. It is time for this Court to put to an end the federal governments long history of wrongfully seizing power over the State of Alaskas lands and resources to the detriment of the States citizens, such as Mr. Sturgeon.\n Alaska guards the rights conferred under the Statehood Act and views the management of its lands, and access to them, as an essential aspect of its sovereignty which sustains Alaskas economy, culture, and way of life. Fidelity to the commitments made in the Statehood Act mandate that the State, Alaskans, and Alaskas congressional delegation must vigorously contest any unwarranted expansion of federal jurisdiction that interferes with the use of and access to Alaskas lands and resources. After all, the rights granted to the State of Alaska in the Statehood Act cannot and should not  be unilaterally diminished or abrogated by a federal agency.\n (B)ecause of the Ninth Circuits holding, which makes a mockery of ANILCAs explicit restrictions on the exercise of federal jurisdiction over nonfederal lands, federal agencies now have the power to promulgate regulations that require Native Corporations to secure approval from the federal government before landing a plane, building a lodge, going for a hike, picking berries, altering a camping site, or even hunting and fishing on Native owned lands located within conservation system units. Consequently, the Ninth Circuits holding is in direct contravention of the unequivocal commitments made to Native Corporations in ANILCA and ANCSA.\nThe amicus briefcan be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=5251d525-7f62-4ec4-9e39-01df46396446", "Murkowski Fights Back Against FDAs Approval of GE Salmon", "2015-11-23", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.23.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Fights Back Against FDAs Approval of GE Salmon \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senator Continues Fight for Mandatory Labeling, Announces Intent to Block FDA Nominee, Supports Stores Boycotting GE Salmon\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski announced the next steps she is taking to fight back against the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) recent approval of genetically engineered (GE) fish for human consumption. Senator Murkowski has long been adamantly opposed to the approval of GE salmon, introducing legislation and inserting a provision in the appropriations process to require compulsory labeling of Frankenfish if ever approved for sale to consumers. Murkowski plans to push back against the FDAs decision by advancing her efforts for mandatory labelling and blocking confirmation in the Senate of the nominee to be FDA Commissioner.\r\nI will not stand back and just watch these genetically engineered creatures be placed in our kitchens and on our tables without a fight. I am furious about this decision, but now I must do everything I can to make sure it is labeledconsumers have a right to know what it is they are eating, said Senator Murkowski. Genetically modifying salmon is messing with natures perfect brain food. The real thing is not only the safe choice, but its the best thing.\r\nSenator Murkowski next steps of action include:\r\nPushing Legislatively for the Mandatory Labeling of GE Salmon \r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski will reintroduce an updated version of her current legislation, S.738, to require further research into the risks and impacts of Frankenfish, and to address the more urgent need for mandatory labeling requirements.\r\nMurkowski will continue to work through the appropriations process to build upon the language she was able to include in the FY16 Agriculture, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration spending bill.\r\n \r\nBlocking Approval of the Nominee to be FDA Commissioner\r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski intends to block the confirmation of Dr. Robert Califf, nominee to be the next FDA Commissioner, due to the lack of cooperation and communication from the FDA surrounding their announcement to approve GE salmon.\r\n \r\nSupporting Grocery Stores Who Pledge Not to Sell Frankenfish\r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski stands by Costco, Target, Safeway, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and all other grocery stores who are refusing to stock GE salmon.\r\n \r\n\r\n(Senator Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor against genetically engineered after the FDAs decision was made public. Click image to watch video.)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-fights-back-against-fdas-approval-of-ge-salmon", "Murkowski Fights Back Against FDAs Approval of GE Salmon", "2015-11-23", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.23.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Fights Back Against FDA's Approval of GE Salmon \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senator Continues Fight for Mandatory Labeling, Announces Intent to Block FDA Nominee, Supports Stores Boycotting GE Salmon\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski announced the next steps she is taking to fight back against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recent approval of genetically engineered (GE) fish for human consumption. Senator Murkowski has long been adamantly opposed to the approval of GE salmon, introducing legislation and inserting a provision in the appropriations process to require compulsory labeling of Frankenfish if ever approved for sale to consumers. Murkowski plans to push back against the FDA's decision by advancing her efforts for mandatory labelling and blocking confirmation in the Senate of the nominee to be FDA Commissioner.\r\nI will not stand back and just watch these genetically engineered creatures be placed in our kitchens and on our tables without a fight. I am furious about this decision, but now I must do everything I can to make sure it is labeledconsumers have a right to know what it is they are eating, said Senator Murkowski. Genetically modifying salmon is messing with nature's perfect brain food. The real thing is not only the safe choice, but it's the best thing.\r\nSenator Murkowski next steps of action include:\r\nPushing Legislatively for the Mandatory Labeling of GE Salmon \r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski will reintroduce an updated version of her current legislation, S.738, to require further research into the risks and impacts of Frankenfish, and to address the more urgent need for mandatory labeling requirements.\r\nMurkowski will continue to work through the appropriations process to build upon the language she was able to include in the FY16 Agriculture, Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration spending bill.\r\n \r\nBlocking Approval of the Nominee to be FDA Commissioner\r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski intends to block the confirmation of Dr. Robert Califf, nominee to be the next FDA Commissioner, due to the lack of cooperation and communication from the FDA surrounding their announcement to approve GE salmon.\r\n \r\nSupporting Grocery Stores Who Pledge Not to Sell Frankenfish\r\n \r\nSenator Murkowski stands by Costco, Target, Safeway, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and all other grocery stores who are refusing to stock GE salmon.\r\n \r\n\r\n(Senator Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor against genetically engineered after the FDA's decision was made public. Click image to watch video.)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-files-supreme-court-amicus-brief-in-support-of-john-sturgeon-case", "Alaska Delegation Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Support of John Sturgeon Case", "2015-11-23", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.23.15\n\t\t\t Alaska Delegation Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Support of John Sturgeon Case \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, DC The three members of Alaska's congressional delegation today filed an amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of Alaskan John Sturgeon, who is suing the National Park Service over being forced off the Nation River for using a hovercraft to hunt moose, something that he had been doing for decades. The National Park Service claimed it controlled that stretch of the Nation River because it is part of the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. The State of Alaska claims it is theirs to regulate under the Statehood Act. After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit sided with the Park Service inSturgeon v. Masica, giving the Park Service expansive rights over state and native land, Sturgeon sought review by the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court announced in October that it will hear the case. Oral arguments will take place in January 2016.\r\nAt issue in the case is who, under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), controls state and Native property located within the outer boundaries of ANILCA Conservation System Units. As the brief indicates, Alaska's congressional delegation submits that only the State of Alaska and Alaska Native Corporations, and not the federal government, are empowered to make land use decisions on these non-federal lands. A section of ANILCA was carefully written with Alaska sovereignty in mind and clearly prohibits federal control over such lands and waters. The section, 103 (c), states that no lands owned by the State, Native Corporation, or private party shall be subject to the regulations applicable solely to public lands within national parks and preserves.The amicus curiae brief was prepared by Jonathan Katchen and Kyle Parker of Crowell & Moring, Anchorage, Alaska on a pro bono basis for the Alaska congressional delegation.\r\nAs Alaska's Attorney General, I worked to rescind the National Park Service regulations that are at issue in this case and I am pleased that the Supreme Court will be hearing it, Senator Dan Sullivan said. This case is about who should have the right to make land management decisions over state and Native lands  the owners of the land or the National Park Service. Those who made sure that Section 103 (c), as well as other sections that limited federal control, was included in ANILCA  such as Congressman Don Young  envisioned, presciently, that the federal government would persistently attempt to overreach and expand its authority over Alaska lands. Still, the Park Service has chosen to ignore both the letter and the spirit of the law. The Supreme Court should not allow this to stand. As we Alaskans know, our land is our lifeblood. It's our economic and spiritual center. The more the federal government takes, the less control we have over our destiny. Put simply: It is time for the Supreme Court to put to an end the federal government's long history in Alaska of wrongfully seizing power over our lands and resources.\r\nToday I'm proud to join Senator Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young to fight back against the latest chapter in federal overreach: the National Park Service's prohibition of ordinary navigation on state ownedwaterways that run near or through ANILCA lands. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act was a carefully crafted compromise which was supposed to demonstrate that subsistence and sportsman land uses, development and stewardship could co-exist in the north. However, as Senator Ted Stevens noted in 2005, no sooner was the ink dry than the federal government began to go back on its promises,said Senator Lisa Murkowski.This is one of the most recent examples in the 35 year long post-ANILCA struggle to get the federal government to stop treating Alaska as a colony and recognize that we are a sovereign state, admitted to the union on an equal footing with the other 49 states. The federal government's action also severely undercuts the 1971 Alaska Native land claims settlement. If not overturned, our state and Alaska Native corporations face a real threat of having to ask the federal government for permission to use the lands conveyed to them. The federal government simply needs to stop giving with one hand and taking back with the other.\r\nThe actions of the National Park Service represent a new level of arrogance on the part of the federal government, said Congressman Don Young. The intent of the ANILCA was always clear in the minds of Congress and its authors. Mo Udall, Scoop Jackson, Ted Stevens and I all understood the terms of this legislation, which ensured the protection of Alaska's sovereignty and closed the door to future government encroachment. By ignoring the law and dismissing the intent of Congress, the federal government has once again attempted to expand its authority beyond anything ever imagined. I call upon the Supreme Court to recognize the federal government's relationship with Alaska as defined by ANILCA, ANCSA, and the Alaska Statehood Act.\r\nExcerpts from the Alaska Congressional Delegation Amicus Curiae Brief:\r\n \r\nWhen courts defer to implausible agency interpretations of statutory language, they are not only allowing the executive branch to increase federal authority unilaterally, they are undermining the separation of powers  the balance so carefully struck in the Constitution  and making it nearly impossible for Congress to effectively limit executive agency authority. That is what has happened in this case.\r\n[T]he Park Service's unilateral expansion of its authority over Alaska's lands not only usurps Congress' legislative authority in violation of the separation of powers, it also comes at great expense to the State of Alaska. It is time for this Court to put to an end the federal government's long history of wrongfully seizing power over the State of Alaska's lands and resources to the detriment of the State's citizens, such as Mr. Sturgeon.\r\nAlaska guards the rights conferred under the Statehood Act and views the management of its lands, and access to them, as an essential aspect of its sovereignty which sustains Alaska's economy, culture, and way of life. Fidelity to the commitments made in the Statehood Act mandate that the State, Alaskans, and Alaska's congressional delegation must vigorously contest any unwarranted expansion of federal jurisdiction that interferes with the use of and access to Alaska's lands and resources. After all, the rights granted to the State of Alaska in the Statehood Act cannot and should not  be unilaterally diminished or abrogated by a federal agency.\r\n(B)ecause of the Ninth Circuit's holding, which makes a mockery of ANILCA's explicit restrictions on the exercise of federal jurisdiction over nonfederal lands, federal agencies now have the power to promulgate regulations that require Native Corporations to secure approval from the federal government before landing a plane, building a lodge, going for a hike, picking berries, altering a camping site, or even hunting and fishing on Native owned lands located within conservation system units. Consequently, the Ninth Circuit's holding is in direct contravention of the unequivocal commitments made to Native Corporations in ANILCA and ANCSA.\r\n \r\nThe amicus brief is attached.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398541", "Alaska Delegation Responds to FDA Approval of GE Salmon", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  After years of pushback from consumers, scientific experts and fishing interests, today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the first ever approval for a genetically engineered animal intended for food, AquAdvantage Salmon. The Alaska Congressional Delegation, who has consistently fought to keep genetically engineered (GE) fish off the nations dinner plates and away from our nations oceans, today shared their disappointment in the FDAs ill-advised decision.\r\nI am livid at the FDAs announcement to approve genetically engineered salmonwhat seems to be more science experiment than fish or food, said Senator Lisa Murkowski. I have adamantly opposed the approval of GE salmon, both for the health of Americans and the sustainability of our fisheries, but now that the decision has been made, the next step must be to ensure that Americans know what they are consuming. I have introduced both a bill and provision in the appropriations process to mandate the labeling of Frankenfish, and it is more imperative than ever, after this potentially disastrous decision, to make sure they become law.\r\nI am extremely disappointed in todays decision by the FDA, said Senator Dan Sullivan. Genetically Engineered (GE) salmon has no business on our dinner plates. I remain committed to ensuring that at minimum, these newly approved Frankenfish are properly labeled so that Americans know exactly where their salmon came from. Wild Alaskan salmon is an abundant, sustainably managed resource, and despite this misguided decision, will continue to be one of the healthiest and tastiest foods in the world.\r\nThis harebrained decision goes to show that our federal agencies are incapable of using common sense, said Congressman Don Young. From the beginning, Ive said the FDAs process fails to consider the threats GE fish pose to natural salmon fisheries, including genetic contamination, interbreeding, and direct competition. By embarking on this science experiment, the FDA ignores fundamental risk questions related to our wild fish species and food safety. I will continue to push back against this decision that puts all our wild fisheries at risk. At the bare minimum, we must ensure that GE salmon are labeled so consumers know exactly what they are purchasing and feeding to their families.\r\nIn addition to approving AquaBounty Technologies application for GE salmon, the FDA issued draft guidance for manufacturers wanting to voluntarily label their products as containing GE or non-GE ingredients. Under this guidance, additional labeling of AquAdvantage Salmon would not be required because the FDA says it found no material difference from its natural counterpart. Manufacturers could voluntarily label their food products as not genetically engineered or other variations under the FDAs guidance.\r\nSince 1996, AquaBounty Technologies has been developing GE salmon with the hopes of receiving FDA approval to sell it for human consumption. The specific process splices genetic material from the Chinook (King) salmon with that of a pout fish and Atlantic salmon. The resulting organism, the company claims, would grow to the size of an Alaskan King salmon in a shorter period of time than found in nature.\r\nThe Alaska Delegation has sponsored and supported numerous pieces of legislation to eliminate the threat of GE fish, including efforts to effectively ban the shipment and sale of such products, and others that would require labeling of GE salmon. Congressman Young has two bills pending in the 114th Congress:\r\n \r\n    The first bill,H.R. 394, the Prevention of Escapement of Genetically Altered Salmon in the United States (PEGASUS) Act,would effectively ban all GE fish in the United States by prohibiting the shipment, sale, transportation, purchase, procession, or release into the wild of GE salmon or other GE finfish unless the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service completes a full environmental impact statement and concludes that it will result in no such impact to the environment.\r\n \r\n \r\n    The second bill, H.R. 393, would improve efforts to inform the American consumer by requiring the labeling of all GE fish sold for consumption. With the growing concerns for approval of GE fish for human consumption, H.R. 393 would force the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require the labeling of these controversial products.\r\n \r\nTo view the full FDA News Release, please go to http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm473249.htm.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398542", "House Passes Legislation to Suspend Syrian Refugee Program", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Following calls to suspend Syrian refugee resettlement efforts in the United States by numerous Americans, Governors and Members of Congress, today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act of 2015. Alaska Congressman Don Young joined 288 of his colleagues, including 47 House Democrats, in voting for the legislation.\r\nToday, I stood with an overwhelming majority of the House to support additional layers of safety and security for the American people, said Congressman Young. Without a proper review of our refugee resettlement programs and additional layers of vetting, we potentially leave our doors open to a growing number of enemies looking to cause harm and destruction across the world.\"\r\nWhile I fully understand a review system exists today, I also share serious concerns with the level of information and intelligence available during that process, Young said. The FBI Director himself said that 'when we dont know much about somebody, there wont be anything in our data and that there is no assurance that theres no risk associated with this. Protecting our citizens and providing for the common defense of our nation is paramount, which is why I voted to suspend Syrian resettlement efforts until our law enforcement and intelligence agencies can verify these individuals do not pose a security threat to the country.\r\nAdministration officials, including White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, visited Capitol Hill today to lobby Members against the passage of H.R. 4038. A bipartisan majority, including 47 Democrats, voted in unison to soundly reject the Presidents opposition to the bill. \r\nThe SAFE Act would bar refugees from Syria or Iraq from being admitted to the United States until the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence agree that the refugee does not pose a security threat to the United States. \r\n\r\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=a285c8c9-1d48-44f0-ab98-9688d68821e5", "Alaska Delegation Responds to FDA Approval of GE Salmon", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.19.15\n\t\t\t Alaska Delegation Responds to FDA Approval of GE Salmon \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Marks First Ever Approval of GE Animal for Human Consumption\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t After years of pushback from consumers, scientific experts and fishing interests, today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the first ever approval for a genetically engineered animal intended for food, AquAdvantage Salmon. The Alaska Congressional Delegation, who has consistently fought to keep genetically engineered (GE) fish off the nations dinner plates and away from our nations oceans, today shared their disappointment in the FDAs ill-advised decision.\r\n\r\nI am livid at the FDAs announcement to approve genetically engineered salmonwhat seems to be more science experiment than fish or food, said Senator Lisa Murkowski. I have adamantly opposed the approval of GE salmon, both for the health of Americans and the sustainability of our fisheries, but now that the decision has been made, the next step must be to ensure that Americans know what they are consuming. I have introduced both a bill and provision in the appropriations process to mandate the labeling of Frankenfish, and it is more imperative than ever, after this potentially disastrous decision, to make sure they become law.\r\nI am extremely disappointed in todays decision by the FDA, said Senator Dan Sullivan. Genetically Engineered (GE) salmon has no business on our dinner plates. I remain committed to ensuring that at minimum, these newly approved Frankenfish are properly labeled so that Americans know exactly where their salmon came from. Wild Alaskan salmon is an abundant, sustainably managed resource, and despite this misguided decision, will continue to be one of the healthiest and tastiest foods in the world.\r\nThis harebrained decision goes to show that our federal agencies are incapable of using commonsense, said Congressman Don Young. From the beginning, Ive said the FDAs process fails to consider the threats GE fish pose to natural salmon fisheries, including genetic contamination, interbreeding, and direct competition. By embarking on this science experiment, the FDA ignores fundamental risk questions related to our wild fish species and food safety. I will continue to push back against this decision that puts all our wild fisheries at risk. At the bare minimum, we must ensure that GE salmon are labeled so consumers know exactly what they are purchasing and feeding to their families.\r\nIn addition to approving AquaBounty Technologies application for GE salmon, the FDA issued draft guidance for manufacturers wanting to voluntarily label their products as containing GE or non-GE ingredients. Under this guidance, additional labeling of AquAdvantage Salmon would not be required because the FDA says it found no material difference from its natural counterpart. Manufacturers could voluntarily label their food products as not genetically engineered or other variations under the FDAs guidance.\r\nSince 1996, AquaBounty Technologies has been developing GE salmon with the hopes of receiving FDA approval to sell it for human consumption. The specific process splices genetic material from the Chinook (King) salmon with that of a pout fish and Atlantic salmon. The resulting organism, the company claims, would grow to the size of an Alaskan King salmon in a shorter period of time than found in nature.\r\nThe Alaska Delegation has sponsored and supported numerous pieces of legislation to eliminate the threat of GE fish, including efforts to effectively ban the shipment and sale of such products, and others that would require labeling of GE salmon.\r\nTo view the full FDA News Release, please go to http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm473249.htm.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/alaska-delegation-responds-to-fda-approval-of-ge-salmon", "Alaska Delegation Responds to FDA Approval of GE Salmon", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.19.15\n\t\t\t Alaska Delegation Responds to FDA Approval of GE Salmon \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Marks First Ever Approval of GE Animal for Human Consumption\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t After years of pushback from consumers, scientific experts and fishing interests, today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the first ever approval for a genetically engineered animal intended for food, AquAdvantage Salmon. The Alaska Congressional Delegation, who has consistently fought to keep genetically engineered (GE) fish off the nation's dinner plates and away from our nation's oceans, today shared their disappointment in the FDA's ill-advised decision.\r\n\r\nI am livid at the FDA's announcement to approve genetically engineered salmon'what seems to be more science experiment than fish or food, said Senator Lisa Murkowski. I have adamantly opposed the approval of GE salmon, both for the health of Americans and the sustainability of our fisheries, but now that the decision has been made, the next step must be to ensure that Americans know what they are consuming. I have introduced both a bill and provision in the appropriations process to mandate the labeling of Frankenfish, and it is more imperative than ever, after this potentially disastrous decision, to make sure they become law.\r\nI am extremely disappointed in today's decision by the FDA, said Senator Dan Sullivan. Genetically Engineered (GE) salmon has no business on our dinner plates. I remain committed to ensuring that at minimum, these newly approved Frankenfish are properly labeled so that Americans know exactly where their salmon came from. Wild Alaskan salmon is an abundant, sustainably managed resource, and despite this misguided decision, will continue to be one of the healthiest and tastiest foods in the world.\r\nThis harebrained decision goes to show that our federal agencies are incapable of using commonsense, said Congressman Don Young. From the beginning, I've said the FDA's process fails to consider the threats GE fish pose to natural salmon fisheries, including genetic contamination, interbreeding, and direct competition. By embarking on this science experiment, the FDA ignores fundamental risk questions related to our wild fish species and food safety. I will continue to push back against this decision that puts all our wild fisheries at risk. At the bare minimum, we must ensure that GE salmon are labeled so consumers know exactly what they are purchasing and feeding to their families.\r\nIn addition to approving AquaBounty Technologies' application for GE salmon, the FDA issued draft guidance for manufacturers wanting to voluntarily label their products as containing GE or non-GE ingredients. Under this guidance, additional labeling of AquAdvantage Salmon would not be required because the FDA says it found no material difference from its natural counterpart. Manufacturers could voluntarily label their food products as not genetically engineered or other variations under the FDA's guidance.\r\nSince 1996, AquaBounty Technologies has been developing GE salmon with the hopes of receiving FDA approval to sell it for human consumption. The specific process splices genetic material from the Chinook (King) salmon with that of a pout fish and Atlantic salmon. The resulting organism, the company claims, would grow to the size of an Alaskan King salmon in a shorter period of time than found in nature.\r\nThe Alaska Delegation has sponsored and supported numerous pieces of legislation to eliminate the threat of GE fish, including efforts to effectively ban the shipment and sale of such products, and others that would require labeling of GE salmon.\r\nTo view the full FDA News Release, please go to http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm473249.htm.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/alaska-delegation-responds-to-fda-approval-of-ge-salmon", "Alaska Delegation Responds to FDA Approval of GE Salmon", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.19.15\n\t\t\t Alaska Delegation Responds to FDA Approval of GE Salmon \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Marks First Ever Approval of GE Animal for Human Consumption\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  After years of pushback from consumers, scientific experts and fishing interests, today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the first ever approval for a genetically engineered animal intended for food, AquAdvantage Salmon. The Alaska Congressional Delegation, who has consistently fought to keep genetically engineered (GE) fish off the nation's dinner plates and away from our nation's oceans, today shared their disappointment in the FDA's ill-advised decision.\r\nI am livid at the FDA's announcement to approve genetically engineered salmon'what seems to be more science experiment than fish or food, said Senator Lisa Murkowski. I have adamantly opposed the approval of GE salmon, both for the health of Americans and the sustainability of our fisheries, but now that the decision has been made, the next step must be to ensure that Americans know what they are consuming. I have introduced both a bill and provision in the appropriations process to mandate the labeling of Frankenfish, and it is more imperative than ever, after this potentially disastrous decision, to make sure they become law.\r\nI am extremely disappointed in today's decision by the FDA, said Senator Dan Sullivan. Genetically Engineered salmon has no business on our dinner plates. I remain committed to ensuring that at minimum, these newly approved Frankenfish are properly labeled so that Americans know exactly where their salmon came from. Wild Alaskan salmon is an abundant, sustainably managed resource, and despite this misguided decision, will continue to be one of the healthiest and tastiest foods in the world.\r\nThis harebrained decision goes to show that our federal agencies are incapable of using commonsense, said Congressman Don Young. From the beginning, I've said the FDA's process fails to consider the threats GE fish pose to natural salmon fisheries, including genetic contamination, interbreeding, and direct competition. By embarking on this science experiment, the FDA ignores fundamental risk questions related to our wild fish species and food safety. I will continue to push back against this decision that puts all our wild fisheries at risk. At the bare minimum, we must ensure that GE salmon are labeled so consumers know exactly what they are purchasing and feeding to their families.\r\nIn addition to approving AquaBounty Technologies' application for GE salmon, the FDA issued draft guidance for manufacturers wanting to voluntarily label their products as containing GE or non-GE ingredients. Under this guidance, additional labeling of AquAdvantage Salmon would not be required because the FDA says it found no material difference from its natural counterpart. Manufacturers could voluntarily label their food products as not genetically engineered or other variations under the FDA's guidance.\r\nSince 1996, AquaBounty Technologies has been developing GE salmon with the hopes of receiving FDA approval to sell it for human consumption. The specific process splices genetic material from the Chinook (King) salmon with that of a pout fish and Atlantic salmon. The resulting organism, the company claims, would grow to the size of an Alaskan King salmon in a shorter period of time than found in nature.\r\nThe Alaska Delegation has sponsored and supported numerous pieces of legislation to eliminate the threat of GE fish, including efforts to effectively ban the shipment and sale of such products, and others that would require labeling of GE salmon.\r\nTo view the full FDA News Release, please go to http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm473249.htm.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=56171030-f082-4af2-b002-b76f827f9179", "Sen. Murkowski Votes to Rein in Costly EPA Climate Regulations", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.18.15\n\t\t\t Sen. Murkowski Votes to Rein in Costly EPA Climate Regulations \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voted to block the Obama administration from imposing costly new climate regulations on Americas economy.\r\nMurkowski voted in favor of Senate Joint Resolution 23 and Senate Joint Resolution 24, which are both bipartisan resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to block the administrations so-called Clean Power Plan limits on carbon dioxide emissions from new and existing power plants.\r\nThe Obama administration has once again overstepped in attempting to drastically overhaul the way America generates its energy, Murkowski said. Command-and-control regulations from the EPA are not an acceptable climate policy for the United States. This regulatory regime was widely regarded as the worst way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the administration chose to pursue it anyways.\r\nMurkowski said the rule, promulgated by Obamas Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would make existing coal-fired power plants more expensive to operate, and new ones almost impossible to build, raising electricity prices, restricting economic growth, and harming job-creation\r\nThe administration has failed to consider the impact that these regulations will have on the budgets of the American people, Murkowski said. While Alaska is currently exempt from these burdensome rules, we must remain vigilant in guarding against their expansion by an administration that appears to be more focused on striking a deal on climate change with the United Nations than meeting the energy needs of Americans.\r\nThe CRA allows the Senate to vote down executive branch regulations.\r\nMurkowski is chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Appropriations Interior-Environment Subcommittee. At her urging, EPA recognized Alaskas unique needs and challenges and exempted the state from the rule for existing power plants earlier this year.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=70e6bef8-39fd-4244-a79b-6c5e1f009486", "Murkowski Presses FDA Nominee on Seafood Issues", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.18.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Presses FDA Nominee on Seafood Issues \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t FDA Commissioner Nominee Questioned on Pollock Labeling, Nutrition Advice\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski recently questioned Dr. Robert Califf in a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing regarding his nomination to be the next Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).\r\nMurkowski began her line of questioning by pressing Dr. Califf to reconsider the FDAs refusal to use its regulatory authority to change the acceptable market name of pollock in order to avoid consumer confusion as to where the fish is harvested. Senator Murkowski recently introduced legislation, along with Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Patty Murray (D-WA) seeking to differentiate American-caught seafood from Russian-harvested seafood. \r\nSenator Murkowski questioned Dr. Califf on the FDAs reluctance to change the market name: \r\nI would ask you again to look at the issue we have raised repeatedly before the FDA regarding pollock nomenclature. As you know, this is something where we contend that you have the regulatory authority to change the acceptable market name from Alaska pollock to pollock, so that we can put some limitation/parameters on what were seeing from the large volume of Russia-harvested pollock that is sold to US consumers as Alaska pollock. I have repeatedly raised this and ask that you work to expedite this change and remove the blockade that has been created within the FDAs bureaucracy regarding this pollock nomenclature.\r\nDr. Califf responded by saying, as you know, were still open for comments thinking about this, and I will work with you to come to a resolution on this issue.\r\n\r\n(Senator Murkowski questions Dr. Califf on pollock nomenclature. Click image to watch video.) \r\nSenator Murkowski also asked Dr. Califf about the FDAs impending advice to pregnant women on seafood consumption. In 2014, the FDA released a statement on draft seafood advice that said science now tells us that limiting or avoiding seafood during pregnancy or early childhood could mean missing out on important nutrients that could have a positive impact on growth and development as well as on your general health. However, concerns have been raised that the FDA has now revised this advice. \r\nSenator Murkowski questioned Dr. Califf about the revisions: \r\nThe question to you this morning is: what is the status of the FDA seafood advice for pregnant women? I would like to hear from you specifically on whether or not when that advice is released, the final seafood advice for pregnant women and nursing mothers will be based in science, namely using the Net Effects Report? \r\nDr. Califf responded to Murkowski, saying: \r\nWell, we base it on all the scientific facts that can be brought to bear, that accumulate over time. So, these will all be considered. I think youll be happy with the recommendation when it comes out.\r\n\r\n(Dr. Califf responds to Senator Murkowskis questions on seafood guidelines for pregnant women. Click image to watch video.)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-presses-fda-nominee-on-seafood-issues", "Murkowski Presses FDA Nominee on Seafood Issues", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.18.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Presses FDA Nominee on Seafood Issues \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t FDA Commissioner Nominee Questioned on Pollock Labeling, Nutrition Advice\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski recently questioned Dr. Robert Califf in a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing regarding his nomination to be the next Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).\r\nMurkowski began her line of questioning by pressing Dr. Califf to reconsider the FDA's refusal to use its regulatory authority to change the acceptable market name of pollock in order to avoid consumer confusion as to where the fish is harvested. Senator Murkowski recently introduced legislation, along with Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Patty Murray (D-WA) seeking to differentiate American-caught seafood from Russian-harvested seafood. \r\nSenator Murkowski questioned Dr. Califf on the FDA's reluctance to change the market name: \r\nI would ask you again to look at the issue we have raised repeatedly before the FDA regarding pollock nomenclature. As you know, this is something where we contend that you have the regulatory authority to change the acceptable market name from Alaska pollock to pollock, so that we can put some limitation/parameters on what we're seeing from the large volume of Russia-harvested pollock that is sold to US consumers as Alaska pollock. I have repeatedly raised this and ask that you work to expedite this change and remove the blockade that has been created within the FDA's bureaucracy regarding this pollock nomenclature.\r\nDr. Califf responded by saying, as you know, we're still open for comments thinking about this, and I will work with you to come to a resolution on this issue.\r\n\r\n(Senator Murkowski questions Dr. Califf on pollock nomenclature. Click image to watch video.) \r\nSenator Murkowski also asked Dr. Califf about the FDA's impending advice to pregnant women on seafood consumption. In 2014, the FDA released a statement on draft seafood advice that said science now tells us that limiting or avoiding seafood during pregnancy or early childhood could mean missing out on important nutrients that could have a positive impact on growth and development as well as on your general health. However, concerns have been raised that the FDA has now revised this advice. \r\nSenator Murkowski questioned Dr. Califf about the revisions: \r\nThe question to you this morning is: what is the status of the FDA seafood advice for pregnant women? I would like to hear from you specifically on whether or not when that advice is released, the final seafood advice for pregnant women and nursing mothers will be based in science, namely using the Net Effects Report? \r\nDr. Califf responded to Murkowski, saying: \r\nWell, we base it on all the scientific facts that can be brought to bear, that accumulate over time. So, these will all be considered. I think you'll be happy with the recommendation when it comes out.\r\n\r\n(Dr. Califf responds to Senator Murkowski's questions on seafood guidelines for pregnant women. Click image to watch video.)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/sen-murkowski-votes-to-rein-in-costly-epa-climate-regulations", "Sen. Murkowski Votes to Rein in Costly EPA Climate Regulations", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.18.15\n\t\t\t Sen. Murkowski Votes to Rein in Costly EPA Climate Regulations \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today voted to block the Obama administration from imposing costly new climate regulations on America's economy.\r\nMurkowski voted in favor of Senate Joint Resolution 23 and Senate Joint Resolution 24, which are both bipartisan resolutions of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to block the administration's so-called Clean Power Plan limits on carbon dioxide emissions from new and existing power plants.\r\nThe Obama administration has once again overstepped in attempting to drastically overhaul the way America generates its energy, Murkowski said. Command-and-control regulations from the EPA are not an acceptable climate policy for the United States. This regulatory regime was widely regarded as the worst way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the administration chose to pursue it anyways.\r\nMurkowski said the rule, promulgated by Obama's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would make existing coal-fired power plants more expensive to operate, and new ones almost impossible to build, raising electricity prices, restricting economic growth, and harming job-creation\r\nThe administration has failed to consider the impact that these regulations will have on the budgets of the American people, Murkowski said. While Alaska is currently exempt from these burdensome rules, we must remain vigilant in guarding against their expansion by an administration that appears to be more focused on striking a deal on climate change with the United Nations than meeting the energy needs of Americans.\r\nThe CRA allows the Senate to vote down executive branch regulations.\r\nMurkowski is chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Appropriations Interior-Environment Subcommittee. At her urging, EPA recognized Alaska's unique needs and challenges and exempted the state from the rule for existing power plants earlier this year.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-sullivan-and-schatz-work-to-pass-noaa-sexual-harassment-and-assault-prevention-legislation", "Senators Sullivan and Schatz Work To Pass NOAA Sexual Harassment And Assault Prevention Legislation", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.18.15\n\t\t\t Senators Sullivan and Schatz Work To Pass NOAA Sexual Harassment And Assault Prevention Legislation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, DC  Today, the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved S. 2206, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Act. U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced the legislation with bipartisan support from U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Thune (R-S.D.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).\r\nThe bill directsNOAAto develop and adopt policies to protect its employees from sexual harassment and assault, contains provisions which update personnel practices for theNOAACorps, and reauthorizes funding to maintain the nation's nautical charts, with an emphasis on the importance of up-to-date survey information for the Arctic.\r\nNOAAcurrently functions under the Department of Commerce's sexual harassment policy and does not have its own specific procedures in place. This poses problems for the manyNOAAemployees and contractors who serve at sea or in remote areas.\r\nEarlier this year, Dr. Julia O'Hern, a NOAA contractor, wrote about her experiences in the Washington Post as she sought a fair review of her claims of sexual harassment. Without clear procedures, Dr. O'Hern faced challenge after challenge trying to seek justice. Her story can be found here.\r\nThe legislation approved by the Commerce Committee today would address cases like Dr. O'Hern's by requiringNOAAto put such policies and procedures in place within one year of enactment.\r\nI was shocked to learn that NOAA lacked their own policies to address sexual assault and harassment, said Senator Sullivan. Regrettably, these issues are a problem, and having tailored procedures to respond is essential, particularly for those personnel  many of whom work for NOAA in Alaska  doing important work on ships at sea or in other relatively isolated conditions. This legislation also reauthorizes funding to ensure that we have accurate and up-to-date nautical charts and coastal maps  which is critically important throughout the country, but especially in areas like Alaska  as we continue to move forward with new transportation lanes in the Arctic.\r\nGeographic isolationwhether on a ship at sea, or at a remote duty postmagnifies the harm from sexual harassment and assault, said Senator Schatz. NOAA employees face both. I hope this legislation prevents future incidents, and brings justice for victims.\r\nThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Act will bring common sense reforms for the employees of NOAA. I am pleased that the Commerce Committee unanimously passed this legislation, said Senator Thune.\r\nThis is a long overdue move and one that will create an around-the-clock hotline for victims to report incidents of sexual assault and harassment, said Senator Nelson.\r\nVictims of sexual abuse and harassment should not be forced to endure insufficient reporting and support programs in the midst of recovering from their experiences. This bill ensures that victims have reliable access to advocates who can provide a safe place and needed guidance in a difficult time. I applaud the Senate Commerce Committee for recognizing the need for these important reforms to protect and empower victims of abuse and harassment at NOAA, said Senator Grassley. We must do everything we can to prevent sexual assault and harassment, and support the victims of these crimes - no matter who they are, where they live or where they work. This legislation requires NOAA to take steps to prevent sexual harassment and assault and ensure those affected by these crimes are supported at all levels, said Senator Cantwell.\r\nThe bill requiresNOAAto develop policies to protect its approximately 12,000 employees with measures such as:\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nClear procedures for reporting incidents, including accommodations for assistance after hours, and for remote and isolated duty posts;\r\nEstablishment of advocates to assist and support victims through the reporting and adjudication process;\r\nProtection for the rights of accusers and the accused, including changes of position and location; and\r\nAnnual reporting on the status of implementation, and the incidents addressed under the policies.\r\n \r\nThe bill also updates operations and procedures for the NOAA Officer Corps, which is the smallest branch of the nation's uniformed services. Officers operate ships, fly aircraft, facilitate research projects, conduct diving operations, and serve in key staff positions throughout NOAA. In the event of war, they support U.S. military operations across the globe with their expertise in environmental intelligence and forecasting.\r\nFinally, the bill reauthorizes funding to update and maintain the nation's nautical charts to support both recreational boating and maritime transportation andshipping. These services are particularly important after major storms to re-open ports and get commerce flowing and aid with response efforts.\r\nThe full text of the legislation can be found here.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398540", "Congressman Young: The Safety and Security of Americans is Paramount", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Alaska Congressman Don Youngtoday shared the following statement in response to the Syrian refugee crisis and the growing threat of ISIS:\r\nThe safety and security of Americans is paramount and I will not sit idle while extremist groups like ISIS spread violence and hatred across the globe. I stand with numerous others in calling for the suspension of Syrian refugee resettlement efforts in the United States. Until we can ensure these programs are safe and not vulnerable to exploitation by our enemies, we must proceed with caution.\r\nSadly, President Obama and his advisers have doubled down on their failed foreign policy decisions that dramatically underestimated the threats and capabilities of ISIS. Ultimately, a path forward must include a strategic and comprehensive plan to defeat and deter the growing threat of radical extremism, which is why I have called upon the President to sign the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and put forth a plan to eliminate ISIS.\r\nAs we move forward, I remain committed to protecting our citizens and upholding one of the federal governments most basic responsibilities  the common defense of our nation.\r\n\r\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=3fd2e01b-47c1-4122-8fe7-441da2f7a46b", "Murkowski: Administration at Fault for Second Oil Companys Decision to Abandon Arctic", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.17.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Administration at Fault for Second Oil Companys Decision to Abandon Arctic \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement in response to the announcement by Norways Statoil that it is ending its Alaska operations and giving back the leases in Alaskas Arctic offshore frontier that the company had won in 2008:\r\nI am very concerned that, for the second time in as many months, a major company has decided to walk away from Alaska because of the uncertainty surrounding our federal governments support for Arctic development, Murkowski said. Low oil prices may have contributed to Statoils decision, but the real project killer was this administrations refusal to grant lease extensions; its imposition of a complicated, drawn-out, and ever-changing regulatory process; and its cancellation of future lease sales that have stifled energy production in Alaska. These actions threaten to undermine Alaskas economy, our security, and our environment.\r\nStatoils divestment of its 16 leases in the Chukchi Sea comes without the company drilling a single exploratory well in the region.\r\nThe northern waters off Alaskas Arctic coastline holds an estimated 24 billion barrels of oil and 104 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to federal estimates. Statoils Chukchi leases are located roughly 40 miles north of Shells Burger prospect.\r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, is pushing to end the federal governments overreaching regulations, which are hurting Alaskans across the state.\r\nIt is absurd that Interior has created a regulatory environment where operators cannot have commercially viable exploration programs, because so many requirements and hurdles have been put in place, Murkowski has previously said.\r\nIn July, Murkowski advanced the Offshore Production and Energizing National Security (OPENS) Act to ensure Alaskans receive a fair share of the revenue from development in the federal waters off its shores. Murkowski has included language in the legislation that would require the federal government to offer annual leases sales in Alaskas offshore, including in the near-shore Beaufort Sea, where the state is already eligible for revenue sharing.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=a84567c5-809a-45f6-95df-b79409b19689", "Murkowski Urges President to Immediately Institute Moratorium on Admitting Syrian Refugees to the United States", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.17.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Urges President to Immediately Institute Moratorium on Admitting Syrian Refugees to the United States \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski issued the following statement in response to concerns over whether or not to allow Syrian refugees into the United States:\r\nI urge the President to agree to an immediate moratorium on granting asylum to Syrian refugees. A moratorium is necessary for the Congress and the American people to better understand the adequacy of our existing refugee vetting process and whether meaningful additional steps need to be taken when considering the applications of Syrian refugees. My view is that the security of Alaskans and all Americans must come first. \r\nOver the past 24 hours I have heard from Alaskans who are fearful that the United States intends to imminently admit thousands of Syrian refugees, without adequate vetting, at the risk of our national security. This does not appear to be the case. Asylum applications can take up to two years to process; sometimes longer. \r\nI have also heard from leaders of our faith communities who argue the moral dimensions of the issue. They are deeply troubled that the U.S. is about to turn away innocent families, fleeing war and persecution, due to a misunderstanding about the rigorous process that has historically been used to determine which of a fortunate few will be given refugee status in the United States. \r\nAfter initially proposing to admit up to 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016, the administration did a poor job at explaining how the refugee resettlement process works and addressing concerns that the U.S. will not have access to sufficient information to determine the security risks associated with admitting a particular person or family. The administration has done little to remedy this lack of clarity in the wake of the events in Paris. The events last weekend in Paris give rise to legitimate concerns that terrorists will enter the United States posing as refugees. \r\nIt is not surprising that the first instinct of Governors and their citizens would be too risky. People are legitimately skeptical that the United States will not have adequate information about this group of asylum seekers to make an informed decision. Syria has long been a closed society and the destructive civil war has done little to ensure that necessary records will be available. \r\nThe difficult national conversation that has been taking place over the past 72 hours may leave some of those who have been resettled in Alaska with the misimpression that the American people are no longer sympathetic or welcoming. Nothing could be further than the truth. Alaska takes great pride in its diverse population. I am personally proud of the work of Catholic Social Services of Alaska, and their dedicated volunteers, in administering our states refugee resettlement program and wish those who have benefited from the refugee resettlement program well in establishing their new lives in America.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-administration-at-fault-for-second-oil-companys-decision-to-abandon-arctic", "Murkowski: Administration at Fault for Second Oil Companys Decision to Abandon Arctic", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.17.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Administration at Fault for Second Oil Company's Decision to Abandon Arctic \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement in response to the announcement by Norway's Statoil that it is ending its Alaska operations and giving back the leases in Alaska's Arctic offshore frontier that the company had won in 2008:\r\nI am very concerned that, for the second time in as many months, a major company has decided to walk away from Alaska because of the uncertainty surrounding our federal government's support for Arctic development, Murkowski said. Low oil prices may have contributed to Statoil's decision, but the real project killer was this administration's refusal to grant lease extensions; its imposition of a complicated, drawn-out, and ever-changing regulatory process; and its cancellation of future lease sales that have stifled energy production in Alaska. These actions threaten to undermine Alaska's economy, our security, and our environment.\r\nStatoil's divestment of its 16 leases in the Chukchi Sea comes without the company drilling a single exploratory well in the region.\r\nThe northern waters off Alaska's Arctic coastline holds an estimated 24 billion barrels of oil and 104 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to federal estimates. Statoil's Chukchi leases are located roughly 40 miles north of Shell's Burger prospect.\r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, is pushing to end the federal government's overreaching regulations, which are hurting Alaskans across the state.\r\nIt is absurd that Interior has created a regulatory environment where operators cannot have commercially viable exploration programs, because so many requirements and hurdles have been put in place, Murkowski has previously said.\r\nIn July, Murkowski advanced the Offshore Production and Energizing National Security (OPENS) Act to ensure Alaskans receive a fair share of the revenue from development in the federal waters off its shores. Murkowski has included language in the legislation that would require the federal government to offer annual leases sales in Alaska's offshore, including in the near-shore Beaufort Sea, where the state is already eligible for revenue sharing.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-urges-president-to-immediately-institute-moratorium-on-admitting-syrian-refugees-to-the-united-states", "Murkowski Urges President to Immediately Institute Moratorium on Admitting Syrian Refugees to the United States", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.17.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Urges President to Immediately Institute Moratorium on Admitting Syrian Refugees to the United States \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski issued the following statement in response to concerns over whether or not to allow Syrian refugees into the United States:\r\nI urge the President to agree to an immediate moratorium on granting asylum to Syrian refugees. A moratorium is necessary for the Congress and the American people to better understand the adequacy of our existing refugee vetting process and whether meaningful additional steps need to be taken when considering the applications of Syrian refugees. My view is that the security of Alaskans and all Americans must come first. \r\nOver the past 24 hours I have heard from Alaskans who are fearful that the United States intends to imminently admit thousands of Syrian refugees, without adequate vetting, at the risk of our national security. This does not appear to be the case. Asylum applications can take up to two years to process; sometimes longer. \r\nI have also heard from leaders of our faith communities who argue the moral dimensions of the issue. They are deeply troubled that the U.S. is about to turn away innocent families, fleeing war and persecution, due to a misunderstanding about the rigorous process that has historically been used to determine which of a fortunate few will be given refugee status in the United States. \r\nAfter initially proposing to admit up to 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016, the administration did a poor job at explaining how the refugee resettlement process works and addressing concerns that the U.S. will not have access to sufficient information to determine the security risks associated with admitting a particular person or family. The administration has done little to remedy this lack of clarity in the wake of the events in Paris. The events last weekend in Paris give rise to legitimate concerns that terrorists will enter the United States posing as refugees. \r\nIt is not surprising that the first instinct of Governors and their citizens would be too risky.' People are legitimately skeptical that the United States will not have adequate information about this group of asylum seekers to make an informed decision. Syria has long been a closed society and the destructive civil war has done little to ensure that necessary records will be available. \r\nThe difficult national conversation that has been taking place over the past 72 hours may leave some of those who have been resettled in Alaska with the misimpression that the American people are no longer sympathetic or welcoming. Nothing could be further than the truth. Alaska takes great pride in its diverse population. I am personally proud of the work of Catholic Social Services of Alaska, and their dedicated volunteers, in administering our state's refugee resettlement program and wish those who have benefited from the refugee resettlement program well in establishing their new lives in America.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-votes-to-block-epa-climate-regulations", "Senate Votes to Block EPA Climate Regulations", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.17.15\n\t\t\t Senate Votes to Block EPA Climate Regulations \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate today passed two bipartisan resolutions disapproving of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) climate regulations.\r\nI'm pleased that the Senate affirmed what the American people have been saying about President Obama and the EPA's national energy tax. The tax has been challenged in court by 27 states, 24 national trade associations, 37 rural electric cooperatives, 10 major companies and 3 labor unions representing 878,000 members.It's expected to cost hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 15 years, and will force electricity prices even higher for Americans who are already struggling to pay their bills. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I wish to commend Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) for his tireless leadership on this issue, and know that I remain committed to holding the Obama Administration and rogue agencies like the EPA accountable for their actions.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-comments-on-statoils-withdrawal-from-alaska", "Sullivan Comments on Statoils Withdrawal from Alaska", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.17.15\n\t\t\t Sullivan Comments on Statoil's Withdrawal from Alaska \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) issued the following statement in response to the news that Statoil is closing its Alaska office and pulling out of the state.\r\nThis is extremely bad news for our state. When I was Alaska's Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, I remember the excitement surrounding the opening of Statoil's office in Anchorage, just as I remember the excitement surrounding Shell's Arctic drilling program. At that time, I don't think that most Alaskans could have imagined that it would be our own federal government that would kill, through over burdensome regulations and uncertainty, the great promise of energy development in the Arctic OCS. As Shell's CEO put it recently about drilling in Arctic waters off Alaska's coast, (W)e are of the view that the US government should simplify and modernize the permit processes there, if there is any ambition to develop oil and gas in the offshore of Alaska.' I'll keep fighting to modernize our permitting processboth offshore and onshore, where there are still billions of barrels of oil and trillions of feet of natural gasin order to bring much needed energy security to our country, and economic security to Alaskans.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=a3b2bee5-7d9a-4462-b535-0451f1247feb", "Murkowski Statement on the Situation in Paris", "2015-11-14", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.14.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Statement on the Situation in Paris \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski responded to the recent Paris attacks saying:\r\nThe attacks in Paris yesterday are an absolute travesty. Our hearts break for the families of the victims, the wounded still suffering today, and the entire nation of France. Today we grieve for the dead, pray for the wounded, and join the people of France in demanding justice in the wake of this atrocity.\r\nThese attacks are yet another tragic reminder of the continued dangers posed by radical Islamic terror groups to global security. Last evening the Department of Homeland Security reported that there is no credible threat against our homeland today. Now, nor ever, can we be complacent. The desire of radical Islam to attack our nation remains ever present. This is not the time to reduce investments in our national security, whether abroad or here in the homeland.\r\nRight now we need to stand with France but also stand together as a nation to stop these terrorists in their tracks and fight against terrorism and extremism.\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-statement-on-the-situation-in-paris", "Murkowski Statement on the Situation in Paris", "2015-11-14", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.14.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Statement on the Situation in Paris \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski responded to the recent Paris attacks saying:\r\nThe attacks in Paris yesterday are an absolute travesty. Our hearts break for the families of the victims, the wounded still suffering today, and the entire nation of France. Today we grieve for the dead, pray for the wounded, and join the people of France in demanding justice in the wake of this atrocity.\r\nThese attacks are yet another tragic reminder of the continued dangers posed by radical Islamic terror groups to global security. Last evening the Department of Homeland Security reported that there is no credible threat against our homeland today. Now, nor ever, can we be complacent. The desire of radical Islam to attack our nation remains ever present. This is not the time to reduce investments in our national security, whether abroad or here in the homeland.\r\nRight now we need to stand with France but also stand together as a nation to stop these terrorists in their tracks and fight against terrorism and extremism.\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/senate-oks-sullivan-bill-to-promote-free-lawyers-for-domestic-violence-sexual-assault-victims", "Senate OKs Sullivan bill to promote free lawyers for domestic violence, sexual assault victims", "2015-11-12", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.12.15\n\t\t\t Senate OKs Sullivan bill to promote free lawyers for domestic violence, sexual assault victims \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nFAIRBANKSThe U.S. Senate passed a bill Wednesday introduced by Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan that would encourage lawyers to provide free legal assistance to victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.\r\n\r\n\r\nIt is Sullivan's first standalone bill to pass the Senate.\r\n\r\n\r\nIf signed into law, the Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act would require U.S. attorneys in all 94 judicial districts across the country to hold at least one event every year promoting pro bono legal work on domestic violence and sexual assault cases. The bill also includes a provision requiring U.S. attorneys offices to hold events every few years with Native American or Alaska Native groups in their districts to address those types of crimes.\r\n\r\n\r\nCo-sponsoring the bill were Sens. Heidi Heitkamp, D-North Dakota, Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa and Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe bill passed the Senate in a unanimous vote, Sullivan spokesman Mike Anderson said.\r\n\r\n\r\nIn a phone interview Thursday, Sullivan said he had championed such pro bono events in Alaska as state attorney general. The bill would mandate that same idea nationwide, he said.\r\n\r\n\r\nIt's necessary because the demand for affordable or free legal advice for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence far exceeds the supply, Sullivan said.\r\n\r\n\r\nOne of the best ways you can enable victims to break the cycle of violence, in terms of domestic violence and sexual assault, is to get the victim a lawyer, Sullivan said. The goal here is to literally have an army of thousands of lawyers throughout the country that do this, and raise awareness, and help to close the gap between what's needed in terms of services and what's currently provided.\r\n\r\n\r\nAs a requirement in the legislation, each U.S. attorney's office would have to file a report with the U.S. attorney general about the events and their effectiveness, and, in turn, the attorney general will have to compile further recommendations for Congress.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe bill does not include funding or proposed funding for the events, nor does it require the events geared toward Native Americans and Alaska Natives be held in any particular location, for example in a predominantly Native or rural community.\r\n\r\n\r\nOn those issues, Sullivan said he tried to strike a balance between making the provisions mandatory and leaving flexibility for how to pursue the legislation's goals.\r\n\r\n\r\nIn Alaska, the effort to promote pro bono legal work was carried out without requests for funding from the state Legislature, Sullivan said.\r\n\r\n\r\nThis is not a heavy lift in terms of what a U.S. attorney is required to do. I know that from my own personal experience, Sullivan said. It was just part of our regular work effort.\r\n\r\n\r\nKrista Scully, director of the Alaska Bar Association's pro bono program, said the many Alaska lawyers doing pro bono work have already been busy putting on similar events, including a clinic on civil law at the recent Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage.\r\n\r\n\r\nSullivan's legislation is encouraging, Scully said.\r\n\r\n\r\nWe always think it's important to shine a bright light on the needs of domestic violence and sexual assault victims, because we know that the intervention of an attorney really makes a difference. It saves lives, Scully said.\r\n\r\n\r\nScully said she looks forward to working on more such events. Meantime, she said, the association will hold its annual clinics in Fairbanks, Anchorage and Juneau on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 18, to provide free legal advice on civil law questions.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Fairbanks clinic will be at the Rabinowitz Courthouse, Scully said. There will also be a phone hotline available, she said.\r\n\r\n\r\nWe know that we have a pretty generous legal community when it comes to pro bono, Scully said.\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t    By:\n\t\t\t\t    Casey Grove\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\tSource:\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFairbanks Daily News-Miner", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-sullivan-heitkamp-bill-to-combat-domestic-violence", "Senate Passes Sullivan, Heitkamp Bill to Combat Domestic Violence", "2015-11-12", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.12.15\n\t\t\t Senate Passes Sullivan, Heitkamp Bill to Combat Domestic Violence \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today applauded the Senate's unanimous passage of their bipartisan bill which they recently introduced, to help combat domestic abuse and sexual violence.\r\nThe Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent (POWER) Act mandates that each year, the United States Attorney in each judicial district across the country work with domestic violence service providers or coalitions and an area volunteer lawyer project to hold at least one event which promotes pro bono legal services. The purpose is to reinforce a critical way of empowering survivors of domestic violence, engage citizens, and help lift victims out of the cycle of abuse. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, cosponsored the bill.\r\nAlso critically important to both Senators is addressing the high rates of domestic and sexual violence among the Native American and Alaska Native populations in their states  so the bill includes a provision requiring many United States Attorney's offices to work with the Native populations in their judicial district in planning and holding an event every few years with a focus on addressing these crimes in Indian Country and among Native populations.\r\nSenators Sullivan and Heitkamp, both former attorneys general of their states, understand how the legal system can help prevent the probability that victims will again be abused, and that a lack of access to legal services is one of the leading obstacles for women with children in getting out of domestic violence situations.\r\nDomestic violence and sexual assault are scourges that we must work to eliminate, said Senator Sullivan. One of my priorities as Attorney General for Alaska was to tackle the unacceptably high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault in my state. Among other initiatives, I put on a pro bono workshop that gathered lawyers from all across the state and saw firsthand how effective such efforts can be. I'm grateful that many lawyers in my state continue to provide much-needed legal services to victims on a pro bono basis. And I am grateful to my colleague from NorthDakota for joining me on this bill. We were sent to Washington, D.C. to make a difference. This bill will help make a difference.\r\nMaking sure domestic violence victims everywhere, including in Indian Country, have access to affordable legal services could change many lives, and that's what the bipartisan bill Senator Sullivan and I introduced aims to do, said Senator Heitkamp. In tribal communities, rates of victimization are staggering, but far too often, victims aren't able to pay for legal services to help make changes. In this bill, we require states like North Dakota to focus on support for Indian Country as part of these efforts, as well as all victims of these terrible crimes. As North Dakota's Attorney General, I was proud to implement the original Violence Against Women Act across the state in the 1990s, and to reauthorize it as a U.S. Senator. No victim should live in the shadows of fear  and with strong action, we can help many victims of domestic violence end their nightmares of abuse.\r\nApproximately 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime. Many do not get the help and support they need. The National Network to End Domestic Violence estimated that over the course of one day in September 2014, up to 10,000 requests for services, including legal representation, were unmet because of a lack of services.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398538", "Congress Sends Bipartisan, Bicameral NDAA Agreement to Presidents Desk", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A revised National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the House on November 4, 2015, was approved this morning in the Senate by an overwhelming majority.\nS. 1356, the Fiscal Year 2016 NDAA, maintains all major defense policies and reforms previously vetoed by President Obama, but makes minor revisions to funding levels in accordance with the newly enacted Bipartisan Budget Deal of 2015.\nCongressman Young shared the following thoughts after House passage of S. 1356 by a vote of 370 to 58.\n\nPress Release: House Overwhelmingly Passes Updated NDAA, Refutes Presidents Veto Claims\nWashington, D.C.Alaska Congressman Don Youngtoday joined 369 of his House colleagues to pass S. 1356, the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This reform-centered NDAA contains all of the major policy provisions passed by the House and Senate earlier this year, but makes minor adjustments to reflect new budget levels established by the Bipartisan Budget Deal of 2015.\nToday, I once again supported bipartisan legislation to provide our military men and women with the tools and resources necessary to succeed both here at home and abroad,said Congressman Young. This legislation makes a number of reforms within the Department of Defense to cut wasteful spending, focus on our nations most growing needs, and ensure the safety of all Americans. Importantly, the bill also preserves an amendment I offered expressing a Sense of Congress regarding the basing of the F-35 at Eielson Air Force Base.\"\nAccording to President Obama, his October 22, 2015 veto of previously passed NDAA legislation was based on three considerations: it maintains the sequester, it prevents wide spread reforms for our military, and it impedes the ability to close Guantanamo. However, todays House passed NDAA contains no changes to policy previously scrutinized by the President.\nLike our original NDAA, this legislation has zero ability to change sequestration, it maintains significant reforms to improve our military, and prevents the transfer of detainees held at Guantanamo,Congressman Young said.In many ways, this is a direct override of the Presidents veto. Sadly, the President was willing to jeopardize the well-being of our troops in order to increase funding for rogue agencies like the IRS and the EPA. Im proud that the House came together in support of this important defense authorization, which will ensure Congress upholds its most sacred responsibilityto provide for the common defense of our nation.\nAmendments included in the FY2016 NDAA by Congressman Young:\n \n    F-35 Basing at Eielson Air Force Base: This amendment expresses a Sense of Congress regarding the OCONUS basing of the F-35A Aircraft, specifically the criteria and capabilities the basing location should feature. Congressman Youngs amendment places emphasis on criteria only found at Eielson AFB, which includes a location with sufficient range capabilities and airspace for training, the ability to robustly train with our international partners, the presence of existing facilities to support operations, and a limited amount of encroachment.\n \nProvisions included in the 2016 NDAA of Alaskan importance: \n \n    Arctic Military Strategy: Requires the Department of Defense to set forth an updated military strategy for the protection of United States national security interests in the Arctic region, in addition to identifying and mitigating capability, infrastructure, and personnel gaps in the Arctic.\n \n \n    Fort Greely and Eielson Air Force Base: Authorizes $79.2 million for the construction of three Alaska military construction projects, including the Fort Greely Physical Readiness Training Facility, F-35 facilities at Eielson Air Force Base, and the repair and replacement of a boiler at Eielson AFBs Central heat and power plant.\n \n \n    F-35s:Authorizes the full $5.16 billion requested for procurement of Lockheed Martins F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Currently, Eielson Air Force Base is the preferred location for the basing of two squadrons for F-35As.\n \n \n    National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program:Authorizes $183 million for civil military programs, which funds the Alaska Military Youth Academy ChalleNGe Program, one of 35 Youth Challenge programs across the country.\n \n \n    Ground-based Missile Defense:Authorizes $432 million for Ground Based Missile Defense and Sensors. This funding will continue the development and sustainment of the GMD weapon system and fully fund the increase to 44 Ground based interceptors at Fort Greely, Alaska.\n \n \n    Long Range Discrimination Radar:Authorizes $137.6 million for the continued development of Missile Defense Agencys Long Range Discrimination Radar, to be based in Alaska.\n \n \n    Military Retirement Reform:Provides 21stcentury updates to the militarys current retirement system by authorizing a blended benefits package, similar to a 401(k), for all troops. This will ensure that all service members who serve for at least two years receive retirement benefits, while also protecting the retirement system for those currently in uniform.\n \n \n    Sexual Assault and Suicide Prevention:Includes enhancements and oversight of how the military handles sexual assault cases and reforms to stem the tide of suicide in the military.\n \n \n    BRAC:Rejects proposals for additional BRAC round.\n \n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398539", "Congressman Young Shares Message in Advance of Veterans Day", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  In advance of Veterans Day, Alaska Congressman Don Young today shared the following message in celebration of our nations veterans:\nAs we celebrate Veterans Day, the 11th day of the 11th month, I take pause to reflect on the great gift of freedom our men and women in uniform have given this nation. Throughout our history, our armed forces have proudly served and sacrificed in defense of freedom, liberty and justice. It is because of their valiant efforts  their commitment to a cause much greater than their own  that we live in peace and safety today.\nI wholeheartedly thank our Veterans, including the 71,000 who call Alaska home, for the freedom and opportunity they have bestowed upon this nation. We will never forget the sacrifices they made, and the physical and emotional toll they endured, when answering the call of duty.\nI encourage all Americans to join me in thanking our remarkable Veterans. We are forever indebted to them for their service.\nCongressman Young and the Last Frontier Honor Flight at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in April (click here to watch).\n\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=bc23a1d9-08b1-4437-bb1e-6acd296b6aaa", "Murkowski Votes for Military Authorization and Appropriation Bills", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.10.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski Votes for Military Authorization and Appropriation Bills \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t On Eve of Veterans Day, Senate Sends Messages of Support for Military\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Today U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski cast her vote for two pieces of legislation to support our military, veterans, and our national security. \r\nS.1356, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which outlines priorities and authorizes how defense funds should be spent, passed by a vote of 91-3. This is substantially the same bill which President Obama vetoed in October with funding levels conformed to the recent Bipartisan Budget Act. The NDAA now heads to the Presidents desk to be signed into law. \r\nH.R. 2029, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, which provides funds for veterans health services and benefits, military housing and family support, and hospital and military construction for Fiscal Year 2016, passed by a vote of 93-0. This bill now heads to conference with the House of Representatives. \r\nOur men and woman in uniform, past and present, deserve our unequivocal support. Its a shame that the implementation of these bills was ever delayed by partisan politics in the first place. said Senator Murkowski. We should never compromise our national security. Im thankful that today my Senate colleagues did the right thing by showing our support for the security of this nation and the well-being of our armed forces.\r\nMilitary Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act:\r\nThe Senates bill includes an amendment by Senator Murkowski requiring that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the nationwide implementation of the Choice Card program, which allows veterans to seek care outside of the VA under certain circumstances. The GAO is specifically directed to examine the failed implementation of the Choice Card program in Alaska. \r\nSimply put, the Veterans Choice Card program as it is currently designed will not provide Alaskas veterans with the choices that it promises. By demanding a critical examination into the effects of this ill-conceived, one-size-fits-all program, we are taking a crucial first step in solving some of these crises and making the earned health care benefit a reality for Alaskas veterans, no matter where in the state they may live, said Senator Murkowski. \r\nSenator Murkowski also included an amendment requiring that the VA fully explain its strategy for delivering healthcare to Alaskas veterans in the future. On October 30, 2015, the VA sent a report to Congress proposing to consolidate all of its care in the community programs  including its joint venture hospital on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, its tribal health partnerships, and the Alaska-unique Care Closer to Home partnerships with community hospital and providers  into a single national program. This amendment requires that the VA demonstrate there will be no decrease in the access of Alaska veterans to local care under the consolidated national program.\r\nSenator Murkowski co-sponsored Senator Dan Sullivans amendment requiring that the VA report on its failure to fill healthcare provider vacancies in rural areas of the country. \r\nAs a member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, earlier this year Senator Murkowski worked to include a number of Alaska priorities in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill. The bill authorizes the construction of a flight simulator building on Eielson Air Force Base in anticipation of the upcoming beddown of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in Interior Alaska. It also provides for improvements to Eielsons utility infrastructure and an improved physical fitness facility at Fort Greely. Click here to view the Alaska provisions included in the bill. \r\nNational Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): \r\nThe NDAA includes policies to support our troops, military retirees, and their families, including restrictions on Tricare co-pays, protection of the commissary benefit, and improved retirement options. It also authorizes the resources our military needs to combat threats around the world and in the future. It authorizes funding for the Missile Defense Agencys Long Range Discrimination Radar to be located at Clear Air Force Station and encourages the Air Force to invite Taiwan to participate in the annual Red Flag Alaska exercise at Eielson. It also requires that the Defense Department submit to Congress a definitive plan for military operations in the Arctic.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=d2ec972d-4332-490a-b4cd-5fe78c077bfe", "Murkowski: Alaska is the West Coasts Energy Reserve", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.10.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Alaska is the West Coasts Energy Reserve \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Energy Panel Chair Highlights Alaskas Resources as a Strategic Security Asset\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today cautioned against making arbitrary sales of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to pay for unrelated legislative initiatives, and highlighted the potential benefits to the nation if the administration allowed Alaska to realize its true energy potential.\r\n   Click photo to play video\r\nThrough thick and thin, those barrels in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve  rarely ever tapped  have offered a measure of security and stability that is unique in the history of global commerce. Murkowski said. I support funding for SPR maintenance, for life extension, and for marine terminals. But I remain opposed to suggestions that we use the reserve to pay for completely unrelated programs, or that we simply sell off the entire stockpile, as some have suggested.\r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, in a speech Tuesday on the Senate floor, offered skepticism of the Department of Energys plans for a new gasoline reserve on the West Coast, calling it small potatoes, and highlighted Alaskas energy resources and infrastructure as an alternative.\r\nOpening up Alaskas resources now would ensure that more oil is transported through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. A healthy pipeline would ensure that oil can be shipped from Alaska to fuel West Coast refineries when needed, and help ensure that energy remains affordable for the West Coast, Murkowski said.\r\nCalling it strategic thinking, Murkowski concluded her remarks with a call to allow Alaska  a state that wants to produce oil  to actually develop its energy resources for the benefit of hardworking Alaskans, Californians, and even Hawaiians.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=deb8f5f0-0a19-4f16-8afb-5104b04097db", "Senator Murkowski Shares Veterans Day Message with Alaskans", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.10.15\n\t\t\t Senator Murkowski Shares Veterans Day Message with Alaskans \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t We can never thank them enough for their courage, sacrifice, and service\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski shared the following message with Alaskans on Veterans Day:\r\nOn this day, as we should every day, we honor Americas veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve for the common good. The decision to enter into military service is not one to be taken lightly, nor is it an easy burden to bear. It comes with not only tremendous responsibilities, but great sacrifices. Standing up to serve is something to be commended, something to be respected  and something to be honored by all of us who breathe easier and live freely because of those who have defended us at home and abroad.\r\nAs Alaskans, we have the incredible honor of being surrounded by veterans, more so per capita than any other state in the nation. Veterans are our neighbors, co-workers, family members, and friends. And while theyve already given a selfless gift to our nation, they continue serving their communities long after they take off their uniforms. We can never thank them enough for their courage, sacrifice, and service, but we can, and we must, try.\r\n\r\n(Click image to watch video.)\r\nWhile words fall short of expressing our appreciation, we pause to honor and thank you for your service this Veterans Day. Words will never be enough to thank you, our veterans, for your selfless actions in making the decision to serve our country, your courage during active duty, and your commitment to our communities when you return home.\r\nOne of the best ways we can show our gratitude for our veterans is by asking what we, as individuals and as a community, can do for them. \r\nKnow that here in Washington D.C., I will continue to do all I can to give veterans the services they deserve. Its commonly known the problems that we face in Alaska when it comes to the VA. Weve had more than our fair share of issues, but I will not rest until the earned health care benefit is a reality for all Alaska veterans, wherever in the state they may live.\r\nWe should remember to live every day appreciating the freedoms and liberties that our military has secured for us and continues to protect. On this Veterans Day, and every other day, we say thank you to those who serve past, present, and future. God bless.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-alaska-is-the-west-coasts-energy-reserve", "Murkowski: Alaska is the West Coasts Energy Reserve", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.10.15\n\t\t\t Murkowski: Alaska is the West Coast's Energy Reserve \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Energy Panel Chair Highlights Alaska's Resources as a Strategic Security Asset\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today cautioned against making arbitrary sales of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to pay for unrelated legislative initiatives, and highlighted the potential benefits to the nation if the administration allowed Alaska to realize its true energy potential.\r\n   Click photo to play video\r\nThrough thick and thin, those barrels in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve  rarely ever tapped  have offered a measure of security and stability that is unique in the history of global commerce. Murkowski said. I support funding for SPR maintenance, for life extension, and for marine terminals. But I remain opposed to suggestions that we use the reserve to pay for completely unrelated programs, or that we simply sell off the entire stockpile, as some have suggested.\r\nMurkowski, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, in a speech Tuesday on the Senate floor, offered skepticism of the Department of Energy's plans for a new gasoline reserve on the West Coast, calling it small potatoes, and highlighted Alaska's energy resources and infrastructure as an alternative.\r\nOpening up Alaska's resources now would ensure that more oil is transported through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. A healthy pipeline would ensure that oil can be shipped from Alaska to fuel West Coast refineries when needed, and help ensure that energy remains affordable for the West Coast, Murkowski said.\r\nCalling it strategic thinking, Murkowski concluded her remarks with a call to allow Alaska  a state that wants to produce oil  to actually develop its energy resources for the benefit of hardworking Alaskans, Californians, and even Hawaiians.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 861, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "AK", "p2": "2015"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AK&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 861, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AK&year=2015&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AK&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 861, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=AK&year=2015", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AK&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "AK", "label": "AK", "count": 861, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2015", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AK&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "2015", "label": "2015", "count": 861, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AK", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2015-11-10,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Emurkowski~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fpress~2Frelease~2Fmurkowski-alaska-is-the-west-coasts-energy-reserve", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AK&year=2015&_next=2015-11-10%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Emurkowski~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fpress~2Frelease~2Fmurkowski-alaska-is-the-west-coasts-energy-reserve&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 129.40201396122575, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}