The upper chamber of the United States Congress — 100 senators, two per state, six-year terms. Confirms federal judges and senior executive appointments, ratifies treaties, and shares legislative authority with the House of Representatives. Alaska's senators are Lisa Murkowski (R) and Dan Sullivan (R).
U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC 20510
Video Clips
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Patty Murray
“it is my intention to rip Trump's budget up and write a new one.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“I'm very concerned by the actions by this administration that have demoralized a lot of our VA research staff and created instability in research funding and really put up barriers that has slowed the research process. On the very first day of the Trump administration, all VA research staff became subject to a hiring freeze.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“the president's budget proposes a substantial reduction to VA's research program, not only through cuts to dedicated research appropriations, but also through reduced support from medical care accounts and lower projected reimbursements that many of our research programs rely on. Those reductions raise very serious concern about VA's ability to sustain its ongoing research and continue developing new innovations that improve our veterans' care.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“I just want to emphasize what I made— comment I made in the opening remark about the pending OMB rule that would really undermine our current system and allow— take away decision-making power from our experienced scientists and just allow political appointees, whether this administration or into the future, decide where research is going to go. That is really concerning to VA researchers. We need decisions based on science, not based on somebody's mad at somebody or political decision in any administration.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“a planned study on RSV missed its enrollment window and could not even enroll participants. Another clinical trial closed after it took 6 months to hire a researcher. The study's principal investigator and its lead clinician both resigned from the VA after that debacle.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Patty Murray
“research at the Pittsburgh VA to predict stroke risk was put on hold. Enrollment into clinical trials for advanced cancer was delayed, and a clinical trial in Florida on preventing dementia and heart disease was canceled.”Senate Veterans' Affairs (Sullivan): Hearings to examine advancing the mission, focusing on evaluating the future of VA research. · Jul 22, 2026
Murkowski cosponsors Senate bill to pay providers for breast cancer risk assessments
Sen. Lisa Murkowski cosponsored S. 5258, introduced Wednesday by Sen. Bill Cassidy, which would create a federal payment model reimbursing providers for comprehensive breast cancer risk assessments and personalized screening plans. It sits in the Senate Committee on Finance with no hearing scheduled.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
A rule meant to reveal where 'forever chemicals' are used stays delayed
The U.S. Senate rejected a motion to proceed to S.J.Res. 187 on a 48-50 vote Wednesday, leaving in place an EPA rule that pushes back when companies must report PFAS manufacturing and imports. Murkowski and Sullivan both voted nay.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
41.3 million for Alaska Native education is freed up after a month's delay
Fifteen Alaska organizations will share $41.3 million in Alaska Native Education Program continuation awards, spread across 26 grants. The U.S. Department of Education obligated the money Wednesday, about a month after the July 1 date it was expected, after Sen. Lisa Murkowski raised the delay with Secretary Linda McMahon.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Senate panel advances Crow coal land swap 6-5, rejects four amendments
The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, chaired by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, voted 6 to 5 Wednesday to advance the Crow Revenue Act, which exempts a Montana coal land exchange from environmental review. Four amendments requiring an appraisal, a named lessee and a locked revenue split failed 5 to 6.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Murkowski and Sullivan vote to advance an African trade bill
The U.S. Senate voted 89-4 Monday to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 6500, which would extend duty-free treatment for imports from certain African countries and extend customs user fees. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan both voted yea.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Betting apps take bets in Alaska as a Senate panel weighs the fallout
Prediction-market apps are taking sports bets in Alaska, where betting isn't legal, tribal leaders told a Senate roundtable. Sen. Murkowski admitted being 'asleep at the switch.'
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
A bill to give the Coast Guard its own secretary, one of several that haven't moved
Sens. Dan Sullivan, Rick Scott and Tommy Tuberville have introduced the Coast Guard Leadership Modernization Act, which would create a Senate-confirmed civilian Secretary of the Coast Guard. Civilian oversight now defaults to the secretary of Homeland Security.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
A cap on what families pay for child care is going away, with both Alaska senators' votes
The U.S. Senate declined to overturn a rule removing a federal cap on child care copayments for low-income families. Murkowski and Sullivan both voted to let it stand.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
A sacred Athabascan site stranded inside Denali for 47 years moves closer to return
The Senate committee advanced the Geese House Site Conveyance Act, transferring a sacred Athabascan site inside Denali National Park to Doyon, Limited, nearly 50 years after it was selected.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
For Alaska's rural broadband, federal permits are the bottleneck
With Alaska 60% federal land and over $1 billion allocated for rural broadband, the broadband industry told a Senate hearing that federal permitting is the real bottleneck.
by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago2 min readAI
The Gulf of Alaska's ocean station was saved. The funding still isn't.
The Gulf of Alaska's Ocean Station Papa was spared from dismantling after Sen. Murkowski's bill, but she's now pressing NSF on funding to keep the ocean-monitoring network running.
by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago2 min readAI
Murkowski moves to shield the offices funding Alaska Native and special education
A bipartisan bill led by Sen. Lisa Murkowski would block moving the Office of Indian Education and special education offices that fund programs in Alaska schools.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
A federal tax break for K-12 teachers may finally reach Alaska's preschool teachers
A federal bill advancing in the Senate would extend the educator expense deduction to Alaska's early childhood teachers, letting them write off up to $350 in classroom supplies.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
The water rights Alaska Natives can't claim
Sen. Lisa Murkowski chairs a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing Wednesday on five bills addressing Indian water rights settlements. None involve Alaska, but the committee's handling of settlement funding has drawn her attention before.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Alaska's senators move to shore up the NSF office that funds most UA research
Sens. Sullivan and Murkowski introduced a bill to make permanent the NSF Office of Polar Programs, which funds most University of Alaska research, amid deep proposed NSF cuts.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
A sacred site promised in 1978 is being considered by Congress to go to Doyon
A Senate committee will consider the Geese House Site Conveyance Act, transferring about 21,578 acres in Denali National Park and Preserve to Doyon, Limited.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Supreme Court upholds the mail-ballot rule rural Alaska relies on
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld rules like Alaska's counting mail ballots received after Election Day, a system rural Alaska relies on. Primary applications due Aug. 8.
by Alaska News1mo ago1 min readAI
Alaska's senators split on Iran war powers, and Murkowski missed the vote
Alaska's senators split again on Iran war powers: Sullivan voted to block the resolution and Murkowski, a frequent Trump defector on Iran, was absent as it failed 47-49.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
The CDC director vote is waiting on Lisa Murkowski
A Senate committee vote on CDC director nominee Erica Schwartz was postponed after Sen. Lisa Murkowski's absence left Republicans a vote short. It's rescheduled for next week.
by Alaska News1mo ago1 min readAI
Rural birth and nursing bills clear a Senate panel
The Senate HELP Committee voted Wednesday to favorably report eleven health bills, including a $35 monthly insulin cap for commercially insured patients and nursing workforce measures with direct implications for rural Alaska communities facing persistent provider shortages.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Murkowski targets federal conditions on Southeast's hydropower licenses
Sen. Lisa Murkowski co-sponsored a bill limiting federal agency conditions on hydropower licenses as SEAPA begins relicensing Tyee Lake on Tongass National Forest land.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
VA research is losing staff and trials as Senate panel presses on $43M cut
Proposed VA research budget cuts drew Senate scrutiny this week, with stakes for Alaska, the state with the highest share of veterans per capita in the country.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Senate confirms Westercamp to trade court; both Alaska senators vote yes
The Senate confirmed Kara Marie Westercamp to the U.S. Court of International Trade 50-48, with both Alaska senators voting yes, on a court that rules on tariffs affecting Alaska seafood exports.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Alaska veterans fly to Seattle for cancer care. The Senate is arguing over why.
A Senate Veterans' Affairs hearing examined VA precision oncology funding, a question with stakes for Alaska veterans referred to Seattle for specialty cancer care.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Nome port's national security designation could save city $132 million in construction costs
A Senate committee bill classifies the Port of Nome's infrastructure as a federal national security interest and prohibits any reduction in the project's scope or capability, building on a 2022 provision that cut the city's cost share and saved it roughly $132 million. Construction at the port is already underway this summer.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Alaska's fishermen got left out of an $11 billion farm rescue
Alaska fishermen are excluded from the administration's $11 billion farm disaster request, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski pressed Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on whether they'll be covered.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
Sullivan campaign ad features veteran the VA told to leave Alaska for care
Sen. Dan Sullivan's campaign released its second statewide ad Monday, featuring retired Marine Lance Corporal Nick Woodard, who says the VA initially required him to relocate to Seattle for care after a car accident, until Sullivan intervened.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
Peltola challenges Sullivan for Alaska's U.S. Senate seat
Mary Peltola, the first Alaska Native elected to Congress, is running against Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan for Alaska's U.S. Senate seat on November 3, 2026. Her 2024 congressional loss by fewer than 7,000 votes, combined with an 11-point overperformance of the Democratic ticket, has made the race a national target for Democrats.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
The SAVE Act now rides on the defense bill Alaska wants
Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced in a July 17 Wall Street Journal op-ed that she will vote against the SAVE Act, using specific scenarios to show the bill's in-person proof-of-citizenship requirement could cost some Alaskans more than $1,000 just to register to vote. Rep. Nick Begich co-sponsored the bill and voted for it in the U.S. House.
by Alaska News2mo ago2 min readAI
Savoonga's voting barriers surface in Senate election-integrity debate
Sen. Lisa Murkowski's invocation of Savoonga in a Senate election-integrity debate has elevated a documented, ongoing access problem: Alaska's absentee rules require handwritten signatures and bar email ballot returns, conditions that compound mail delays in an air-only Bering Sea village of about 870 people, with the mail-ballot application deadline for the August primary falling on August 8.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
Alaska's senators voted to let a Medicare AI pilot keep running
The U.S. Senate rejected a three-year ACA subsidy extension 51-48 Thursday, nine votes short of the 60 needed. Both Alaska senators voted yes, but subsidies are set to expire Dec. 31, which health advocates project will double premiums for roughly 22 million Americans, with Alaskans especially exposed.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
Murkowski bill targets Alaska's rural health shortage with immigrant credential grants
Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Tim Kaine introduced the Welcome Back to the Health Care Workforce Act on Friday, creating a federal grant program to help internationally educated health professionals already living in the U.S. clear licensing barriers, with priority for rural and shortage communities like much of Alaska.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Peltola reports $16 million raised, accuses Sullivan of taking $400K from trawling industry
Senate candidate Mary Peltola reported Thursday raising more than $16 million from over 131,000 donors at an average of less than $50, while alleging incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan has accepted nearly $400,000 from the trawling industry, a figure that carries direct stakes for subsistence and commercial fishers across rural Alaska.
by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
Senate bill would fast-track Army Corps engineering for Juneau's glacial flooding
A Senate committee bill directs the Army Corps of Engineers to skip intermediate study steps and move directly to preconstruction planning for a permanent solution to Juneau's recurring glacial lake outburst flooding. The measure still needs full Senate passage and a presidential signature.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min readAI
Sullivan ad misleads on Peltola's military vote, fact-checkers find, as Senate race tightens
FactCheck.org ruled Friday that Sullivan campaign ads misleadingly claimed Peltola opposed military pay raises; she voted against a partisan House bill but backed the final compromise that delivered a 5.2% raise. The finding lands as both candidates press concrete fuel and fisheries proposals in a race four forecasters now call a toss-up.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min readAI
Peltola puts numbers on rural fuel crisis: $21 a gallon in Noatak, $15 coming for St. Mary's
Senate candidate Mary Peltola named specific per-gallon fuel prices facing YK Delta communities in a Thursday KYUK interview in Bethel, calling for a congressional investigation into price gouging and expanded civilian refining capacity before barge-season prices lock in for winter.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Murkowski, Schatz introduce $800M bill for Native children and families
Senators Lisa Murkowski and Brian Schatz introduced S.4976 on Friday, proposing over $800 million for Native children's health, education, housing, and welfare, with nearly $500 million available through immediate tribal set-asides upon passage.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago3 min readAI
Senate panel advances water bill with Alaska Native village sanitation, Nome port, and Juneau flood provisions
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advanced the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 Tuesday with Alaska-specific provisions: a national security designation for Nome's Arctic port, fast-tracked Army Corps engineering for Juneau's glacial flooding, and $60 million annually for Alaska Native village sanitation.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Space Force nominee warns China's counter-space buildup is moving at 'breathtakingly fast' pace
Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that China is rapidly expanding weapons designed to destroy U.S. satellites and track carrier strike groups, and defended a 124% budget increase as equipment-driven, not a personnel expansion.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Democrats challenge Sonderling on overtime rollbacks, education transfers at HELP hearing
The Senate HELP Committee grilled Keith Sonderling on Thursday over his three months as acting Labor secretary, with Democrats citing overtime rollbacks affecting 4 million workers, a pending rule that could strip minimum wage protections from 3.7 million home care workers, and the transfer of K-12 education programs to a department they say lacks the expertise to run them.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI