Lisa Murkowski
U.S. Senator · U.S. Senate
50 articles · 20 transcripts · 24 clips
Affiliations
Lyman Hoffman marks 40 years in the Legislature by citing rural Alaska's costs
Lyman Hoffman, leaving after 40 years in the Legislature, used an award speech to talk about $12 milk and $20 heating fuel in the rural Alaska he represents.
Senate Judiciary Committee votes 16-6 to advance Kyle Reardon for Alaska federal bench
Alaska's federal court could have a full bench for the first time since 2021 if the Senate confirms Kyle Reardon. A panel backed him 16-6, four Democrats in.
Commonwealth North gives Hickel award to former CIRI and Old Harbor chief Carl Marrs
Commonwealth North gave its Hickel Award to Carl Marrs, former CIRI and Old Harbor Native CEO. His advocacy helped pass parts of a bill that included a deduction for corporations' contributions to Native settlement trusts.
Senate votes 73-25 to advance federal permitting overhaul
The Senate voted 73-25 to advance the bipartisan permitting deal, with Murkowski and Sullivan voting yes. It sets review deadlines and limits project lawsuits.
Alaska Native groups object to plan to drop race questions from 2030 census
Alaska Native groups oppose a Census Bureau plan to drop race questions from the 2030 count. The bureau's own draft analysis flags trouble for small tribes.
Draft deal would renovate Haines' preschool building and give it to the tribe
A draft Haines deal would spend a $1 million federal grant fixing up the borough's preschool building, then hand it to the tribe. Two other groups want it too.
Murkowski endorses Democrat Kreiss-Tomkins
Three days after Trump called her a disgrace, Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for governor. Wilson vowed to work to unseat her.
Judge fast-tracks Peltola campaign's bid to dismiss DOJ's Alaska Senate suit
A federal judge fast-tracked the Peltola campaign's bid to join and dismiss DOJ's Alaska Senate suit. She plans to rule Wednesday on who can join.
Murkowski says Justice Department shouldn't have sued over two Sullivans
Murkowski says the Justice Department never should have sued over Alaska's two Senate Sullivans. Alaskans can pick their own candidate, she says.
Murkowski tells AFN fuel prices are wrong and ties them to the Iran war
Murkowski told AFN high fuel prices are wrong and blamed the Iran war. She said she's voted for six months to end it. The Senate record says closer to five.
AFN weighs late resolutions on permitting bill's historic review title and census plan
Southeast delegates asked AFN to oppose a Senate bill's historic review rewrite and a census plan. Delegates first had to agree to take the resolutions up.
Energy official says Alaska tribal projects draw about half of $125 million federal selection
“It is wrong that fuel prices are so high”
Justice Pate tells AFN he knows of no Alaska Native judge since Roy Madsen
Justice Jude Pate told AFN that, to his knowledge, Alaska hasn't had an Alaska Native judge since Roy Madsen, and laid out how the courts hope to change that.
USDA asks fishermen for fuel cost data for $8 billion relief program, sets no payment
USDA asked fishermen to send in fuel cost data for its new $8 billion fuel relief program. Sullivan says Alaska fishermen are eligible. Nobody's said how much.
Military test used HAARP and Cold Bay receivers to detect aircraft beyond the horizon
“better understanding the, the gaps that we have in our surveillance is, is what is, is going to, to have to be a priority for us.”
Houston plans a door-to-door income survey to qualify for an $850,000 fire station grant
Houston needs 51% of the people a fire station serves to be low or moderate income to get an $850,000 grant. HUD says 49.6%, so staff will knock on doors.
Bill to give Southcentral Foundation downtown Anchorage clubhouse land reaches president
“This transfer would allow Southcentral Foundation to continue providing services through the Quyana Clubhouse and enable SCF to finance capital improvements on the property to expand outpatient programming.”
Federal money would cover 96% of Wasilla's $20 million runway extension, staff says
Wasilla's runway extension would cost the city about 4% of $20 million, staff says. First come the surveys that have to wait for leaves on the trees.
Murkowski joins bipartisan call for Trump to reverse decision allowing Russian diesel imports
Trump says Putin agreed to send diesel. Murkowski and six other senators say letting it in runs counter to a ban Congress passed 100-0 in 2022.
Wasilla airport commission backs buying at least 11 parcels for longer runway
Wasilla's airport commission backed buying at least 11 parcels for a longer runway. Planes leave heavier than they arrive, thanks partly to local shopping.
UAA gets $725,000 for nursing simulation equipment at rural campus sites
UAA got $725,000 in federal money for nursing simulation gear for rural students, where clinical placements are a big limit on how many can enroll.
Navy commissions USS Ted Stevens in Whittier
“He hired the first female floor assistant in the United States Senate, and Captain Hayes is now the first woman to command this class of ship.”
Kodiak Assembly member says Navy would back grid funding bid tied to Spruce Cape project
A classified Navy project at Spruce Cape could use 70% of Kodiak's power, an Assembly member says, and the Navy may back a grid funding bid.
Senate committee advances five-year renewal of federal program mapping Alaska's geology
“It's a big deal in, in my state when we see the very significant gaps in geologic data.”
Murkowski cosponsors Senate resolution marking Filipino American History Month
Murkowski is the only Republican cosponsoring a Senate resolution recognizing October as Filipino American History Month. Hirono, D-Hawaii, introduced it.
Murkowski cosponsors bill letting housing builders use industry certifications to prove materials are US-made
“I'm committed to using every federal resource available to make building homes in Alaska more streamlined and affordable across the board”
Cordova science center gets NOAA grant to rebuild Prince William Sound ocean profiler
Prince William Sound's robotic ocean sensor runs on a computer and battery nobody makes anymore. A $354,971 federal grant aims to fix that problem.
Senate vote to advance data center utility cost bill fails 57-43
Senate blocked a bill asking states to consider making big data centers pay for grid upgrades. Alaska's senators voted yes; most Democrats called it optional.
Senate stalls congressional stock trading bill on party-line vote
A Senate bill to ban congressional stock trading failed to advance Wednesday, though Alaska senators Murkowski and Sullivan both voted yes.
Senate confirms Sonderling as labor secretary, 47-41
“so that we don't have to go through this scramble every year wondering if our workforce is going to be able to meet the salmon runs.”
Murkowski cosponsors bill to write newborn and postpartum supply kit program into law
“The time immediately after childbirth is an especially vulnerable time for mothers and their newborns.”
Murkowski-backed bill extending ALS treatment access programs for five years passes Congress
“For those living with ALS, every day matters. They cannot afford disruptions in research, treatment access, and support,”
Senate sends Anchorage Quyana Clubhouse land transfer to president
“This legislation will give Southcentral Foundation the tools to expand the facility and its services, including intensive outpatient programming, so it can continue meeting the needs of Alaska Native people for generations to come.”
Murkowski votes no as Senate blocks Israel human rights request
The Senate voted down a push to make the State Department report on Israel's human rights practices. Murkowski voted no; Sullivan didn't vote.
Lee objection blocks Murkowski-Merkley bill on presidential memorials
“giving very little context or content about either to Congress or the public”
Senate passes national college NIL bill 77-22, with Murkowski voting yes and Sullivan not voting
The Senate passed a national college NIL bill 77-22 Monday. Murkowski voted yes; Sullivan didn't vote on any of the day's six roll calls, all on the bill.
Murkowski bill would modify and continue Snettisham's exemption from federal hydropower licensing
Sen. Lisa Murkowski introduced a bill Thursday to keep Juneau's Snettisham hydroelectric plant exempt from federal licensing rules, protecting the facility that supplies 70% of the city's power
FDA to pay Alaska $540,768 for state food safety inspections
“our DEC performs food safety inspection, permitting, and enforcement work under contract for FDA and has for many years”
Federal report puts Alaska's maternal death rate above the national rate but warns the count is small
“We have to do a better job as we're addressing maternal mortality issues and ensuring that our Native communities are adequately represented in the data that helps inform.”
FDA nominee Overton commits to Alaska food inspections and salmon labeling but not mifepristone access
“You have effectively taken about 80% of our state and put them in a really challenging— excuse me, 80% of the communities in the state and put them in a very challenging position in terms of access to providers”
Murkowski cosponsors bill to keep Temporary Protected Status for Ukrainians in the US
Murkowski is cosponsoring a bill to keep Ukrainians' protected status. USCIS says it ends Oct. 19; a federal deadline that passed in August may say otherwise.
Senate Indian Affairs Committee advances Native housing rewrite to full Senate
“In Alaska, we routinely hear about overcrowding, extraordinarily high construction costs, homelessness, and difficulties that communities face in providing housing for teachers, healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, and other essential workers who are making a little too much to qualify for some assistance programs”
Federal rules leave some village homes out of water projects
“that are still relying on honey buckets, haul wagons, and this again is public safety, public health when you don't have clean water and clean wastewater systems”
Alaska's universities fall outside parts of an advancing college sports bill
A college sports bill is moving in the Senate with both Alaska senators behind it. UAA and UAF play Division II, so only some of it would reach them.
Murkowski's bill would extend a rural maternity program Alaska never used
“Whether you’re in Napakiak or New York City, every mother and child deserves access to quality care, and the programs implemented through this bill will help bring us closer to that goal.”
U.S. signs Greenland security pact; Murkowski says she is encouraged
“I’m encouraged that our nations have reached a breakthrough that respects Greenlandic self-determination and the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark while strengthening our shared security in the Arctic.”
Alaska's three-judge court has been short since 2022; Reardon would fill the last seat
“he is ready to hit the ground running as a U.S. District Court judge”
Murkowski cosponsors Senate resolution backing Russian democracy advocates
The Senate wants to back Russian democracy activists. Russian law gives those very activists up to six years in prison for accepting the help.
Unalaska student wins national naval history award for Angoon bombardment project
Unalaska student River Zaochney won a national Naval History Award for a project on the 1882 Navy bombardment of Angoon, a Tlingit village the Navy formally apologized for in 2024.
