Share on WeChat
https://www.powervoter.us:443/lisa_murkowski
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Copy the link and open WeChat to share.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.
 Share on WeChat
Scan QRCode using WeChat,and then click the icon at the top-right corner of your screen.

Lisa Murkowski

R
Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • JD, Willamette College of Law, 1985
  • BA, Economics, Georgetown University, 1980
  • Attended, Willamette University, 1975-1978

Professional Experience

  • JD, Willamette College of Law, 1985
  • BA, Economics, Georgetown University, 1980
  • Attended, Willamette University, 1975-1978
  • Attorney, Commercial Practice, Hoge and Lekisch, 1989-1998
  • District Court Attorney, State of Alaska, District Court, 1986-1989
  • Associate, Hertog Rhodes, 1985-1986

Political Experience

  • JD, Willamette College of Law, 1985
  • BA, Economics, Georgetown University, 1980
  • Attended, Willamette University, 1975-1978
  • Attorney, Commercial Practice, Hoge and Lekisch, 1989-1998
  • District Court Attorney, State of Alaska, District Court, 1986-1989
  • Associate, Hertog Rhodes, 1985-1986
  • Senator, United States Senate, 2002-present
  • Former Deputy Whip, United States Senate
  • Representative, Alaska State House of Representatives, 1998-2002

Former Committees/Caucuses

Vice Chair, Republican Senate Conference, United States Senate, 2009-2010

Republican Chair, State Central Committee, Republican Party of Alaska, District 14, 1993-1998

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Appropriations

Chair, Energy and Natural Resources

Member, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Member, Indian Affairs

Member, Subcommittee on Children and Families

Member, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

Member, Subcommittee on Defense

Member, Subcommittee on Energy nd Water Development

Member, Subcommittee on Homeland Security

Chair, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Member, Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies

Member, Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • JD, Willamette College of Law, 1985
  • BA, Economics, Georgetown University, 1980
  • Attended, Willamette University, 1975-1978
  • Attorney, Commercial Practice, Hoge and Lekisch, 1989-1998
  • District Court Attorney, State of Alaska, District Court, 1986-1989
  • Associate, Hertog Rhodes, 1985-1986
  • Senator, United States Senate, 2002-present
  • Former Deputy Whip, United States Senate
  • Representative, Alaska State House of Representatives, 1998-2002
  • Member, Alaska and Anchorage Bar Association
  • Board Member, Alaska Federation of Republican Women
  • Director, Alaskans for Drug Free Youth
  • Board Member, Armed Services Young Men's Christian Association
  • Board Member, Boys and Girls Club
  • Director/Trustee, Catholic Social Services
  • Former Member, Citizens' Advisory Board, Joint Committee on Military Bases in Alaska
  • President, Government Hill Elementary Parent Teacher Association
  • Member, Midnight Sun Republican Women and Anchorage Republican Women's Club
  • Former Commissioner, Post Secondary Education Commission
  • Member, Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)
  • Commissioner, Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, 1997-1998
  • Member, Mayor's Task Force on the Homeless, 1990-1991

Other Info

Astrological Sign:

Gemini

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

Dear Alaskans,

I came to Washington to get things done. Sometimes that means changing policies that don't work. Sometimes it means preventing bad policies from becoming law. And other times it means reaching across the aisle to find consensus and get things done to benefit everyone -- Alaskans and all Americans.

When I arrived in the U.S. Senate I was filled with optimism and energy, ready to protect Alaska's interests and educate my colleagues about the unique challenges facing our state. Now, I can tell you that Congress has learned a lot about Alaska during my tenure, and I'm as enthusiastic and energetic as ever.

As Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I made a promise to get the committee working again to produce results for Alaska and the nation. Over the past year, we have advanced dozens of bills out of my committee. My approach to legislating has been to work collaboratively, to gain consensus and avoid the partisan gridlock that hurts our country.

Through my position as the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and Environment, I have oversight of the budgets for the federal agencies that control more than 60% of Alaska lands. As an Alaskan who was born in the Tongass, raised throughout Southeast, Southcentral, and the Interior, I understand Alaskans' connection to our lands and waters, and the importance of protecting our access. Ensuring the promises made to Alaska by the federal government are kept is my top priority and I will continue to fight against the federal overreach that holds our economy back.

As a resource-rich state, access to our land and resources is vital for Alaskan communities to protect the self-determination promised to us at statehood. I will continue to support responsible development of our state's conventional energy resources while also promoting renewable and sustainable technologies that benefit our communities. My mission is to provide safe, reliable and affordable energy to all Alaskans.

The Last Frontier can be a challenging and unforgiving place. Fortunately, innovation and perseverance make up the very heart of who we are as Alaskans. I continue to learn and benefit from the wisdom and guidance of the First Alaskans. Working together, we have preserved languages and improved access to education and health care.

Alaska is home to more than 20,000 active duty service members and more than 77,000 veterans. We are thankful for their service. I will continue to ensure that our service members have the resources they need and that their families receive the support they deserve here at home. We will continue to implement reforms at the Veterans Administration so that the men and women, who dedicated their lives to us, receive the quality care they earned.

Today in Washington, there is newfound interest and respect for Alaska -- a recognition of our strategic importance to energy and national security. I will continue to fight for the prosperity of our state and our nation.

As parents, Verne and I want a vibrant future for Alaska where our sons can share in opportunity, and someday raise their own families. It is the vision we all share for our children and for Alaska. I ask for you to join me as we work together for the land and the people we love.

Alaska. Always.

Policy Positions

2020

Abortion

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Unknown Position

Budget

In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- No

Economy

1. Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Unknown Position

2. Do you support lowering taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

Education

1. Do you generally support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
- No

Energy

1. Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?
- Yes

2. Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

Environment

Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
- No

Guns

Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- No

Health Care

Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
- Yes

Marriage

Do you support same-sex marriage?
- Yes

Congressional Election 2004 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.

1. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

2. Abortions should always be legal.
- No Answer

3. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer

4. Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
- X

5. Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
- X

6. Prohibit the dilation and extraction procedure, also known as "partial-birth" abortion.
- X

7. Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- X

Budgetary, Spending, and Tax Issues, Part 1: Budget Priorities

Using the key, indicate what federal funding levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.Budget Priorities

1. Agriculture
- Maintain Status

2. Arts
- Maintain Status

3. Defense
- Slightly Increase

4. Education
- Slightly Increase

5. Environment
- Maintain Status

6. Homeland security
- Slightly Increase

7. International aid
- Maintain Status

8. Law enforcement
- Slightly Increase

9. Medical research
- Slightly Increase

10. National parks
- Maintain Status

11. Public health services
- Slightly Increase

12. Scientific research
- Maintain Status

13. Space exploration programs
- Slightly Decrease

14. Transportation and highway infrastructure
- Slightly Increase

15. Welfare
- Maintain Status

16. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

Budgetary, Spending, and Tax Issues, Part 2: Defense Spending

Defense Spending

1. Armed Forces personnel training
- Slightly Increase

2. Intelligence operations
- Slightly Increase

3. Military hardware
- Maintain Status

4. Modernization of weaponry and equipment
- Slightly Increase

5. National missile defense
- Maintain Status

6. Pay for active duty personnel
- Slightly Increase

7. Programs to improve troop retention rates
- Slightly Increase

8. Research and development of new weapons
- Slightly Increase

9. Troop and equipment readiness
- Slightly Increase

10. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

Budgetary, Spending, and Tax Issues, Part 3: Taxes (A)

Using the key above, indicate what federal tax levels you support for the following general categories. Select one number per category.TaxesIncome Taxes:Family IncomeRetiree IncomeOther Taxes:Deductions/Credits:

1. Less than $25,000
- Slightly Decrease

2. $25,000-$75,000
- Slightly Decrease

3. $75,000-$150,000
- Maintain Status

4. Over $150,000
- Maintain Status

5. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

6. Over $40,000
- Slightly Decrease

7. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status

8. Capital gains taxes
- Maintain Status

9. Cigarette taxes
- Slightly Increase

10. Corporate taxes
- Maintain Status

11. Gasoline taxes
- Maintain Status

12. Inheritance taxes
- Eliminate

13. Charitable contributions
- Slightly Increase

14. Child tax credit
- Maintain Status

15. Earned income tax credit
- Slightly Increase

16. Medical expense deduction
- Slightly Increase

17. Mortgage deduction
- Maintain Status

18. Student loan credit
- Slightly Increase

Budgetary, Spending, and Taxes, Part 3: Taxes (B)

1. Do you support permanent repeal of the federal estate tax?
- Yes

2. Do you support eliminating taxes on dividends paid to individual investors?
- Yes

3. Should a married couple filing jointly pay the same taxes as if they were an unmarried couple filing separately?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance and Government Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

1. Support public taxpayer funding for federal candidates who comply with campaign spending limits.
- No Answer

2. Increase the amount individuals are permitted to contribute to federal campaigns.
- No Answer

3. Prohibit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to candidates for federal office.
- No Answer

4. Allow unregulated soft money campaign contributions to political parties or committees.
- No Answer

5. Allow ads paid for by soft money that support or attack a candidate for federal office.
- No Answer

6. Allow issue advocacy commercials by corporations, labor unions, and non-profit groups which appear within 60 days of a general election and within 30 days of a primary election.
- No Answer

7. Remove all contribution limits on federal campaigns and parties.
- No Answer

8. Do you support instant run-off voting (IRV)?
- Undecided

9. Should Election Day be a national holiday?
- No

10. Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
- No Answer

11. Should marriage be restricted to a union only between a man and a woman?
- Yes

12. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.

1. Support the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
- No Answer

2. Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
- No Answer

3. Impose "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole.
- No Answer

4. Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- X

5. Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
- X

6. Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.
- No Answer

7. Support additional criminal penalties if a fetus is killed in the commission of a federal crime against a pregnant woman.
- X

8. Require that crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability be prosecuted as federal hate crimes.
- No Answer

9. Support programs that provide job training and placement services for at-risk youth.
- X

10. Impose stricter penalties for those convicted of white-collar crimes.
- X

11. Enforcement of civil rights should primarily be the responsibility of the federal government.
- No Answer

12. Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
- No Answer

13. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Drug

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding drugs.

1. Support mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs.
- No Answer

2. Expand federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs.
- X

3. Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
- No Answer

4. Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
- No Answer

5. Increase border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
- X

6. Eliminate federal funding for programs associated with the "war on drugs."
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

1. Support national standards for and testing of public school students.
- No Answer

2. Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any public school.
- No Answer

3. Allow parents to use vouchers (equal opportunity scholarships) to send their children to any private or religious school.
- No Answer

4. Allow teachers and professionals to receive authorization and funding to establish charter schools.
- No Answer

5. Increase funding for block grants to states to aid in the hiring of additional teachers.
- No Answer

6. Support teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay.
- X

7. Increase funding for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings, infrastructure, technology).
- X

8. Support granting states limited control over Head Start programs.
- No Answer

9. Support changing the mission of Head Start to emphasize improving the math and reading skills of disadvantaged children.
- No Answer

10. Providing education is not a responsibility of the federal government.
- No Answer

11. Support affirmative action in public college admissions.
- No Answer

12. Increase funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college.
- X

13. Support federal tax incentives to help families save for college.
- X

14. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Employment and Affirmative Action

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding affirmative action.

1. Increase funding for national job-training programs that re-train displaced workers or teach skills needed in today's job market.
- X

2. Reduce government regulation of the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- X

3. Provide tax credits or grants to businesses that offer child care services to employees.
- X

4. Encourage employers to offer flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies.
- X

5. Eliminate all federal programs designed to reduce unemployment.
- No Answer

6. Increase the federal minimum wage.
- No Answer

7. Support the right of workers to strike without fear of being permanently replaced.
- No Answer

8. Allow workers to sell company stock and to diversify their company retirement funds into other investment options.
- X

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

10. The federal government should consider race and gender in government contracting decisions.
- X

11. The federal government should discontinue affirmative action programs.
- No Answer

12. The federal government should continue affirmative action programs.
- No Answer

13. Include sexual orientation in federal anti-discrimination laws.
- X

Environment and Energy

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

1. Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
- No Answer

2. Strengthen the regulation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
- No Answer

3. Require states to compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land.
- X

4. Relax logging restrictions on federal lands.
- X

5. Relax standards on federal lands to allow increased recreational usage.
- X

6. Support increased development of traditional energy resources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil).
- X

7. Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.
- X

8. Support opening a select portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration.
- X

9. Encourage further development and use of alternative fuels to reduce pollution.
- X

10. Support the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel.
- No Answer

11. Allow energy producers to trade pollution credits.
- X

12. Support the U.S. re-entering the Kyoto treaty process to limit global warming.
- No Answer

13. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.

1. Renew the ban on the sale or transfer of semi-automatic guns, except those used for hunting.
- No Answer

2. Maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

3. Ease federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- X

4. Repeal federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

5. Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
- X

6. Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
- No Answer

7. Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
- No Answer

8. Require a license for gun possession.
- No Answer

9. Establish a national database of ballistic "fingerprints" to track guns used in criminal activities.
- No Answer

10. Support legislation that would protect manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers of firearms from civil lawsuits by crime victims.
- X

11. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health care.

1. Providing health care is not a responsibility of the federal government.
- No Answer

2. Implement a universal health care program to guarantee coverage to all Americans regardless of income.
- No Answer

3. Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes appeal mechanisms when claims are denied.
- No Answer

4. Support a Patient's Bill of Rights which includes the right to sue when claims are denied.
- No Answer

5. Expand eligibility for tax-free medical savings accounts.
- X

6. Establish limits on the amount of punitive damages awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- X

7. Support expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare.
- X

8. Support expanding prescription drug coverage under private managed care plans.
- No Answer

9. Offer tax credits to individuals and small businesses to offset the cost of insurance coverage.
- X

10. Support automatic enrollment of children in federal health care programs such as CHIP and Medicaid.
- No Answer

11. Allow 55-65 year-olds to buy into Medicare.
- No Answer

12. Support stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells.
- X

13. Allow laboratories to create new lines of stem cells for additional research.
- No Answer

14. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Immigration

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding immigration.

1. Decrease the number of legal immigrants allowed into the country.
- No Answer

2. Establish English as the official national language.
- No Answer

3. Increase the number of visas issued for agricultural workers.
- No Answer

4. Relax restrictions barring legal immigrants from using social programs (e.g. public housing, food stamps).
- No Answer

5. Support amnesty for certain illegal immigrants who already reside in the United States.
- No Answer

6. Support the detention of asylum seekers from countries known to sponsor terrorism.
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

International Aid, International Policy, and Trade Issues, Part 1: International Aid

International AidIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding United States economic assistance.

1. Aid should be granted to countries when extraordinary circumstances cause disaster and threaten civilian lives.
- X

2. Aid should be granted to countries when it is in the security interests of the United States.
- X

3. Aid should be eliminated for any nation with documented human rights abuses.
- No Answer

4. Aid programs should be scaled back and eventually eliminated.
- No Answer

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

International Aid, International Policy, and Trade Issues, Part 2: International Policy

International Policy1) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the Middle East.2) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Central and East Asia.3) Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the United Nations.

1. Should the United States continue to provide leadership in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process?
- Yes

2. Should the United States support the creation of a Palestinian state?
- Yes

3. Should the United States withdraw its troops from Iraq?
- No

4. Discuss your proposals for the reconstruction of Iraq. What funding sources would you use to implement these proposals? (75 words or less. Please use an attached page if the space below is not adequate.)
- No Answer

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

6. Should the United States use diplomatic and economic pressure to encourage North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program?
- Yes

7. Should the United States use military force to destroy the North Korean nuclear weapons program?
- No

8. Should the United States remove the North Korean government from power?
- No

9. Should the United States increase financial support to Afghanistan?
- Yes

10. Should the United States increase military support to Afghanistan?
- Undecided

11. Should the United States maintain its financial support of the United Nations?
- Yes

12. Should the United States decrease its financial support of the United Nations?
- No

13. Should the United States commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions?
- Yes

14. Should the United States lift the travel ban to Cuba?
- No

15. Should the United States increase its financial support to Colombia to combat "the war on drugs"?
- Undecided

16. Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention programs fund distribution of contraceptives?
- No Answer

17. Should aid to African nations for AIDS prevention fund abstinence education?
- Yes

International Aid, International Policy, and Trade Issues, Part 3: International Trade

International TradeIndicate which principles you support (if any) regarding international trade.

1. Do you support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
- Yes

2. Do you support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)?
- Yes

3. Do you support continued U.S. membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
- Undecided

4. Should a nation's human rights record affect its normal trade relations (most favored nation) status with the United States?
- Yes

5. Do you support the trade embargo against Cuba?
- Yes

6. Should trade agreements include provisions to address environmental concerns and to protect workers' rights?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

National Security

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding national security.

1. Do you support using military tribunals to try suspected terrorists when ordinary civilian courts are deemed inappropriate or impractical?
- Yes

2. Should the United States adopt stricter rules for student visa applications from nations known to sponsor terrorism?
- Yes

3. Should the United States grant law enforcement agencies greater discretion to read mail and email, tap phones, and conduct random searches to prevent future terrorist attacks?
- No

4. Should the United States hold foreign states accountable for terrorists who operate in their country?
- Yes

5. Should the federal government increase funding to states and cities for homeland security?
- Yes

6. Do you support a policy of pre-emptive strikes against countries deemed to be a threat to national security?
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social Security

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding Social Security.

1. Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves.
- X

2. Allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts managed by private firms contracted by the government.
- X

3. Invest a portion of Social Security assets collectively in stocks and bonds instead of United States Treasury securities.
- No Answer

4. Increase the payroll tax to better finance Social Security in its current form.
- No Answer

5. Lower the annual cost-of-living increases.
- No Answer

6. Raise the retirement age for when individuals are eligible to receive full Social Security benefits.
- No Answer

7. Other of expanded principles
- No Answer

Technology and Communication

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding technology and communication.

1. Collect taxes on commercial Internet transactions.
- No Answer

2. Continue the moratorium on Internet taxation.
- X

3. Implement regulation of Internet content.
- No Answer

4. Support government mandates to curtail violent and sexual content on television.
- No Answer

5. Support strict penalties for Internet crimes (e.g. hacking, identity theft, worms/viruses).
- X

6. Support legislation to detail how personal information can be collected and used on the Internet.
- X

7. Regulating the Internet is not a responsibility of the federal government.
- No Answer

8. Impose regulations on "spam" emails.
- X

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Welfare and Poverty

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare and poverty.

1. Require welfare recipients to spend at least 40 hours a week in a combination of work and training programs.
- No Answer

2. Increase funding for child care programs.
- X

3. Continue to give states and local governments flexibility in and responsibility for welfare programs through federal block grants.
- X

4. Direct federal poverty aid through religious, community-based, or other non-profit organizations.
- X

5. Abolish all federal welfare programs.
- No Answer

6. Support housing assistance for low-income families.
- X

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Congress Bills
Speeches

Unanimous Consent Request--S. 593

Apr. 29, 2021Floor Speech
Articles

Anchorage Daily News - Even During a Pandemic, The Iconic Iditarod Continues

Feb. 27, 2021

By Dan Sullivan, Lisa Murkowski, and Don Young The Iditarod -- the Last Great Race -- captures the imagination and the hearts of many Alaskans, as well as people around the world. Teams of mushers and their dogs racing roughly 1,000 miles across the state of Alaska toward the finish line in Nome, in some of the harshest conditions and across some of the most difficult and rugged terrain on the planet. It is quintessentially Alaskan. There are other sled dog races around the world and throughout Alaska, but the Iditarod is the most renowned. Not only as an event, but also for its commitment and dedication to a culture in which sled dogs were -- and in some places still are -- the primary means of transportation for so many who live in rural Alaska. This rich and vibrant history is woven into the fabrics of our state. It's part of who we are. Let us take you back to the remarkable beginning of the Iditarod in 1925. A time when another pandemic threatened the lives of many Alaskans. A diphtheria outbreak hit the community of Nome, and the nearest available life-saving serum was in Anchorage -- more than 500 miles away "as the crow flies" -- and desperately needed for several very sick children. No roads. No trains. No commercial airlines. Only dog sleds. On the night of Jan. 27, 1925, musher "Wild Bill" Shannon tied a 20-pound package of serum wrapped in protective fur around his sled. He and a nine-dog team started what at the time was known as the Great Race of Mercy. The entire nation was watching. Wild Bill rode the frozen trail for miles until he eventually met up with another sled dog team, who then relayed to another, and another. This relay team of dog mushers continued until the lifesaving serum reached Nome five days and more than 1,000 miles later. Flash forward to the early 1970s. For practical use, dog teams had been mostly replaced by snowmachines, but the tradition and excitement that surrounded sled dog races lived on. In 1973, the first official Iditarod took place and has become an annual tradition in Alaska, honoring the 1925 lifesaving mission to Nome. In a world that is increasingly disconnected from nature, heritage, physicality and even each other, the Iditarod provides an antidote: It's not technology, analytics or big data that gets mushers and dogs to Nome. Instead, it is grit, "dogged" determination, nutritious food and devoted dog care, along with the support of family members, friends and fans. Staging and producing the Iditarod requires a volunteer army of more than 1,500 people dedicating time and talent to ensure that a complicated supply chain, checkpoints and a gold-standard canine continuum of care are properly deployed and fortified. The Iditarod Air Force, consisting of dozens of bush pilots, fly nearly 700 sorties, braving ice, snow and rugged terrain from dawn to dusk before and during the race as they ferry supplies and people. Throughout the event, 55 veterinarians collectively travel thousands of miles along the trail to provide first-class care for all the teams of dogs. Last March, when the COVID-19 pandemic started hitting Alaska, the Iditarod was already underway. The mushers and their teams persevered. As each checkpoint brought news from the Lower 48 of quarantining, overflowing hospitals and rapid infection rates, the Iditarod instantaneously innovated and worked with all communities along the way. Bypass routes were engineered overnight to keep communities safe, and veterinarians moved up the trail to minimize additional travelers during the impending pandemic. In the true Alaska spirit, 33 teams safely made it to Nome. The Iditarod is a vibrant part of Alaska's heritage and culture -- one that should be kept alive. The problem, like so many of the issues that define our state, is outside interests who fail to understand our history and our culture. They fail to acknowledge the work that goes into ensuring the health and safety of everyone involved -- animal and human. They maliciously attack the Iditarod, spreading misinformation that is grossly inflammatory and false despite facts to the contrary. Iditarod mushers proudly claim to take the best care of their dog teams in the world. They are held to the highest standards for testing and veterinarian care and monitoring. The dogs that run the Iditarod are some of the best athletes in the world -- malemutes and huskies that were born to run and, for centuries, have given humans this support. We must stand up and push back against false campaigns and preserve our Alaska traditions. We love the Iditarod and always will. We are proud of the mushers and their dogs, the volunteers, veterinarians and all the homegrown businesses that help sustain the Last Great Race. Regardless of the pressure campaigns from outside, rest assured, on March 7 we will be cheering on the 49th annual Iditarod in the 49th state, and will continue to do so long into Alaska's bright future. Mush!

Indian Country Today - A pathway toward ending the legacy of violence against Native women

Nov. 20, 2020

By U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) & Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) November marks National Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich history, immense diversity and important contributions of Native people, while also acknowledging our country's dark history toward tribal nations. As representatives of states with vibrant tribal communities, we wanted to share how we're working together to help respond to the inordinate violence that Native American women and girls face. For years now, we've known that Native American communities are facing a crisis of missing, murdered and trafficked American Indians and Alaska Natives--in particular women and children. One of those victims was Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, a member of the Spirit Lake Nation who was brutally murdered by her neighbor in August 2017. She was only 22 years old--and eight months pregnant--at the time of her death. This heartbreaking tragedy drew widespread attention upon a frightening reality that's been going on for generations: more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women experience violence in their lifetimes, and on some reservations, and in Alaska, are murdered at a rate more than ten times the national average. It's unacceptable that so many Native women are being taken and that their families have failed to receive justice. Homicide is the third leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls under the age of 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But conflicts over jurisdiction and gaps in sharing information have hampered investigations into those deaths and denied closure to too many families. To make the problem worse, we still lack sufficient data on the crimes, and what data exists isn't always shared. In 2018, an Urban Indian Health Institute survey found that out of the 5,712 Alaska Native and American Indian women and girls known to be missing, only 116 were registered in the Department of Justice database. The federal government must do far more to address violent crimes against Native women. While countless lives have been lost over the years, they were never forgotten. That is why in January 2019 we re-introduced Savanna's Act, originally authored by our former colleague Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota. In April of that same year, we introduced the Not Invisible Act, with the goal of dedicating even more effort to combatting the violence against Native American women and girls. After the unanimous passage of both bills in the Senate and House this year, President Trump signed them into law in October, making them the first legislation specifically addressing this epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. With Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act, we are making real progress in seeking justice for the families of those missing, murdered and trafficked, and in curbing violence against Native women. Both laws require federal agencies to improve coordination with local partners and ensure tribal governments have the federal backing to address a crisis that has been under-resourced for far too long. The memory of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind lives on in the law that bears her name. Savanna's Act will create standardized, yet region-specific guidelines for responding to cases of missing or murdered Native Americans, with meaningful consultation from tribes. These guidelines will go a long way to making sure that the different local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement involved in responding to these tragic cases actually work together effectively. The law also requires that data on missing or murdered Native Americans finally be collected and reported to Congress, along with recommendations for improving the quality of that data. Just as important, it makes sure that tribes have access to relevant federal law enforcement databases essential for fighting violent crime. The Not Invisible Act requires the Secretary of the Interior to appoint a person within the Bureau of Indian Affairs whose job it will be to make sure all federal agencies are actually working together, not in agency silos, to reduce violent crime against Native Americans and prosecute the perpetrators. The legislation also recognizes the historical failures of the federal government in interacting with our tribal nations by ensuring that tribes have a voice at the table. The law establishes a commission starting in the spring of 2021--made up of law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal partners, service providers, family members of victims, and survivors--to make recommendations on what more must be done to combat the epidemic of missing, murdered and trafficked Native Americans. Our work is far from done, and more focus and determination will be needed in the coming weeks, months and years to ensure that we remain on track to curb this epidemic. The signing of the Not Invisible Act and Savanna's Act into law by President Trump gives us hope. It means that Native communities finally have federal support to more effectively protect women and no longer have to fight this crisis alone. We thank Senator Heitkamp for her leadership, and we are grateful to Native American community leaders for their tireless advocacy over the years. Families of victims deserve answers; today is the beginning of the end of the legacy of violence against Native women and girls and the start of seeking justice for countless lives. f you or someone you know has been a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or trafficking, resources are available to you. Op-ed by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.)

Mat-Su Daily Frontiersman - Op Ed by Senator Dan Sullivan, Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Don Young: U.S. Senators, Congressman Address COVID-19 Pandemic

Mar. 27, 2020

by: Senator Dan Sullivan, Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Don Young We understand what a challenging and unprecedented time this is for Alaskans. The COVID-19 virus has been an evolving pandemic, spreading worldwide and severely disrupting life across America and our state. Alaskans are worried not only about their personal health and the impacts that Alaska's health systems may face, but also the potential short-and long-term economic impacts on working families, jobs and small businesses across the state. But in true Alaska fashion, folks in the state have already started working together to support each other--from providing bag lunches free for children in the community, to building a shelter for Iditarod mushers literally overnight. We all have a role to play in fighting this pandemic and Alaskans are stepping up. It is our honor to represent such resilient, tough and generous people. We commend Governor Dunleavy and his administration, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink, and mayors across the state for their proactive efforts to ensure we are doing everything possible to prevent and to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Alaska, including keeping Alaskans updated, sharing clear and accurate information. We also applaud the governor for creating an economic stabilization team led by former Governor Sean Parnell and former U.S Senator Mark Begich--a Republican and a Democrat. This is a strong signal to Alaskans that this is not a partisan issue. This is an Alaskan issue. In D.C., we've been working around the clock--in constant contact with local, tribal and our state government--to pass bipartisan legislation that battles this pandemic on three fronts: the health and well-being of Alaskans, the vitality of different sectors of our economy, and the fiscal stability of the state of Alaska and our country. Earlier this month, President Trump signed into law an emergency supplemental funding package, the Coronavirus Preparedness & Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, which includes a total of $8.3 billion--millions of which are already flowing to our state--to help strengthen the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak. This funding allows for necessary precautions, prevention, and treatment at the local, state, national, and international levels. Alaskans are already beginning to feel the economic impacts, whether it is being laid off from a job, or worrying about child care as schools are closed across the state. To help address some of the more immediate needs, Congress passed and the president signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which requires COVID-19 testing to be free for Americans (even for the uninsured), secures paid sick leave as well as family and medical leave, enhances unemployment insurance, and ensures that students, seniors, and low-income households can continue to access nutrition assistance. The third piece of legislation--the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act--is a much bolder response to the epidemic. It puts money directly into the pockets Alaskans who need it the most--up to $1,200 per person, $2,400 for married couples, and $500 for each child. It provides significant help for our small businesses--fee-free loans of up to $10 million, which will be forgiven if businesses keep employees on the payroll. It also increased unemployment benefits by $600 a week. The state of Alaska will be receiving at minimum $1.25 billion for expenditures incurred combating the epidemic. Lower 48 and Alaska tribes will be getting $10 billion, and fishermen throughout the country will be getting $300 million in direct assistance. The bill also includes a surge of funding--$150 billion--for our health care systems. The bill provides $1.32 billion in additional funding for community health centers, and includes $11 billion to speed up the development and testing of new vaccines and treatments. Finally, it provides loans for airlines and other critical industries--money that will be paid back. Our next crucial task will be ensuring this bill is implemented correctly and that these resources are reaching Alaskans who need them. Our team stands ready to continue working with state and community leaders and businesses to ensure that happens--and to work with Alaskans to fix problems with the legislation as they arise. Although this is an uncertain time, we've faced significant challenges in the past. Nothing has dampened the indomitable spirit of Alaska and we're confident that this pandemic will not dampen that spirit either. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your commitment to our communities, our state and our country. As we continue our efforts to protect our state's public health and economic livelihood, we leave Alaskans with this bit of advice: be vigilant, be safe, and be kind to each other. The way to get through this is together. By: Senator Dan Sullivan, Senator Lisa Murkowski & Congressman Don Young

Funding
11,296,273 10,729,705 657,686 0

Financial Summary February 14, 2023 07:23 ET

Period Receipts Disbursements CashOnHand DebtsLoans
11,296,273 10,729,705 657,686 0
11,296,273 10,729,705 657,686 0
Source:Federal Election Commission
Total Raised
Total receipts$9,319,257.30
Total contributions$8,491,000.2991.11%
Total individual contributions$5,813,100.30
Itemized individual contributions$5,427,624.89
Unitemized individual contributions$385,475.41
Party committee contributions$51,200.00
Other committee contributions$2,626,699.99
Candidate contributions$0.00
Transfers from other authorized committees$818,871.978.79%
Total loans received$0.000%
Loans made by candidate$0.00
Other loans$0.00
Offsets to operating expenditures$2,451.200.03%
Other receipts$6,933.840.07%
Total Spent
Total disbursements$9,685,516.06
Operating expenditures$9,634,978.5699.48%
Transfers to other authorized committees$0.000%
Total contribution refunds$36,437.500.38%
Individual refunds$32,937.50
Political party refunds$0.00
Other committee refunds$3,500.00
Total loan repayments$0.000%
Candidate loan repayments$0.00
Other loan repayments$0.00
Other disbursements$14,100.000.15%
Cash Summary
Ending cash on hand$657,686.46
Debts/loans owed to committee$0.00
Debts/loans owed by committee$0.00
Events

2020

Apr. 9
Live Teletown Hall on Addressing COVID 19

Thur 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM AKDT

Alaska

Apr. 9
Live Teletown Hall on Addressing COVID 19

Thur 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM AKDT

Sep. 6
Mobile Office in Hydaburg

Fri 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT

Hydaburg, Alaska