“I want the best for Alaska, and I know you do, too” Senator Murkowski challenges new delegation to help Alaska reach full potential

On Wednesday, Senator Lisa Murkowski spoke at a joint session of the Alaska Legislature, highlighting some of the policy accomplishments made last year, while also continuing her support for the Willow Project up on the North Slope.

“At the top of my list is economic development and of course, at the top of that list is the Willow project,” said Senator Murkowski, restating her support for the project, although she is not sure how the final decision will go.

“On this day, on Feb. 22 with a little less than two weeks from a final decision, I am still not certain which way this is going to go. Now know that I am absolutely totally committed to this fight.”

Senator Murkowski then thanked the house for their 36-0 vote in support of the Willow project, as well as the majority of Alaskans, especially those Alaska Natives who live on the North Slope, who have been pushing for the Willow project.

“This has truly been a unified, unified effort,” Murkowski said.

“We made historic investments in our military and brought home $335 million for military construction, including runways at JBER. We gave the men and women who serve a well-deserved pay raise, and passed major portions of my Arctic Warrior Act to provide additional benefits for those stationed here. We also honored our promises to veterans through the PACT Act, which will provide better care for those who had toxic exposures during their service.”

Senator Murkowski also spoke about the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, securing $300 million for commercial, recreational, and subsistence harvesters affected by fisheries disasters, and was pivotal in getting FEMA to lift its cost-sharing requirements, helping ensure a quick response after western Alaska was hit with the remnants of Typhoon Merbok.

“I could go on about our legislative accomplishments, but suffice to say, last year was a good one for Alaska. We didn’t get every last thing we wanted – we’re still pushing for that commercial icebreaker – but we’ll feel the benefits of the measures that passed for generations to come,” she said.

Senator Murkowski touched on several other topics, including infrastructure, transportation on the Alaska Marine Highway System, outmigration and other economic issues that are affecting Alaska.

“Alaska is facing big challenges. Just look at the analyses that Nolan Klouda and his team are producing. We’ve had 10 straight years of net outmigration. Our employment growth was next to last of any state from 2015 to 2021. Our GDP declined and was next to last over that same period. Alaska’s economy is recovering from the pandemic, but at a slower pace than almost any other state,” she told the joint session.

Senator Murkowski also discussed the high price of food and fuel, employee shortages affecting private sectors as well as state agencies, lack of affordable housing, and lack of resources.

“We’re a resource state that isn’t being allowed to produce resources in our vast federal areas—even, potentially, in our petroleum reserve. Some of our fisheries, from crab to salmon, are collapsing, leaving families and communities without sustenance.”

Senator Murkowski highlighted the passing of the Infrastructure Bill, a bipartisan effort that allocated approximately $3.2 billion for the State, while also discussing federal earmarks, saying that nearly 200 communities in Alaska will receive an allocation of the approximately $750,000 included in the earmarks.

“We’re going to feel the benefits of the measures that passed for generations to come,” she said, adding that, “this has led to investments from Petersburg to Palmer to Saint George and all across our state.”

She challenged the new delegation to push forward and help Alaska reach its full potential, whether for resources, housing, childcare, workforce development, transportation, or another big idea that can shape Alaska for the next generation.

“I want the best for Alaska, and I know all of you do, too. We should not be 49th in anything but statehood. So, I promise you—I will be with you every day, as your partner and fellow Alaskan, to take on the big things together, to resolve our challenges together, and to help our people together.”