Lisa Murkowski

I want to thank Senator Heitkamp for putting a face to the unfortunately far too many victims, those Native women, indigenous women, who are murdered or taken away, never to be heard from again.

It's crucial that we address the unique challenges faced by Native women.

I really appreciate what you are advancing with the SURVIVE Act.

I do think that it is an issue that has really risen to perhaps a higher level, given what we are seeing around this country with regards to just the easy availability of these opioids that are just ravishing parts of our country.

The President himself is saying we need to look into this and to investigate it.

Unfortunately, I think that's where we've got a real big gap right now.

Well, I'm certainly hopeful that within FDA it's kind of a multi-agency approach to how we're going to deal with this, working with Postal Service, working with DEA.

I struggle with how I go back to people in these villages that are saying, hey, it's coming in the mail, it's coming in every day, how are you going to stop it?

I was looking at the article. It's not like these folks are hiding these websites. I mean, one of the names of the websites is BuyHydrocodoneOnline.com. There is no secret there.

I came back because I wanted to ask a question about how we are dealing with the ability, the pretty easy ability of individuals to purchase online drugs, illicit drugs or, unfortunately, in Alaska we're seeing the purchasing of drugs that…

Well, it is something that I'd like to explore with whomever is willing to work with us, because I look at this as an issue.

I am pleased to see Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Cantwell reintroduce similar legislation in the Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017.

Our top priority is to make sure that local residents have food, water, medicine, and shelter.

I want to make sure we do not have any victims because we have ruined peoples' lives.

We talk a lot about statistics around here. It seems like we cannot get away from the horror stats.

Senator Murkowski and I have sponsored legislation before to give Indian Country the authority to prosecute perpetrators who are not Indian in Indian Country.

We have the opportunity this morning to continue our hearing on nominations.

If a new technology makes sense anywhere it should make sense in a high-cost state like Alaska.

Good morning and welcome everyone. I apologize for being a few minutes late here this morning.

I want to take a quick moment this morning and reiterate that the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, all who were affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, certainly remain in our thoughts and in our prayers.

Rural areas, which Alaska is all rural, what do we need to be doing better to really do the outreach...

I think one way we can address this is to continue to fund the cost-sharing reduction payments.

It is so important to have these very open discussions and great stakeholders that are here providing us with insight.

We would dream to have 30 providers or carriers that would come to the State of Alaska.

Allow for a level of efficiency is something that we should be striving for regardless of what we do.