U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R – Alaska)

Senator Lisa Murkowski is the first Alaskan born Senator to serve the State and only the sixth United States Senator from Alaska. Murkowski is a third generation Alaskan, born in Ketchikan and raised in towns across the state: Wrangell, Juneau, Fairbanks and Anchorage. Since joining the Senate in 2002, Senator Murkowski has already made many strides on issues facing Alaskans. As she advocates for legislation on the Senate floor, her passion for improving the state of health care, education, energy, Veteran’s affairs, and infrastructure development in Alaska is unquestionable.

Only the 33rd female to serve in the United States Senate since its founding in 1789, Senator Murkowski has assumed leadership roles quickly in the Senate,

Sen. Murkowski and her husband Verne Martell Senator Murkowski getting sworn in to her first full Senate term with Verne Martell and VP Cheney

being named Vice-Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Concerned about the state’s unemployment rate—the highest in the country—Senator Murkowski is committed to returning economic stability and jobs to Alaska. Her work to open ANWR and build the Alaska natural gas pipeline demonstrates her commitment to growth in the state, as well as an understanding of the country’s energy needs.

A member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator Murkowski is the ranking member on the Energy Subcommittee. She also serves on the Senate Foreign Relations committee where she is ranking member for the subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Additionally, she is the first Alaskan ever to serve on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

She earned a BA in economics from Georgetown University in 1980 and then returned to Juneau to work as a legislative aide, also becoming active in state Republican politics. In 1985 she graduated with a law degree from Willamette University and became a member of the Alaska Bar Association in 1987. She served as Anchorage District Court attorney for two years and then worked in Alaska commercial law for eight years before opening her own practice. Murkowski was elected to three terms in the Alaska State House of Representatives, beginning in 1998, and was named House Majority Leader during the 2003-2004 term. While serving in the State House, Murkowski sat on the Alaska Commission on Post Secondary Education and chaired both the Labor and Commerce and the Military and Veterans Affairs Committees. In 1999 she introduced legislation establishing a Joint Armed Services Committee, where she also served. After being appointed to the Senate on December 20, 2002, Senator Murkowski was elected to a full six-year Senate term in November 2004.

Lisa married Verne Martell, an Anchorage small business owner, in 1987 and they have two sons, Nicolas and Matthew. She enjoys spending time with her family, skiing, fishing, camping, and actively participating in community outreach programs.

Nic, Matt, Verne, Lisa

Brief Biography:
Senator Lisa Murkowski
Born: Ketchikan, AK
Husband: Verne Martell
Children: Two sons, Nicolas and Matt

Education:
High School: Monroe High School, Fairbanks, AK
Economics Degree, Georgetown University
Juris Doctor, Willamette College of Law

Senate Committee Assignments:
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Ranking Member of Energy Subcommittee
Committee on Foreign Relations
Ranking Member of Subcommittee on East Asian & Pacific Affairs
Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
Vice-Chair of Indian Affairs

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