Lisa Murkowski

Sen. Lisa Murkowski

(R-Alaska)

Honorary Board Member since 2011

Senator Lisa Murkowski is the first Alaskan born Senator to serve the state and only the sixth United States Senator from Alaska. The state’s senior senator, Lisa 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, veterans’ 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. She is the senior Republican member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and also serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Murkowski is a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee – the first Alaskan to serve on that panel – and also is a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Senator Murkowski was elected by her fellow Republican senators to serve as the Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Conference for the 111th Congress, the fifth-highest party leadership position in the United States Senate.

Senator Murkowski understands the challenges that face Alaskan families, and she is committed to improving economic stability and job growth in the state. Her work to open ANWR and build the Alaska natural gas pipeline demonstrates her commitment to growth in Alaska, as well as an understanding of the country’s energy needs.

She earned a B.A. 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.

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:
- Senior Republican Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
- Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee
- Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee
- Member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee