State Labor Leaders Endorse Murkowski for U.S. Senate

Press Release

he Alaska AFL-CIO today announced that its federated unions and trade councils had overwhelmingly voted to endorse Lisa Murkowski in the race for U.S. Senate.

The endorsement, which was voted on Friday at the Alaska AFL-CIO's 36th biennial convention in Anchorage, reflects the interests of the working men and women represented by the federation.

"Senator Murkowski has fought hard to support job creation in Alaska. From the F-35 projects at Eielson Air Force Base, to the upcoming Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) project at Clear AFS, and others, Senator Murkowski's seniority and ability to work across party lines is invaluable in creating and moving Alaska jobs forward," said Alaska AFL-CIO President Vince Beltrami.

Murkowski earned the backing of the Alaska AFL-CIO for her support of policies at the federal level that promote job creation and protect the pay, benefits, working conditions and other interests of Alaska's workers.

"I am thankful for the strong show of support from the Alaska AFL-CIO and from working men and women across the state," Murkowski said. "As a lifelong Alaskan, I know it takes a strong economy to provide the quality education and healthy communities we all want for our families. That's why my focus in the Senate has been on economic development, the kind that creates well-paid, stable jobs."

Murkowski's record of supporting economic development and looking out for Alaska's working men and women, includes her backing of Davis-Bacon wages, passage of the five-year highway bill, and education programs to ensure a well-trained workforce.

Murkowski knows that working parents need to be sure their kids are safe and engaged after school that's why she sponsored and pushed for passage of the After School for America's Children Act.

Murkowski, a third generation Alaskan, was born in Ketchikan and grew up in communities across the state. She has served in the U.S. Senate since 2002.

As chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Murkowskihas led the charge to create jobs in Alaska's energy and mining sectors. She also holds a senior position on the Senate Appropriations Committee and has used her position to elevate the concerns of Alaskans to the highest levels of the federal government. Murkowski also serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Indian Affairs Committee.

The Alaska AFL-CIO is the state's largest labor organization, representing 60,000 union members belonging to more than 50 affiliated unions statewide in professions as diverse as firefighters, machinists, nurses and cement masons.

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