WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, will hold an on-the-record pen & pad session with reporters on Wednesday, Jan. 23, to discuss her recent trip to Asia. The pen & pad session will be held in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s library (enter through Senate Dirksen-370) at 11 a.m.

Murkowski met with Taiwanese and Japanese officials during the trip on potential trade opportunities for Alaska’s natural gas, and toured the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor site to review progress of the ongoing cleanup effort.

“I greatly appreciated the opportunity to visit the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and gain a better understanding of the current situation, the work that has been accomplished, and the challenges ahead. Until you see the level of destruction and impact that the tsunami had in person it’s difficult to fully fathom the magnitude of issues facing the people of Japan,” Murkowski said after touring the site on Friday.

“While much has been accomplished there is still more to be done. This is not a project that will be completed in a couple of years, but rather a couple of decades, if not beyond.

I have tremendous respect for the employees on site who are working around the clock to stabilize and clean up the area. The eyes of the world are on them and they are dedicated to completing their work in a professional and effective manner. I know that the United States stands ready to assist where possible,” Murkowski said.