Murkowski Announces New Staff Director And Changes To Indian Affairs Committee Staff

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced her senior staff to lead the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in the 118th Congress. Amber Ebarb, who most recently served as the Deputy Staff Director, will serve as the Minority Staff Director. Lucy Murfitt will continue in her role as Chief Counsel after having served as Interim Staff Director over the last year. Murkowski provided the following statement on the staff changes:

“I am pleased that Amber has accepted her new position as Minority Staff Director. She has helped the committee navigate complicated areas of federal Indian policy and has pursued common ground that resulted in good outcomes for all Native peoples. I thank Lucy for her incredible leadership, expertise, and mentorship as Interim Staff Director. Her wisdom and counsel is invaluable to the important work of the committee. I am excited to continue working with both of them and our team to address the unique challenges facing Native communities across the country,” said Vice Chairman Murkowski.

 Amber Ebarb’s Tlingit name is Gin Du Tlaa and she is L'eeneidí, a member of the Raven Dog Salmon clan. She is the daughter of Maurice and Audrey Ebarb, née Hanlon, and granddaughter of Katherine and Sam Hanlon of Hoonah, Alaska. She is a child of the Wooshkeetaan (Eagle Shark clan). She was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska and attended East High School.

 Amber joined the committee as Minority Deputy Staff Director in 2021. Previously, she served as Legislative Assistant to Senator Murkowski, handling the Alaska Native and Rural Affairs portfolio. Prior to the Senate, Amber worked at the National Congress of American Indians. She holds a master of public policy degree from the George Washington University and undergraduate degree from Whitman College in Washington State. 

 Lucy Murfitt joined SCIA as Minority Chief Counsel in 2021 and was made Interim Minority Committee Staff Director in 2022. Previously, Lucy served as Chief Counsel for the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR). Murfitt joined ENR in 2013, and previously served as the committee’s public lands counsel, deputy chief counsel, and deputy staff director for public lands and natural resources.

Prior to coming to the Senate in 2003, Murfitt served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps and as a legal aid attorney for Northwest Legal Services providing legal representation to economically disadvantaged people in rural western Pennsylvania.  She holds a law degree from Loyola University Chicago and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton.

Ebarb and Murfitt will continue to serve with the following minority committee staff:

-Jacqueline Bisille (Navajo Nation), Policy Advisor & Press Secretary

-Shannon-Elizabeth O’Hare, Executive Assistant & Legislative Aide

-Jesse Oney, Legislative Correspondent

-John Simermeyer (Coharie Tribe), Policy Advisor