{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-begich-highlights-new-standard-alaska-annual-address-legislature", "Congressman Begich Highlights New Standard for Alaska in Annual Address to Legislature and Announces Bill to Make PFD Tax-Free", "2026-03-10", "2026", "2026-03", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Nicholas J. Begich III", "B001323", "begich.house.gov", "begich", "https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "JUNEAU, AK. \u2013 March. 10, 2026 \u2013 Today, Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) addressed a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature, outlining major federal achievements for Alaska during his first year in Congress and calling on state leaders to match the pace of progress now underway in Washington, D.C.\n\nIn his remarks, Congressman Begich highlighted significant legislative accomplishments impacting Alaska, including reopening access to federal lands for responsible energy development, securing historic investments in Arctic defense and aviation safety, advancing fisheries accountability efforts, and delivering major tax relief for American families.\n\nCongressman Begich also announced the introduction of H.R. 7760, legislation he sponsored to make the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend federally tax-free, ensuring Alaskans retain the full value of their dividend payments.\n\n\u201cFor decades, the Permanent Fund Dividend has represented something unique in American governance,\u201d said Congressman Begich. \u201cIt reflects the promise made at statehood - that Alaska\u2019s resource wealth would be shared with the people who live here. But today, the federal government taxes that dividend. My bill, H.R. 7760, aims to remedy that.\u201d\n\nDuring his address, Congressman Begich also highlighted major national legislation aimed at lowering costs for working Americans, including provisions eliminating federal taxes on tips and overtime pay, providing $63 billion in tax relief for seniors through a no-tax-on-Social-Security provision, and making the small business tax deduction permanent.\n\nHe also emphasized that Alaska is entering a new era of economic opportunity following major legislative victories reopening energy development opportunities in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and other resource areas.\n\n\u201cThese are not symbolic victories,\u201d said Congressman Begich. \u201cThese are hard-fought, durable results written into law that will shape Alaska\u2019s future for generations.\u201d\n\nCongressman Begich pointed to a historic $50 billion Rural Health Transformation investment secured through Congress, which will deliver more than $272 million annually to Alaska to strengthen rural health care access and stabilize medical providers across the state.\n\nWhile highlighting federal progress, Congressman Begich called on the Alaska Legislature to act on several state-level priorities, including workforce development, fisheries governance reforms, Alaska LNG enabling legislation, and ensuring the Permanent Fund Dividend reflects the original promise made to Alaskans at statehood.\n\n\u201cThe federal barriers are coming down,\u201d said Congressman Begich. \u201cThe permits are getting done. The investments are flowing. Now Alaska must deliver.\u201d\n\nCongressman Begich\u2019s full speech can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-05T05:58:12Z", "2026-05-05T05:59:44Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-begich-highlights-new-standard-alaska-annual-address-legislature"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9877108968794346, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}