{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-nick-begich-delivers-first-annual-address-alaska-state-legislature", "Congressman Nick Begich Delivers First Annual Address to Alaska State Legislature", "2025-02-20", "2025", "2025-02", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Nicholas J. Begich III", "B001323", "begich.house.gov", "begich", "https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "JUNEAU, AK, \u2013 February 20, 2025 \u2013 Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) delivered his first annual address to the Alaska State Legislature\u2019s joint session, reaffirming his commitment to Alaska\u2019s prosperity, economic growth, and self-determination. In his remarks, Congressman Begich outlined his vision for tackling the challenges facing Alaskans and advancing policies that unlock Alaska\u2019s full potential and restore energy dominance.\n\nA key focus of Congressman Begich\u2019s address was Alaska\u2019s role in achieving American energy dominance. He emphasized the urgent need to unlock the state\u2019s vast natural resources, reduce reliance on foreign energy, and create jobs through responsible development.\n\nAs Vice Chair of the House Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, he reaffirmed his commitment to advancing critical projects, including the Alaska LNG project, and pushing back against federal restrictions that hinder resource production. He emphasized the importance of regulatory certainty, stating that a strong energy sector means a stronger Alaska, with lower costs for families and new economic opportunities statewide.\n\nCongressman Begich also highlighted his legislative agenda to strengthen Alaska\u2019s infrastructure, fisheries, and economy. He reaffirmed his dedication to reducing inflationary pressures on Alaskan households and businesses, advocating for policies that cut bureaucratic red tape and encourage economic growth. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he stressed the need to expand Alaska\u2019s road, port, and aviation investments to better connect communities across the state.\n\nRemarks as prepared for delivery:\n\nIntroduction\n\nGovernor, Mr. Speaker, President Stevens, Minority Leaders Shower and Costello, members of the Legislature\u2014thank you for the opportunity to be here today.\n\nIt\u2019s great to be back in Juneau. This room is full of people who have dedicated themselves to making Alaska stronger, and I appreciate the work you do. I know how much time and effort it takes to serve in this building, and I want you to know\u2014I respect it. You\u2019re on the front lines, balancing competing priorities, fighting for your districts, and making tough decisions. I know that feeling well because I live it every day in Washington.\n\nI also want to acknowledge my colleagues in the congressional delegation. Senator Murkowski and Senator Sullivan have been strong advocates for Alaska, and I appreciate our partnership in Washington. None of us do this alone, and I wouldn\u2019t be standing here without the support of my family, my team, and the Alaskans who make public service possible.\n\nTo my fellow members of the freshman class of 2025\u2014I\u2019m proud to be one of you, and extremely gratified to have a few good friends among your membership. I know exactly how you feel because I feel the same way. You\u2019ve got big ideas, a long to-do list, and a deep sense of responsibility to the people who sent you here. It\u2019s a lot of work, but it\u2019s worth it \u2013 there\u2019s nothing more rewarding than knowing you\u2019re making a real difference for the people of this great state.\n\nA Heavy Loss for Alaska\n\nBefore I go any further, I want to acknowledge the heartbreaking loss in Nome with the Bering Air flight tragedy. My heart goes out to the families, friends, and the entire community mourning this loss. Alaska is no stranger to hardship, but time and again, we see the incredible resilience of our people. In the face of tragedy, Alaskans come together. We lift each other up. And in those moments, we\u2019re reminded of what makes this state so special: the people.\n\nBut we also have some happier news closer to home: I want to take a moment to recognize Rep. Calvin Schrage and his wife, Chelsea, who just welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Emmaline Louise, into the world last week. Eight pounds, five ounces\u2014and from the photos I saw, absolutely adorable. Congratulations to you both. I hope you\u2019re getting at least some sleep!\n\nI know I\u2019m the one standing here behind the lectern, but I want to impress one thing upon you: I came here to listen to you.\n\nYou are the boots on the ground\u2014the ones closest to the challenges and opportunities in your communities. No one understands Alaska\u2019s needs better than you. That\u2019s why I\u2019m here\u2014not just to talk, but to listen. Your insights, your concerns, and your ideas shape the work I do in Washington. If there\u2019s something standing in the way of progress, I want to hear about it so we can tackle it together.\n\nAlaska\u2019s Moment\n\nWe all know the challenges we\u2019re up against: rising costs, federal overreach, an economy that isn\u2019t firing on all cylinders. But we also know the opportunities in front of us.\n\nAlaska is a state built on bold ideas and hard work. We have the resources, the talent, and the drive to lead\u2014not just in energy, but in innovation, infrastructure, and economic growth. The question isn\u2019t whether we can do it. The question is: Are we willing to fight for it?\n\nFor many of you, that\u2019s why you ran: to fight for our state. And that\u2019s also why I ran for Congress\u2014to make sure Alaska\u2019s voice is heard in Washington, loud and clear.\n\nOne of the biggest developments for our state this year was President Trump\u2019s executive order focused on unleashing Alaska\u2019s resource potential.\n\nIt\u2019s refreshing to have an administration that not only values Alaska but understands our role in America\u2019s energy future. This order lays out a bold vision\u2014opening up development, streamlining permitting, and prioritizing Alaska\u2019s energy production.\n\nBut we all know\u2014the devil is in the details. A lot depends on who gets put in charge of these policies. And that\u2019s where we come in.\n\nNo one understands Alaska better than Alaskans. We are the experts on how to get things done here. I\u2019ll be working closely with all of you, as well as industry leaders and stakeholders, to make sure our voices are heard. We will watch the process closely and make sure that practical, pro-development Americans\u2014not Washington bureaucrats\u2014are leading the way.\n\nEnergy Dominance Starts in Alaska\n\nAlaska should be the powerhouse of American energy. We have the resources, the expertise, and the workforce to meet our energy needs and strengthen America\u2019s energy security.\n\nAnd right now, we\u2019re seeing some very encouraging news about the Alaska LNG pipeline project\u2014momentum that we haven\u2019t seen in a long time.\n\nFirst, we have a new, solid partner on board. AGDC has teamed up with Glenfarne LLC to lead the project, and that\u2019s a huge step forward. Glenfarne is a serious player in the LNG industry, with the experience and resources to help bring this across the finish line.\n\nSecond, President Trump has singled out Alaska LNG as a key piece of America\u2019s national energy strategy. That\u2019s a strong signal about where this administration is headed\u2014toward real, sustained energy development with Alaska at the forefront.\n\nAnd even more exciting, Japan has been announced as a key potential purchaser of Alaska LNG exports. That\u2019s a critical piece of the puzzle\u2014because for this project to move forward, we need both an LNG pipeline and the ability to export LNG.\n\nThese are huge, positive steps, but as always, the devil is in the details. That\u2019s why I\u2019m working closely with our state, federal, and industry partners to identify and eliminate potential obstacles before they slow us down.\n\nOne major piece of the equation is securing the necessary loan guarantees\u2014because a project of this scale needs financing that reflects its importance to both Alaska and the nation. That\u2019s something I\u2019m pushing for in Washington, and I\u2019ll keep working to ensure that every necessary component is in place.\n\nDelivering for Alaska in Congress\n\nSince taking office, I\u2019ve been focused on cutting through the noise and making sure Alaska gets results. That means ensuring Washington keeps its promises\u2014especially to our Alaska Native communities.\n\nThat\u2019s why I introduced House Resolution 42, the Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act, which fixes an unfair flaw in federal law that was forcing blind, disabled, and elderly Alaska Natives to choose between receiving their settlement trust benefits or staying eligible for federal assistance programs like supplemental security income, SNAP, and housing aid. These trusts were set up to support Alaska Native shareholders, but an oversight in the law counted payments as income\u2014hurting the very people they were meant to help. H.R. 42 ensures they don\u2019t lose critical assistance just for accepting what\u2019s rightfully theirs.\n\nI also introduced House Resolution 43, the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act, which returns more than 11,500 acres of land to Alaska Native Village Corporations\u2014land that\u2019s been locked in bureaucratic limbo for decades. ANCSA required villages to set aside land for potential municipalities, but after 50 years, only 8 out of 101 villages have incorporated. That land should be used for housing, development, and community expansion\u2014not tied up in red tape.\n\nBoth bills passed the House with bipartisan support, and I was honored to be the first freshman in this Congress to pass legislation out of the House. These bills were bipartisan, and I\u2019d like to thank Representative Peltola for her work on them in the 118th Congress.\n\nFighting for Our Alaskan Fisheries\n\nNow, I want to turn to a topic that is unarguably one of the most important for our state \u2013 both economically and culturally - our Alaskan fisheries.\n\nTo say that fishing is a \u201cway of life\u201d would be an understatement - our fisheries are what so many Alaskans live and breathe every single day.\n\nAlaska\u2019s fisheries are an inseparable component of our economy and a resounding symbol of identity for our coastal communities.\n\nAs the industry that employs more Alaskans than any other, our fisheries are Alaska\u2019s primary source of food security while also serving as a critical economic driver, generating billions in revenue and providing a stable source of employment for Alaskans from Southeast to the Bering Sea.\n\nUnfortunately, the fishing industry has faced many unforeseen challenges in recent years and hard-working Alaskan families have carried the weight of those challenges with a diminished sense of hope for the future.\n\nFrom unprecedented closures in the Bering Sea for our snow crab fisheries, to a shocking decline among certain salmon species, our Alaskan fishermen need a lifeline.\n\nOur Alaskan fisheries face increasing challenges from regulatory overreach, foreign competition, bycatch, and certain practices that may be contributing to the systemic collapse of early-stage ecosystems upon which downstream species rely. We must address the issues within the fishing industry with science-based, factual research.\n\nAs a resource rich state, we cannot afford to exercise selective oversight of our endowed perpetual resources. This is true across all industries, but particularly within our fisheries.\n\nCongress must continue its work to ensure a streamlined and efficient approach to distributing disaster relief funds. I will continue pushing for a more responsive federal relief process for affected communities. We must make sure that communities receive the support they need without unnecessary delays.\n\nProtecting Alaska\u2019s fisheries means protecting our economic future, our recreational fishing heritage, and our subsistence way of life. I am committed to defending this resource so that we may secure Alaska\u2019s fisheries for generations to come.\n\nBuilding the Infrastructure Alaska Needs\n\nAlaska\u2019s economy\u2014and our future\u2014depend on strong, reliable infrastructure. Whether it\u2019s ports, rail, roads, or energy, we need modern, resilient systems that support growth and keep costs down. Right now, I\u2019m focused on delivering real infrastructure investments that make a difference in Alaskans\u2019 daily lives.\n\nOne priority is developing Port MacKenzie to provide critical redundancy for the Don Young Port of Alaska. Rep. Kevin McCabe has been a champion of this effort, and I\u2019m working to help move it forward. Having a fully functional alternative port in Cook Inlet strengthens our supply chain and ensures we\u2019re not overly reliant on a single point of failure.\n\nAt the same time, I\u2019m pushing to secure the funding needed to fully repair and modernize the Port of Alaska\u2014because we can\u2019t afford to let our state\u2019s most vital shipping hub deteriorate any further.\n\nBeyond our ports, Alaska needs better connections to the Lower 48, and that means finally establishing a rail-to-rail connection through Canada. This project has enormous potential to lower shipping costs, improve supply chain reliability, and create new trade opportunities. I\u2019m committed to working with stakeholders at the state and federal levels to move this vision forward.\n\nWe also need to preserve and strengthen the Alaska Marine Highway System, which is a lifeline for so many coastal communities. I\u2019m working to ensure federal transportation policies recognize and support this critical service.\n\nAnd, of course, affordable, reliable energy is the backbone of everything. I\u2019m focused on expanding power generation to lower energy costs and making sure our power transmission infrastructure is resilient enough to handle our extreme conditions. Whether it\u2019s securing investments for microgrids in rural Alaska or pushing for better interconnection between regions, this is a priority that affects every Alaskan\u2014families and businesses alike.\n\nInfrastructure isn\u2019t only about moving goods\u2014it\u2019s about keeping our economy strong, our communities connected, and our cost of living manageable. I\u2019ll keep fighting to make sure hard infrastructure investments are prioritized.\n\nConclusion\n\nBefore I wrap up, I want to introduce a couple of key members of my team who are here with me today.\n\nMany of you already know Josh Walton, my Natural Resources Legislative Assistant. He\u2019s spent years working right here in Juneau, and he knows these issues inside and out. And I\u2019m proud to have Rick Whitbeck leading my state team as State Director.\n\nRounding out my state team are a couple of other names you may know: our Anchorage Regional Director Portia Babcock Samuels, our Fairbanks Regional Director Leslie Hajdukovich, Constituent Liaison Denali Tshibaka, and our Green and Gold Fellow Ryan Chatterton who is working specifically on Veterans issues. They couldn\u2019t join us in Juneau today, but they are top-notch and will be very valuable resources.\n\nMy office is here to help. If there\u2019s something I can do to move Alaska forward, I want to hear from you. Reach out\u2014let\u2019s work together.\n\nAlaska is a land of opportunity\u2014but only if we fight for it. I\u2019m honored to serve as your representative, and I look forward to working with all of you to build a stronger, more prosperous Alaska.\n\nThank you for the opportunity to speak to you here, it\u2019s a great honor. And thank you for all you do on behalf of our state. God bless you, and may God bless Alaska and the United States of America.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:42:11Z"]], "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-nick-begich-delivers-first-annual-address-alaska-state-legislature"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.836580155417323, "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"}