{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-nick-begich-highlights-need-secure-americas-critical-mineral", "Congressman Nick Begich Highlights Need to Secure America\u2019s Critical Mineral Supply Chain", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Nicholas J. Begich III", "B001323", "begich.house.gov", "begich", "https://begich.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Dec. 3, 2025 \u2013 Today, Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) participated in a Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing examining the critical need to secure America\u2019s mineral supply chains.\n\n\u201cThere is a broad recognition among the public and a growing recognition among the public that the United States needs a domestic supply for critical minerals. That is something many folks on both sides of the aisle recognize as important,\u201d said Congressman Begich. \u201cIn Alaska, we have one the most responsible track records you\u2019ll find anywhere in the world when it comes to resource development.\u201d\n\nWatch Rep. Begich\u2019s line of questioning here.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nCritical minerals underpin virtually every sector of the modern economy. Global demand for energy-related critical minerals\u2014including lithium, nickel, copper, cobalt, and graphite have skyrocketed in the past two decades.\n\nDespite abundant domestic resources, the United States remains heavily dependent on foreign suppliers. Lengthy permitting timelines, restrictive federal policies, and regulatory uncertainty have caused domestic mining projects to languish.\n\nAlaska is uniquely positioned to anchor America\u2019s critical mineral future. Home to some of the largest undeveloped mineral resources in the world, the state contains significant deposits of graphite, rare earth elements, cobalt, copper, zinc, gold, and lead. Projects such as the Graphite Creek deposit\u2014the largest known graphite resource in the United States\u2014and promising rare earth prospects across the state showcase Alaska\u2019s unmatched potential to support U.S. supply chain security.\n\nAlaska\u2019s vast land base, strong mining heritage, and highly skilled workforce provide a foundation for responsible development. The state has some of the highest environmental standards in the world and a proven track record of successful, sustainable resource production. With strategic infrastructure investments, Alaska can rapidly expand domestic production and serve as a reliable supplier for the nation\u2019s most essential industries.\n\nCongressional Republicans continue to advance policies that reverse restrictive regulations, modernize permitting, bolster U.S. processing capacity, and strengthen domestic supply chains.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "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-highlights-need-secure-americas-critical-mineral"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.484772190451622, "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"}