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Work Highlights of Western Caucus

Floor Speech

Date: March 27, 2025
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. BEGICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the many opportunities of Alaska.

As America's most Western State, most Eastern State, and most Northern State, Alaska is nearly 20 percent of the United States' landmass. We have more than half of the United States coastline, and it is estimated that we have more undiscovered estimated natural gas and oil resources than any other State in the country.

We have nearly every critical mineral on the critical minerals list in Alaska. We have base metals, precious metals, and of course we have rare earths in abundance. We have incredible timber resources, and we produce about 60 percent of America's seafood. Alaska is a crucial State, and I am proud to be a member of our House's Western Caucus.

I am the only Member from the State of Alaska. We have about 730,000 people who live in a State that is 2\1/2\ times the size of Texas. We are vast. We are independent, and we want to make sure that we have the ability to develop the resources that we have been blessed with.

Under President Trump's leadership, we have seen executive orders that specifically allow for development of our critical minerals, those rare earths that I spoke of, and of our natural resources, including tremendous energy resources in ANWR, NPR-A, and elsewhere. That is what Alaskans want. Alaskans want the ability to be independent, to develop their resources responsibly, and to stand on their own two feet.

I am thrilled to be a part of this body, a body that is focused on making sure that Alaska's resource potential is fully unlocked, that our mineral potential is fully unlocked, and that we restore domestic supply chains again.

As we restore those supply chains, we know that those supply chains begin with resources and begin with energy to process those resources. Alaska is the cornerstone of this strategy, and we are excited to be a part of that conversation. I look forward to the opportunities that we will be bringing forward in the 119th Congress to advance Alaska's interests, our Nation's interests, and restore domestic manufacturing in this Nation again.

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