Senator Begich Maiden Speech

Floor Speech

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise this afternoon to congratulate my colleague from Alaska, Senator Begich, and recognize his maiden speech on the Senate floor. The tradition of giving a maiden speech is one that perhaps in recent years has not been followed as intently as it has in days gone past. Senator Begich has highlighted with his remarks today and with the collection of bills he has introduced on the Senate floor--the significance of America's role as an Arctic nation and the key that Alaska holds as a leader in that responsibility.

I appreciate what he is doing to shine a spotlight on these issues, whether it is how we deal with the impact of climate change, whether it is how we deal with the health consequences, how we dealt with renewed and increased commerce in an Arctic that is potentially ice free.

I applaud him for his efforts and, again, shining the light on this issue. It seems every day the rest of the country, the rest of the world, is looking to the Arctic for our science, looking to the Arctic for the knowledge of our elders and researchers, and looking to the Arctic as a true leader in global environmental policies.

I applaud him, and I am privileged to be able to support him in so many of these efforts, working on the issues that are important to, of course, our State but to the Nation as a whole.

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