Congressman Begich named vice chairman of House subcommittee on energy and minerals

Nick Begich III is moving on up.

Congressman Begich has only been in Congress for two weeks, but has already been appointed to three committees — one more than most members serve on. Now, he’s been named vice chairman of the House Subcommittee for Energy and Mineral Resources. The subcommittee focuses on issues critical to Alaska and the nation, including national security concerns.

The appointment was announced by House Resources Chairman, Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, who has been a strong ally of Alaska’s economy.

In the position, Begich will be better able to advocate for commonsense policies on oil, gas, alternative energy, mining, and access to resources.

“I want to thank Chairman Bruce Westerman for this appointment and the opportunity to serve as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee for Energy and Mineral Resources. I consider this appointment both an important responsibility, and an opportunity, specifically for the state of Alaska, which hold some of the richest energy and mineral resources in the world,” said Begich.

“Unlocking Alaska’s resources is crucial for creating jobs, driving economic growth, and strengthening America’s energy security. As Vice Chair, I am ready to get to work advocating for policies that encourage investment, rationalize regulations, and support the development of Alaska’s vast resources,” Begich said. “By harnessing Alaska’s potential, we will put America on a path to reestablishing the United States as a clear leader in energy and mineral production and the downstream manufacturing that results from these industries.”

Chairman Westerman expressed confidence in Begich, who he supported in 2024’s election cycle: “Alaska is home to a vast swath of our nation’s energy and natural resources and holds one ofthe keys to making our nation energy dominant once again. I’m confident that Rep. Begich will be the voice for all of Alaska on our committee and a strong advocate in getting our priorities across the finish line.”

Last week, Westerman sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland regarding their decision to jeopardize American energy, economic, and conservation interests by withdrawing 625 million acres of federal coastal waters from future oil and gas leasing, including in Alaska.

“Your withdrawal of these areas betrays decades of progress and abandons the workers and communities relying on offshore energy development for their livelihoods. By ceding ground to OPEC, Russia, China, and other foreign adversaries, you have put American energy security and economic stability at risk for the sake of fleeting-political optics. This decision is not just a misstep–it is a willful act of sabotage against the American people and our future,” Westerman wrote.

“For two years, the American people waited for the release of the 5-Year National OCS Program, only for it to become the most pathetic in history — delayed, underwhelming, and maliciously drafted,” Westerman wrote. “The December release of a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) was far too late to prevent delays to Lease Sale 262, which BOEM officials have openly admitted will not take place in 2025, as your own plan required. With this withdrawal, your administration has effectively slammed the door on future development in critical regions, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Northern Bering Sea of Alaska.”