Video Clips
Quoted moments from Alaska public meetings, hearings, and press conferences.
Brian Berube
“Furthermore, in Alaska, rabies remains an ongoing and ever-present public health issue. Rabies is enzoonotic— excuse me— in our fox populations in northern and western Alaska, meaning it is always present, and it poses a persistent and continual risk of transmission from wildlife to domestic animals and to people.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Nick Begich
“Rabies is not a historical threat in northern and western Alaska. It's enzoonotic, meaning it is consistently present in the wildlife, and our communities live with the risk of an exposure event every single year.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Rodney Butler
“laws, regulations, and policies have built up often with good intentions, but have outlived their usefulness and have been repeatedly identified as a barrier to Indian entrepreneurship and business development.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Rodney Butler
“NFOA supports locating this authority within the Department of Interior, The Interior Department houses the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, and the full suite of federal trust responsibilities to tribal nations. It has the institutional knowledge and the relationship to make this work.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Brian Berube
“Though these public health challenges are well known, current laws limit the ability of IHS and tribal health organizations to address them. Because IHS lacks explicit authority to provide or fund veterinary public health services, existing tribal rabies prevention programs are limited in scope and efficacy.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Brian Berube
“Our tribal health organizations, um, in western and northern Alaska, we provide rabies shots, but with no access to especially spay and neuter services, there's no way you can keep up. You know, a dog gets a rabies shot in the first year of its life, it needs one the following year, it needs one every 3 years after that. So there's no way for us to keep up with the risk from vaccinating the dog.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Rodney Butler
“clearly one of the key components is funding and resources, and my understanding is not until recently was there funding that was provided for one of the key provisions of that authority in the Economic Development Office”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Nick Begich
“it directs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services to study oral rabies vaccine delivery to Arctic wildlife, tackling the upstream source of the problem at its source. This is a prevention bill. It protects children, reduces downstream costs to the federal health system, and it honors tribal self-determination.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Nick Begich
“The underlying cause is straightforward. IHS does not have explicit statutory authority to provide or fund the basic veterinary services—rabies vaccination, spay and neuter, parasite and disease prevention—that stop zoonotic disease before it reaches a person and prevent the bite that puts a child in an emergency room.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Brian Berube
“40 Of the roughly 450 residents of Marshall, Alaska, are actually undergoing post-exposure treatment after being exposed by a dog who had come in contact with a rabid fox. And this is not a once-off, this is a fairly common occurrence in our state.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Rodney Butler
“There wasn't the resources, there wasn't the funding, and in 25 years, absolutely nothing happened. Doesn't mean that's not important. It's clearly— it shows the level of importance Commerce and to various administrations, but that was the main hurdle for it not moving forward. And so without resources, I mean, it's just an empty promise.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Speaker C
“Chairman Hurd's H.R. 8954, The Tribal Regulatory Reform Regulatory Reform Act takes an important step to boost economic opportunities in Indian Country. It transfers all administrative responsibilities and jurisdiction of the Indian Tribal Regulatory Reform and Business Development Act from the Department of Commerce to the Interior.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Rodney Butler
“consolidating the focus under the Department of Interior allows us to look, you know, cross-program and work within the the structure of the existing, I mean, you have the stack structure within Interior that's similar to the TTAC. And so the examples are there and it's working, working well.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Brian Berube
“60% of diseases people get have origins in animals. Dogs themselves are known to transmit over 70 different illnesses between animals and people. So I think there's this obviously the physical health component of it, but I think when you talk about Alaska Native people in particular, dogs are very, very important members of their family, parts of society, part of their culture and everything.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Speaker C
“This committee should give members the opportunity to ask IHS questions about the current barriers to eliminating rabies. We should get to ask what would be needed to successfully implement the new authority in H.R. 8473.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Hurd
“If our goal is tribal economic development, responsibility should rest with the department that works with tribal governments every single day. The Department of the Interior is the central federal agency for government-to-government relations with the tribes, promoting tribal economic development and administering federal programs throughout Indian Country.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Hurd
“The Indian Tribal Regulatory Reform and Business Development Act of 2000 was enacted to help identify and remove federal barriers to investment barriers to business development, as well as barriers to wealth creation in Indian Country. Under current law, the Secretary of Commerce was directed to create a 21-member authority to carry out that work, with Interior serving as a supporting role.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Speaker C
“when the Department of Commerce originally testified on this bill in— yes, it was 1999— the official stated, since the cost of the authority could be significant, I believe it is important to emphasize that the department cannot currently perform the work required.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Rodney Butler
“having one department gather all of that information in one, essentially a resource for all agencies and all tribes to point to and say, these are the regulatory hurdles, and now we can, now that we know what they are, and we're all, again, in the canoe paddling in the same direction, we can now address these issues collectively.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Hurd
“This legislation amends the Indian Tribal Regulatory Reform and Business Development Act of of 2000 to transfer administrative responsibility for the Act's regulatory reform authority from the Department of Commerce to the Department of the Interior.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Rodney Butler
“In 2000, in the year 2000, Congress passed the Indian Tribal Regulatory Reform and Business Development Act with a clear mandate to comprehensively review federal regulations that impede investment in business development on Indian lands and recommend their removal. The legislation established a 21-member authority with 12 seats reserved for tribal representatives, and it directed it to report to Congress within one year. That authority was never convened. 25 Years later, the mandate remains unfilled.”House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jun 9, 2026
Dothit
“the biggest contestion that came up is that there was some misalignment on timeline for— they allowed RVs to be 30 days in code, and the tent camping regulation was only 5 days”Kenai: 6/10/2026 Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting · Jun 10, 2026
Butner
“We also have been working on a couple of grants. So we did a Safe Routes to School— or no, just kidding— Safe Streets for All that mimicked a Safe Routes to School grant application for improved sidewalks and street lighting along Lawton and Tinker.”Kenai: 6/10/2026 Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting · Jun 10, 2026
Denali Daniels
“3, 3 Or more. Thank you. So, um, for that clarification. So all the other stipulations were removed. There's some concern that people wouldn't be able to use their property to camp, like for the kids and whatnot, but, uh at least we got something on the books.”Kenai: 6/10/2026 Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting · Jun 10, 2026
Dothit
“the 3/10 was what was decided on as a little bit of something, but, um, the time frame, which is what we were looking for, I believe didn't get put on. And I think the biggest contest on that was the, the 30 days versus 5 days.”Kenai: 6/10/2026 Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting · Jun 10, 2026
Ersley
“Director Buener, that's exciting that you submitted the grant for the, the lighting on, uh, Lawton and, uh, Tinker., and I'm happy to see that he got it submitted.”Kenai: 6/10/2026 Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting · Jun 10, 2026
Denali Daniels
“there's no time limit. So, and so, and as— I mean, excuse me, I'm getting out of my reporting hat, but I would be curious to see what the data looks like after the summer to see if we need to tighten that up.”Kenai: 6/10/2026 Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting · Jun 10, 2026
Butner
“We're also hopeful that this might actually get some culverts between Cemetery Creek, the city cemetery, all the way down to North Beach so that juvenile salmon can get up into the freshwater streams and have a good life cycle.”Kenai: 6/10/2026 Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting · Jun 10, 2026
Denali Daniels
“the camping deal that came from this body, it was passed by council, but it was, um, There's some amendments, some changes to it, basically just cutting it down to more of a— if it's a campground versus not. So 2 or more tents is kind of where we— where they landed.”Kenai: 6/10/2026 Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting · Jun 10, 2026
Dothit
“that was the issue that Councilman Grimme brought up that she didn't like, was that there was a discrepancy between the two because they didn't match, and she didn't understand why they didn't match. And that was a big contested issue, and so that just got thrown out completely.”Kenai: 6/10/2026 Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting · Jun 10, 2026
Michael Craig
“roll call vote to, uh, on the motion to refer the, uh, land disposal back to staff for more information. Andy Gridt? Yes. Ryan Schutzey? Yes.”Cordova: Harbor Commission Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6 PM · Jun 10, 2026
Speaker C
“if you put a dock there, then you put a big wide boat there, then you got a problem. Yeah. So that's why I— is that what you're seeing too, Ryan? Yeah, exactly. I mean, you extend the dock and then you have a 30-foot wide tender sitting outside of it, and it's— that, that constriction is, is noticeable for those of us that have larger vessels”Cordova: Harbor Commission Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6 PM · Jun 10, 2026
Speaker C
“I really want it to work. I just have reservations because I think that harbor, you know, it gets overused and they become pinch points, which puts other— it makes accidents a lot more likely.”Cordova: Harbor Commission Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6 PM · Jun 10, 2026
Michael Craig
“if the approach went right there along that outer edge of that triangle, then they could basically park a boat on one side and park a boat on the other side and almost block the mouth of the harbor, which is not for a bottom picker obviously, but for a bigger boat or pushing a barge or something like that, it's pretty tight.”Cordova: Harbor Commission Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6 PM · Jun 10, 2026
Michael Craig
“I think it's clear that we, we want it to work for him, but we need it to work for everybody else as well.”Cordova: Harbor Commission Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6 PM · Jun 10, 2026
Speaker C
“I'm not opposed to this, them doing some construction there, but I think like Andy said, I think seeing more of a plan to ensure that it's not just let's do it and you do what you want.”Cordova: Harbor Commission Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6 PM · Jun 10, 2026
Amanda
“Derek Collins? Yes.”Cordova: Harbor Commission Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6 PM · Jun 10, 2026
Michael Craig
“I look at it as kind of like a blind spot coming around the corner. Once there's a dock there, you know, and, you know, we know how the boats come in, especially the small boats”Cordova: Harbor Commission Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6 PM · Jun 10, 2026
Michael Craig
“I would definitely want to see more of a design before I was happy with it because, or, and realistic then.”Cordova: Harbor Commission Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6 PM · Jun 10, 2026
Speaker C
“I think that we're all on the same page here and wanting to see something work with CAM 2 there, and it's not a no on the project, it's just we all have concerns about the harbor entrance and making it good use for all the harbor users.”Cordova: Harbor Commission Regular Meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 6 PM · Jun 10, 2026
Peter Micciche
“You have the choice in your hands between Alaskans like the folks on the Kenai holding the bag for 2 generations or enough in local taxes to provide for a healthy 30-plus-year partnership absent of local taxpayer subsidies.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 1:30pm · Jun 10, 2026
Peter Micciche
“Through all that history and a mix of onshore large facility Title 29 and offshore and pipeline infrastructure 4356 property taxes, no one's ever discussed— began the discussion with a 90% reduction. That's okay. Things change, and every commercial situation has very different tax economic challenges.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 1:30pm · Jun 10, 2026
Alexi Painter
“revenue begins in FY '31 with just the in-state portion, and then going as the export begins, this higher number.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 1:30pm · Jun 10, 2026
Peter Micciche
“42.7% Of the value of this project will be located in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. 900 Acres, 3 liquefaction trains, 2 240,000 cubic meter storage tanks, terminal facilities, 2 berths in Cook Inlet, moving up to 2.5 BCF a day, which means a ship or 2 will always be present. This project will nearly double the population in Akiski for 4 years during construction.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 1:30pm · Jun 10, 2026
Peter Micciche
“I'm here to fight for enough. Not for a lot, but for enough. I placed my hand on the Bible for 62,000 souls that call the Kenai home and to ensure that we receive enough so that senior citizens and families from Nikiski are not covering the cost or subsidizing a giant global project.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 1:30pm · Jun 10, 2026
Peter Micciche
“We have the lowest mill rate of any other 4356 community at approximately 9 mills.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 1:30pm · Jun 10, 2026
Peter Micciche
“I currently have the statutory right under Title 29 to negotiate a deal. If you take that right away, please make sure you protect our community from harm.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 1:30pm · Jun 10, 2026
Peter Micciche
“At the 12 cents plus the community impact fund in the House version, the project will be paying in the low to mid-30% range of all other Nikiski taxpayers. Approximately a 70% reduction. That's okay. 90% Was too much. 70 Is in the ballpark.”Alaska Legislature: Senate Finance - June 10, 2026 1:30pm · Jun 10, 2026