Video Clips

Quoted moments from Alaska public meetings, hearings, and press conferences.

Rory Day-Stirrat

“In Alaska, Earth MRI almost doubled preexisting publicly available data. Importantly, Earth MRI helps reduce uncertainty for private investment and for informed land management and permitting decisions.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Begich): Legislative Hearing on the following bill · Jul 21, 2026

Eric Beightel

“More than a decade after its enactment, FAST-41 has matured into a proven governance model for delivering complex infrastructure projects. During that time, the Permitting Council has grown into a small but highly effective organization, providing hands-on permitting coordination and project oversight to a subset of our nation's most complex infrastructure projects. HR 8003 takes the next logical step to invite more projects into this proven program.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Begich): Legislative Hearing on the following bill · Jul 21, 2026

Matt Heller

“Preliminary data from the most recent survey revealed previously unknown intrusions of igneous rocks that may host critical minerals and other valuable resources. Virginia has already proposed a project to map these intrusions and sample in the areas of greatest potential.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Begich): Legislative Hearing on the following bill · Jul 21, 2026

Pete Stauber “H.R. 9646, Introduced by Representatives Hurd and Carbajal, directs the USGS to establish a quantum-enhanced critical mineral survey program and incorporate the survey data into Earth MRI data platforms. This initiative would utilize quantum gravity to produce ultra-high-resolution maps subsurface density variations, which are useful for geologic mapping, mineral exploration, and locating underground features.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Begich): Legislative Hearing on the following bill · Jul 21, 2026

Eric Beightel

“It allows more project sponsors to benefit from actively managed permitting timetables, earlier interagency coordination, transparent timelines, and timely issue resolution. It also means that communities waiting on regionally significant investments, from drinking water improvements and broadband deployment to electric transmission, flood resilience, and other critical infrastructure, can benefit from the same disciplined permitting approach that has already proven successful on much larger projects.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Begich): Legislative Hearing on the following bill · Jul 21, 2026

Eric Beightel

“it's clear that there is some obstruction occurring on the clean energy projects. We've seen that without, without question, that the, the process that the Department of Interior is undertaking is going to slow that process down. And the fact that these projects that have been posted to the data dashboard have not fulfilled their permitting timetables on the timeline that is required also indicates that there is a lack of motivation, at least, to move forward on them.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Begich): Legislative Hearing on the following bill · Jul 21, 2026

Rory Day-Stirrat

“46 States have participated and Puerto Rico. Each state is providing access or work in the program at the levels that they're available to. My state, the state of Oregon, we are significantly involved in Earth MRI, we have a significant mineral endowment which we haven't fully investigated, and that's true across most states. So it's a very effective model where the USGS provides the framework and the states enact on that framework.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Begich): Legislative Hearing on the following bill · Jul 21, 2026

Pete Stauber “Last month, this subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the U.S. Geological Survey's Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, or Earth MRI, which is set to expire at the end of this fiscal year.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Begich): Legislative Hearing on the following bill · Jul 21, 2026

Emily Domenech

“I actually think it could allow us to serve sectors we've never served before. I mean, I think, you know, I use the water resources as an example, but that's a place where you can have smaller-scale projects, port developments, things like that. Broadband is another one where we've really only been able to serve those projects under our tribal exemption. So it'd be great to be able to get more of those small-scale, frankly very local and rural projects on the dashboard.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Begich): Legislative Hearing on the following bill · Jul 21, 2026

Matthew Kinsella

“This bill puts our instrument to work inside that proven program, directing the USGS to fly quantum gravity surveys over priority mineral zones compare the results head-to-head against classical methods, and make all of it public, fueling private investment without a new authorization of federal spending.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Begich): Legislative Hearing on the following bill · Jul 21, 2026

Emily Domenech

“where we see a lot of the questions about eligibility come from projects like broadband projects, like water resources projects, from things that bring online small energy projects or production in, frankly, the energy storage space sometimes can be smaller-scale projects. So my hope is that, you know, when I came in as executive director, I really wanted to ensure we were listing a project in every single one of our 19 sectors. We're at 13 right now.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Begich): Legislative Hearing on the following bill · Jul 21, 2026

Emily Domenech

“the Permitting Council supports HR 8003 as written, and we are well situated to bring additional projects and continue to show that the FAST-41 process works for projects of all shapes and sizes.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources (Begich): Legislative Hearing on the following bill · Jul 21, 2026

Michael Kratsios “In a new report to President Trump published just yesterday entitled Science: A New Golden Age, I articulate the obstacles American researchers face today and the ways our scientific enterprise has fundamentally, fundamentally transformed since 1945. The report and a corresponding memorandum provide policy guidance for federal agencies to cement American scientific leadership for generations to come.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Zoe Lofgren “Big new initiatives and promises mean nothing when agencies act capriciously, canceling grants midway, delaying awards for months even after they've been selected through the rigorous merit review process, and blacklisting educational and research institutions. And if anyone has any doubt as to intent, just look at the proposed OMB rule effectively codifying all of these regrettable practices.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Zoe Lofgren “Where is the nearly $1 billion that we know is being clawed back from NSF directorates? And what is the reported $1.5 billion project, to quote Nature's reporting, is a brainchild of the White House OSTB? And if you could be specific, is any of the $5 billion that you announced today for Project Genesis coming from the money appropriated to NSF?”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Michael Kratsios “Artificial intelligence is probably the biggest unlock in human history in our ability to drive scientific discovery. What we're able to do through the Genesis mission and through extending AI for Science-powered initiatives across all of our federal agencies, I think we'll be able to look back on that in years ahead and think that this was a moment where we actually really, really accelerated the pace of discovery in a way that no one thought possible.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Michael Kratsios “The Genesis Mission is the crown jewel of American AI for Science and already well underway.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Michael Kratsios “Just this morning, in a convening of science teams across the federal branch— the executive branch, my office affirmed that the Genesis Mission will be the —central hub for the entire federal government to revolutionize the conduct of American science with AI. Joining DOE's ongoing efforts are initiatives from NSF, DOW, HHS, NASA, USDA, NIST, DHS, and DOT, mobilizing more than $5 billion in total commitments to producing the premier AI for science ecosystem in the world.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Michael Kratsios “I'm well aware of that, and I'm also well aware that no one at OSTP is involved in individual grant-level decisions.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Michael Kratsios “The White House is not involved in which proposals get funding at National Science Foundation. I will say, and I think this committee knows very well, the role of OSTP and the way it's created in statute is to have an opportunity to work with all of our science agencies to ensure that the president's priorities for science and technology are manifested in the budgets themselves.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Suzanne Bonamici “In May, OMB proposed a seismic overhaul of the federal grant system. It requires that award reviews by It requires award reviews by political appointees. It allows agencies to subjectively terminate grants, and it bars funding that supposedly promotes topics the president doesn't like in favor of those that advance his policy priorities. Did OSTP consult with OMB in developing this proposed rule?”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

“I think the most important thing to consider as, as we disperse grants is that we have to make sure that, um, the, the, the process by which we do these selections and ultimately lay them out are aligned with the president's budget.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Zoe Lofgren “There are now multiple credible reports of the administration so-called taxing up to 30% of funds for each of NSF's research directorates to apparently create some kind of slush fund for administration priorities. I want to be clear, this would be in direct contra— uh, contravention of the funding law that Congress passed in January and would be illegal.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Suzanne Bonamici “OMB proposed a rule to defer research funding to the whims of political appointees instead of experts. And now the administration is moving funds Congress appropriated to NSF and other science agencies without congressional authorization to Genesis, which was created without congressional authorization. And I think you mentioned about $5 billion.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Zoe Lofgren “The president requested a $3 billion cut to NSF for both FY '25 and '26. Congress said heck no and funded the agency close to FY '24 levels. Yet the money's not getting out the door.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Michael Kratsios “As this rulemaking is progressing, the— you know, our office is working closely with OMB and OIRA to ensure that all the federal research enterprise remains rule world class and is trustworthy and accountable.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Michael Kratsios “I am not personally involved in any individual grant. That is a different answer to what I asked. I'm not aware of anyone at NS— at OSTP that is working on individual grant approvals. I have never asked for that, and I will I would never condone that, and I don't think any of us are.”

House Science, Space, and Technology (Begich): Unleashing the Golden Age of Science · Jul 22, 2026

Richard Merrick

“I'm concerned that this well-intentioned act will really do little to recover West Coast salmon.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Richard Merrick

“Reducing the pinniped population in Washington waters would allow Pacific hake stocks to expand, increasing their predation on smolts. And a consequence of the reduction in the Salish Sea pinniped population would be its impact on ESA-threatened transient killer whales, Bigg's killer whales, which are known to rely on seals for prey.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Jared Blankenship

“I am here today to voice Texas Farm Bureau's strong support for H.R. 7466, The SAFE Cattle Act, authored by my own Congressman, Ronnie Jackson, and co-led by Chairman Hagerman and Representative Soto, who serve on this subcommittee.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Nate Pamplin “the bill has ceilings on the number of pinnipeds that can be removed. There's a potential biological removal under the MMPA and there's a cap of 10%. And even there, for instance, for California sea lions or Steller sea lions, I don't see us approaching that cap.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Val Hoyle “I also believe tribes in both Washington and Oregon must be at the center of this conversation. Tribes have managed these waters since time immemorial, and they deserve to be respected as equal partners and resource managers. This is a management issue, which means Oregon tribes need to be consulted.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Jared Huffman “the U.S. last experienced a major infestation in Texas in 1976. If an outbreak —of that scale of economic loss, which totaled billions of dollars for the Texas economy alone, were to spread elsewhere, obviously that's a big problem for Texas and for so many other states. So the interagency coordination called for with this bill will help speed up the critical efforts of federal agencies to address the threat before it gets out of control.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Timothy Petty “the work that we have done with our partners in this and with the tribes who have given us clear historic impact that's taken place, the invasives that have come up the river that they have not seen historically in all of their knowledge, gives us clear information that that, uh, we need to be addressing it. We are so focused on trying to manage the salmon. We need to take that same application and also manage the pinnipeds in the same way because it has a direct impact.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Melanie Stansbury “the fundamental programs that help to support monitoring and to stop the screwworm in the very beginning were gutted and, what they were unable to ultimately stop it from crossing the border.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Jared Blankenship

“By bringing these agencies together under a formal agreement, the SAFE Cattle Act strengthens joint surveillance, supports coordinated eradication strategies, and improves engagement with state animal health and wildlife officials. It also increases transparency to ensure Congress can provide responders with the resources that are needed to eliminate this devastating pest.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Nate Pamplin “research by NMFS estimates that 20 to 44% of upriver spring and summer Chinook in the lower Columbia died due to pinniped predation annually. Congress amended the MMPA in 2018 to provide the co-managers greater flexibility, and the subsequent permitted removal efforts show signs of success.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Val Hoyle “I'm disappointed that Oregon tribes and the communities in my district affected most by this legislation were not included in this development. The people who fish these waters, manage these resources, and depend on healthy salmon populations deserve a real seat at the table. And sea lions cross both sides of the river. They go from Washington to Oregon and back again. So we can't have a one-state solution.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Harriet Hageman “The bill at the center of this hearing, H.R. 9621, The Northwest Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act of 2026, led by Representatives Michael Bumgardner and Emily Randall. And the conflict between the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act is preventing the recovery of threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Richard Merrick

“an up-to-date study of harvest seal diets in the Salish Sea that was published just this year indicates that salmon make up a very small portion of harvest seal diets.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Richard Merrick

“Well-established science has shown that habitat loss is a primary factor that limits recovery of most depleted fish stocks. While it's true that predation on adult salmon will reduce subsequent recruits, the size of salmon stocks is most limited by the habitat that's available for adult spawning.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Richard Merrick

“I'm concerned that because habitat remains limited and ocean conditions are not favorable, It's unlikely that widespread removal of seals and sea lions will have little measurable effect on overall salmon stocks.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Melanie Stansbury “New Mexico is truly on the front lines of the new— of the new world screwworm outbreak, and our ranchers and our farmers deserve to know that Congress has their back.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Jared Blankenship

“We need cooperation with Mexico. We need transparency with Mexico. We need cooperation with Mexico.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Jared Huffman “The SAFE Cattle Act, H.R. 7466, Responds to the threat of this screw worm, the New World screw worm. The larvae of this worm feeds on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, causes severe infection, suffering, and, and can be fatal.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Jared Blankenship

“The legislation would establish a formal partnership between USDA and the Department of Interior to support surveillance, monitoring, and eradication activities in wildlife species coordinated with state officials and regular reporting to Congress as we work collectively toward eradication.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Jared Blankenship

“the surveillance, the continued whole of government is the phrase that you used. I appreciate that sentiment. Which is why this particular bill makes sense, because we have a cooperation of agencies. USDA involved with the livestock, Department of Interior with wildlife.”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

Val Hoyle “Whatever Peniped management system we're using, would you agree that it wouldn't— that it is more strategic to have that management system operating on both sides of the river as opposed to just one side of the river?”

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries (Begich): Legislative Hearing · Jul 21, 2026

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