Mark Begich

Interior announces University to host first of eight in country

March 4, 2010 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich today praised a decision by the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) to open the first of eight regional Climate Science Centers at the University of Alaska. Interior Sec. Ken Salazar today announced the Center saying with rapidly melting Arctic sea ice and permafrost, and threats to Alaska coastal communities; Alaska is ground zero for climate change.    » read more »

Effort supports small business, employment, infrastructure

February 22, 2010 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich today supported the jobs bill moving through the U.S. Senate, designed to help small businesses expand and hire workers, and jump start infrastructure projects, including those in Alaska. The Senate voted 62-30 to move forward with discussion of The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act.    » read more »

February 1, 2010 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich released the following statement today after the release of the president's proposed Fiscal Year 2011 budget:

"President Obama inherited enormous challenges and is trying to attack them through next year's budget proposal by bringing down the breathtaking deficit while investing in the economy to create jobs. The President's budget will lower taxes for an estimated 300,000 families in Alaska and cuts taxes for small businesses.    » read more »

January 29, 2010 -- US Senator Mark Begich today released the following statement after the Alaska Pipeline Project, a joint project between TransCanada and ExxonMobil, filed its open season plan with the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC):

"The filing of the Alaska Pipeline Project's open season plan is part of the process, and I am pleased to hear they are on schedule to get moving on this historic project for Alaska.

"The open season process will help all of us identify what areas we need to focus on and where there are areas of disagreement, allowing Alaskans and the companies involved to work on a path forward.    » read more »

January 27, 2010 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich released the following statement regarding President Obama's State of the Union address:

"President Obama struck the right tone between optimism about America's future and determination about the enormous challenges our country faces, many of which he inherited. As he should have, he spent the most time addressing plans to help create jobs for Americans and get our economy back on track. That's been my focus the past year - with the Recovery Act, new Alaska oil and gas development and military base expansion - and is my priority for the future.    » read more »

Supports independent debt commission

January 26, 2010 -- Failure to control America's growing national debt endangers the nation's economic recovery and the family budgets of average Americans, U.S. Senator Mark Begich said today in a Senate floor speech supporting a national debt commission.

Begich also endorsed President Obama's proposal to freeze some federal spending for three years, which would cut an estimated $250 billion from the national deficit over the next decade.    » read more »

Measure would have barred Treasury from releasing further funds

January 21, 2010 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich today joined Republicans and Democrats in an effort to end the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Begich voted for an amendment from Sen. John Thune (R - South Dakota) that would have barred the Treasury Department from releasing any remaining funds from the $700 billion bailout of banks, automakers and financial firms formulated under the Bush Administration.

The amendment to a bill that would raise the debt ceiling to $14.3 trillion required 60 votes to pass. It failed by a vote of 53 to 45. Begich was one of 12 Democrats who supported the amendment, which would have mandated all returned TARP funds be used to lower the national debt.    » read more »

Applauds Fisheries Disaster Declaration for Western Alaska; Commerce Sec. Locke Announces Decision in Anchorage

January 15, 2010 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich issued the following statement following an announcement by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to issue a Disaster Declaration for the Yukon River Chinook salmon fishery for 2008 and 2009:

"I am very pleased Secretary Locke has answered our requests and those of Western Alaska fishermen to declare a disaster after complete fishery failures in 2008 and 2009. This declaration recognizes the hardships imposed on Alaskans in this region by the closure of commercial and subsistence fishing for Chinook for the past two years.    » read more »

Military members, families and retirees benefit from program

December 16, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich today applauded a decision by the TRICARE Management Agency (TMA) to extend for another year a health care rate reimbursement demonstration program in Alaska that benefits military members, their families and retirees.

In order to improve access for TRICARE beneficiaries in Alaska, three years ago TMA implemented a demonstration program allowing the agency to reimburse civilian doctors at a rate 1.35 times the current MEDICARE allowable rates. TMA estimates civilian provider participation in the TRICARE program has increased by 57 percent since the demonstration program began.    » read more »

Alaska Gains Millions for Vital Projects in Budget Bill Approved by Senate; Includes NOAA, Military Construction, Transportation

December 14, 2009 -- From millions of dollars worth of improvements to Alaska fisheries management to expansion of military facilities to support Alaska-based servicemen and women, U.S. Senator Mark Begich today supported final passage of the Omnibus Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010.

The $446.8 billion bill passed the Senate today by a vote of 57 - 35 and now goes to the President's desk for final approval.

"I was pleased to work closely with other senators to explain Alaska's diverse needs and glad they supported the millions of dollars worth of essential Alaska projects and initiatives contained in this bill," Begich said.    » read more »

Health Reform Amendments Tackle Alaska Needs; Pending bill has provisions on Medicare, workforce development, access to health care, preventing health disparities and cost containment

December 15, 2009 -- As negotiations continue this week on a sweeping health reform bill pending in Congress, U.S. Senator Mark Begich today highlighted several pending provisions to help Alaskans. He pointed to amendments he has introduced or co-sponsored, as well as other provisions in the legislation.

"We're getting close to final floor action on this landmark legislation and I want Alaskans to know the pending bill includes lots of good news for us," Begich said. "The naysayers must not understand how this bill helps Alaska."    » read more »

December 8, 2009 --
Washington, D.C. - As the President and Congress continue to examine new ways to create jobs, a group of 23 U.S. Senators today urged President Obama to focus these efforts on rebuilding our nation's infrastructure. In a letter to the President, the Senators argued that their states have "significant, documented infrastructure repair needs" which present a prime opportunity for job creation.

The letter was signed by Senators Whitehouse, Reed, Landrieu, Wyden, Burris, Begich, Durbin, Kirk, Harkin, Stabenow, Klobuchar, Brown, Leahy, Franken, Kerry, Levin, Tom Udall, Shaheen, Sanders, Casey, Hagan, Merkley, and Schumer.    » read more »

December 7, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich today welcomed approval by the Minerals Management Service (MMS) of Shell Inc.'s exploration plan for oil and gas leases in the Chukchi Sea.

"This is another positive step for Alaska's oil and gas industry. While challenges remain, approval of this exploration plan demonstrates Alaska will continue to play an important role in helping meet America's energy needs."

Approval of the exploration plan is a major hurdle in the exploration process. Shell still needs to obtain air permits from the Environmental Protection Agency and other administrative approvals before it can drill exploratory wells, currently planned for next summer.    » read more »

Bill requires wireless phone companies to pro-rate Early Termination Fees and provides more transparency on customers’ bills

December 3, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN), Senator Russ Feingold (WI), Senator Jim Webb (VA), and Senator Mark Begich (AK) introduced the Cell Phone Early Termination Fee, Transparency and Fairness Act. The legislation follows Verizon Wireless' decision to double their Early Termination Fees from $175 to $350 for certain subscribers who end their contracts early.

The bill would set limits on Early Termination Fees (ETFs). It would also require wireless providers to pro-rate ETFs and clearly notify customers about the fee, not only at the time of purchase, but for the duration of their contracts.    » read more »

December 2, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich issued the following statement in reaction to President Obama's address to the nation this evening on his proposed new strategy for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan:

"The American public needs no reminder of why the U.S. must have a military presence in Afghanistan right now - to eliminate the threat of al-Qaida launching more deadly attacks on our nation and our world. I have long supported this goal.    » read more »