This week, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska) held a roundtable meeting with Alaska Natives in Anchorage, Alaska.

"This week’s meeting with leadership from the Alaska Native community provided an important opportunity for our members to hear directly from Alaska Natives and learn about their unique culture and challenges. Our committee is committed to amplifying native voices and continuing to work on policies supporting their way of life. I commend Congressman Begich for his leadership on these issues and for making this historic meeting possible." – Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)

"It was an honor to welcome my colleagues to Alaska this week and ensure they heard from Alaska Native leadership from across our great state. This week’s roundtable was an important opportunity to hear about the unique issues facing Alaska Natives and discuss ways to support them through our work in Washington. It is critical that we continue these conversations and ensure the Alaskan way of life is preserved for generations to come." – U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska)

Background

This week, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska) are leading a bipartisan delegation of members of Congress on site visits through the State of Alaska focused on the numerous issues in the Committee’s jurisdiction that are critical to Alaska’s future and its native communities.

This trip is the largest bipartisan delegation of Natural Resources Committee members to visit the state. During their time in Anchorage, members toured the Alaska Native Heritage Center and held a historic roundtable discussion with leaders from the Alaska Federation of Natives, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association and the ANCSA Regional Association. Topics discussed included energy production and economic development, subsistence rights, healthcare, fish and wildlife management and more. Members in attendance included:

U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)
U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska)
U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.)
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.)
U.S. Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah)
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.)
U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.)
U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.)
U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Ore.)