U.S. Sen. Mark Begich yesterday reinforced his message of the need to responsibly develop the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as a way to create tens of thousands of jobs for Alaskans and across the country.

In testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee Begich, also said developing ANWR should be part of a comprehensive energy plan that would reduce America’s dependence on foreign energy sources.

“With gasoline prices averaging $3.65 in the lower 48 states and unemployment around 9 percent, Alaska is here to help,” Sen. Begich said to the committee. “We can offer relief to consumers at the pump, provide well-paying jobs in Alaska and the Lower 48 and help reduce our $15 trillion deficit.”

On top of calling for development in ANWR, Sen. Begich offered the committee an update on efforts to drill in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Each of these opportunities would create thousands of jobs.

“The University of Alaska’s Institute for Social and Economic Research estimates 54,000 jobs created from Alaskans working in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, including all the support and manufacturing jobs stretching from Alaska to the Lower 48,” Begich told the committee.

Sen. Begich is a co-sponsor of legislation to open ANWR to responsible oil and gas development.

A copy of Sen. Begich’s testimony is attached to this email and available here.

A video of Sen. Begich’s testimony can be seen on our front page above the article here.

Source: Office of Senator Begich