A copy of the speech is attached.

Citing more progress toward developing Alaska’s Arctic resources in the past three years than the previous 30, U.S. Sen. Mark Begich today detailed a new vision for Alaska’s economic prosperity focused on the Arctic.

In his annual address to the Alaska State Legislature, Begich said Alaska is “at the cusp of a new era of Arctic development” and called for a state-federal partnership to ensure that development is done responsibly and that Alaskans are prepared for a new “Arctic jobs pipeline.”

Ensuring Responsible Development

“Today, I believe we’re at the cusp of new era of Arctic development – and poised for a renaissance in Alaska’s oil and gas industry,” Begich said. “For the first time in a generation, I believe we’ll see exploration in the Arctic this summer.”

As Chair of the Oceans Subcommittee, Begich announced introduction of legislation to help prepare for opening the Arctic by funding the science necessary to ensure that development is done right. The bills establish a funding mechanism for the baseline research needed for Arctic development, assign the coordination task to the existing federal North Pacific Research Board and mandate cooperation among federal agencies, including the U.S. Arctic Research Commission chaired by former Alaska Lt. Gov. Fran Ulmer. Begich also detailed progress to build the critical facilities and secure the equipment necessary for responsible Arctic development, including Coast Guard vessels and icebreakers, a deepwater port, a communications backbone and support for Arctic shipping. While most federal agencies are absorbing budget cuts, the Coast Guard received modest funding to begin design on a new U.S. ice-breaker.

Preparing Alaska for New “Arctic Jobs Pipeline”

“We need to fill the jobs pipeline with our workers – Alaska-grown, Alaska trained…Let’s fill the jobs pipeline by investing now in three critical areas: good health and early education, an emphasis on science and math, and career and technical education programs”

Begich cited a study by two Alaska think tanks – the Institute of Social and Economic Research and Northern Economics – which estimates more than 50,000 jobs will be created nationwide just from Arctic offshore oil and gas development.

Begich called for expanded and more rigorous science and math education to better prepare students for the engineering, construction, science, accounting and management jobs created by opening Alaska’s Arctic in addition to expanding vocational technical training so Alaskans are prepared for jobs such as marine deck hands, engineers and captains needed for work developing the Arctic.

Begich said he plans to introduce three bills:

• Increase the child care tax credit so more parents can afford to put their children in quality early child development programs;

• A new student loan forgiveness program for graduates of associate’s or bachelor’s programs in early education;

• An incentive for companies offering onsite or near-site childcare with a company cost-share. He praised BP, Credit Union One and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for offering quality onsite centers which leads to more productive employees.

The senator said he’s working to help fund these initiatives by ensuring Alaska receives the same 37.5 percent revenue sharing from offshore oil and gas development which currently goes to Louisiana.

Begich called on Alaskans to “put Alaska first with a new era of development in the Arctic, which will serve as the backbone of our new economy. This development will sustain the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, create a new jobs pipeline for Alaskans, and spark additional businesses and industries for our state.”

Sen. Begich 2012 Address to the Legislature from AlaskaLegislature.tv on Vimeo.

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