Alaska Native Landless Equity Act
This bill allows five Alaska Native communities in Southeast Alaska to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements.
Specifically, the bill allows the Alaska Native residents of each of the Alaska Native villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell, Alaska, to organize as Alaska Native urban corporations and to receive certain settlement land.
The bill directs the Department of the Interior to convey specified land to each urban corporation. Further, Interior must convey the subsurface estate for that land to the regional corporation for Southeast Alaska.
The land conveyed to each urban corporation must include any U.S. interest in all roads, trails, log transfer facilities, leases, and appurtenances on or related to the land conveyed to the urban corporation.
The bill also allows each urban corporation to establish a settlement trust to (1) promote the health, education, and welfare of the trust beneficiaries; and (2) preserve the Alaska Native heritage and culture of their communities.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2554 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2554
To provide for the recognition of certain Alaska Native communities and
the settlement of certain claims under the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 30, 2025
Ms. Murkowski (for herself and Mr. Sullivan) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the recognition of certain Alaska Native communities and
the settlement of certain claims under the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Alaska Native Landless Equity Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to redress the omission of the
southeastern Alaska communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg,
Tenakee, and Wrangell from eligibility under the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) by authorizing the Alaska
Natives enrolled in the communities--
(1) to form Urban Corporations for the communities of
Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell under the
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);
and
(2) to receive certain settlement land pursuant to that
Act.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL NATIVE CORPORATIONS.
Section 16 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.
1615) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee,
and Wrangell, Alaska.--
``(1) In general.--The Native residents of each of the
Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and
Wrangell, Alaska, may organize as Urban Corporations.
``(2) Effect on entitlement to land.--Nothing in this
subsection affects any entitlement to land of any Native
Corporation established before the date of enactment of this
subsection pursuant to this Act or any other provision of
law.''.
SEC. 4. SHAREHOLDER ELIGIBILITY.
Section 8 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.
1607) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee,
and Wrangell.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall enroll to each of
the Urban Corporations for Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg,
Tenakee, or Wrangell those individual Natives who enrolled
under this Act to the Native Villages of Haines, Ketchikan,
Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell, respectively.
``(2) Number of shares.--Each Native who is enrolled to an
Urban Corporation for Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee,
or Wrangell pursuant to paragraph (1) and who was enrolled as a
shareholder of the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska
shall receive 100 shares of Settlement Common Stock in the
respective Urban Corporation.
``(3) Natives receiving shares through inheritance.--If a
Native received shares of stock in the Regional Corporation for
Southeast Alaska through inheritance from a decedent Native who
originally enrolled to the Native Village of Haines, Ketchikan,
Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell and the decedent Native was
not a shareholder in a Village Corporation or Urban
Corporation, the Native shall receive the identical number of
shares of Settlement Common Stock in the Urban Corporation for
Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or Wrangell as the
number of shares inherited by that Native from the decedent
Native who would have been eligible to be enrolled to the
respective Urban Corporation.
``(4) Effect on entitlement to land.--Nothing in this
subsection affects any previous or future allocation of acreage
to any Regional Corporation pursuant to section 12(b) or
14(h)(8).''.
SEC. 5. DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS.
Section 7 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.
1606) is amended--
(1) in subsection (j)--
(A) in the third sentence, by striking ``In the
case'' and inserting the following:
``(3) Thirteenth regional corporation.--In the case'';
(B) in the second sentence, by striking ``Not
less'' and inserting the following:
``(2) Minimum allocation.--Not less'';
(C) by striking ``(j) During'' and inserting the
following:
``(j) Distribution of Corporate Funds and Other Net Income.--
``(1) In general.--During''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Native villages of haines, ketchikan, petersburg,
tenakee, and wrangell.--Native members of the Native Villages
of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell who
become shareholders in an Urban Corporation for such a Native
Village shall continue to be eligible to receive distributions
under this subsection as at-large shareholders of the Regional
Corporation for Southeast Alaska.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(s) Effect of Amendatory Act.--The Alaska Native Landless Equity
Act and the amendments made by that Act shall not affect--
``(1) the ratio for determination of revenue distribution
among Native Corporations under this section; or
``(2) the settlement agreement among Regional Corporations
or Village Corporations or other provisions of subsection (i)
or (j).''.
SEC. 6. COMPENSATION.
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 43. URBAN CORPORATIONS FOR HAINES, KETCHIKAN, PETERSBURG,
TENAKEE, AND WRANGELL.
``(a) Definition of Urban Corporation.--In this section, the term
`Urban Corporation' means each of the Urban Corporations for Haines,
Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell.
``(b) Conveyances of Land.--
``(1) Authorization.--
``(A) Conveyances to urban corporations.--
``(i) In general.--Subject to valid
existing rights and paragraphs (3), (4), (5),
and (6), the Secretary shall convey--
``(I) to the Urban Corporation for
Haines, in accordance with clause (ii),
the surface estate in 13 parcels of
Federal land comprising approximately
23,040 acres, as generally depicted on
the maps entitled `Haines Selections',
numbered 1 through 3, and dated June
27, 2025;
``(II) to the Urban Corporation for
Ketchikan, the surface estate in 8
parcels of Federal land comprising
approximately 23,040 acres, as
generally depicted on the maps entitled
`Ketchikan Selections', numbered 1
through 4, and dated June 27, 2025;
``(III) to the Urban Corporation
for Petersburg, the surface estate in
12 parcels of Federal land comprising
approximately 23,040 acres, as
generally depicted on the maps entitled
`Petersburg Selections', numbered 1
through 3, and dated June 27, 2025;
``(IV) to the Urban Corporation for
Tenakee, the surface estate in 15
parcels of Federal land comprising
approximately 23,040 acres, as
generally depicted on the maps entitled
`Tenakee Selections', numbered 1
through 3, and dated June 27, 2025; and
``(V) to the Urban Corporation for
Wrangell, the surface estate in 13
parcels of Federal land comprising
approximately 23,040 acres, as
generally depicted on the maps entitled
`Wrangell Selections', numbered 1
through 5, and dated June 27, 2025.
``(ii) Haines phases; conditions.--
``(I) Conveyance phases.--The
conveyance to the Urban Corporation for
Haines under clause (i)(I) in the
selection area at Slate Creek, Berners
Bay, as generally depicted on the map
entitled `Haines Selections', map 2 of
3, and dated June 27, 2025 (referred to
in this subclause as the `Map'), shall
be completed in the following 2 phases:
``(aa) Phase 1.--The
Secretary shall convey to the
Urban Corporation for Haines
the parcel of Federal land
comprising approximately 81
acres, as generally depicted on
the Map as `Slate Ck. West
Shore'.
``(bb) Phase 2.--Subject to
the conditions described in
subclause (II), and on an
application for conveyance by
the Urban Corporation for
Haines, the Secretary shall
convey to the Urban Corporation
for Haines--
``(AA) the parcel
of Federal land
comprising
approximately 37 acres,
as generally depicted
on the Map as `Slate
Ck. West Shore North';
and
``(BB) the parcel
of Federal land
comprising
approximately 55 acres,
as generally depicted
on the Map as `Slate
Ck. East Shore'.
``(II) Phase 2 conditions.--The
phase 2 conveyance described in
subclause (I)(bb) shall occur on the
earliest of the date on which--
``(aa) the Federal mining
claims underlying the Federal
land described in that
subclause are relinquished;
``(bb) the Federal mining
claims underlying the Federal
land described in that
subclause are abandoned, on a
determination by the Secretary
that the Federal mining claims
are void and forfeited; and
``(cc) Coeur Mining (or a
successor in interest) consents
that the Federal land described
in that subclause can be
conveyed prior to any
relinquishment or abandonment
of the Federal mining claims
underlying that land.
``(B) Conveyances to regional corporation for
southeast alaska.--Subject to valid existing rights, on
the applicable date on which the surface estate in land
is conveyed to an Urban Corporation under subparagraph
(A)(i), the Secretary shall convey to the Regional
Corporation for Southeast Alaska the subsurface estate
for that land.
``(C) Congressional intent.--
``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii),
it is the intent of Congress that the Secretary
complete the interim conveyance of the surface
estate in land to an Urban Corporation under
subparagraph (A)(i) not later than the date
that is 2 years after the applicable date of
incorporation of the Urban Corporation under
section 16(e)(1).
``(ii) Exception.--As the Secretary
determines to be necessary, the Secretary may
extend the 2-year deadline established by
clause (i) by not more than 1 year for any
individual parcel of land to allow for the
conclusion of any pending appeal of a public
easement decision for the applicable parcel
pursuant to section 17(b), subject to the
requirement that the final conveyance of the
surface estate with respect to the applicable
parcel shall be completed as soon as
practicable after the date on which the appeal
is concluded.
``(D) Finalization of entitlement.--
``(i) In general.--The conveyances under
subparagraph (A)(i) shall be considered to be
the full and final satisfaction of the
entitlement of the southeastern Alaska
communities of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg,
Tenakee, and Wrangell under this Act,
notwithstanding whether the surveyed acreage of
the parcels of land described in subclauses (I)
through (V) of that subparagraph is less than
or more than 23,040 acres in the case of each
Urban Corporation, subject to the requirement
that the surveyed acreage shall be not less
than 23,020 acres and not more than 23,060
acres.
``(ii) Adjustments.--If the total surveyed
acreage of land conveyed to an Urban
Corporation under subparagraph (A)(i) is less
than 23,020 acres or more than 23,060 acres,
the Secretary, the Secretary of Agriculture,
and the Urban Corporation shall negotiate in
good faith to make a mutually agreeable
adjustment to the parcels of Federal land
described in subclauses (I) through (V) of that
subparagraph to ensure that not less than and
not more than 23,040 acres of land is conveyed
to the Urban Corporation.
``(2) Withdrawal.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to valid existing
rights, the Federal land described in paragraph (1) is
withdrawn from all forms of--
``(i) entry, appropriation, or disposal
under the public land laws;
``(ii) location, entry, and patent under
the mining laws; and
``(iii) disposition under all laws
pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing or
mineral materials.
``(B) Termination.--The withdrawal under
subparagraph (A) shall remain in effect until the date
on which the Federal land is conveyed under paragraph
(1).
``(3) Treatment of land conveyed.--Except as otherwise
provided in this section, any land conveyed to an Urban
Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i)--
``(A)(i) shall be considered to be land conveyed by
the Secretary under paragraph (3) of section 14(h); but
``(ii) shall not be subject to the requirements
under that section that the land be vacant,
unappropriated, and unreserved; and
``(B) shall be subject to all laws (including
regulations) applicable to entitlements under section
14(h)(3), including section 907(d) of the Alaska
National Interest Lands Conservation Act (43 U.S.C.
1636(d)).
``(4) Public easements.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (C), the
conveyance and patents for the land under paragraph
(1)(A)(i) shall be subject to the reservation before
the conveyance of public easements under section 17(b).
``(B) Termination.--No public easement reserved on
land conveyed under paragraph (1)(A)(i) shall be
terminated by the Secretary without publication of
notice of the proposed termination in the Federal
Register.
``(C) Reservation of easements.--In the conveyance
and patent for any parcel of land under paragraph
(1)(A)(i) for which the easement reservation process
has not been completed by the date that is 2 years
after the applicable date of incorporation of the Urban
Corporation under section 16(e)(1), or, in the case of
an appeal of a public easement under section 17(b), by
the date that is 3 years after the applicable date of
incorporation, the Secretary shall--
``(i) convey the parcel of land; and
``(ii) as part of the conveyance and patent
for the parcel of land under clause (i),
reserve the right of the Secretary to amend the
conveyance and patent to include reservations
of public easements under section 17(b) until
the date of completion of the easement
reservation process.
``(D) State of alaska easements.--Nothing in this
Act modifies, changes, or terminates the rights-of-way
granted to the State under--
``(i) section 4407 of the SAFETEA-LU
(Public Law 109-59; 119 Stat. 1777); or
``(ii) the 2006 memorandum of understanding
between the State and the Forest Service to
implement that section.
``(5) Hunting, fishing, recreation, and access.--
``(A) In general.--Any land conveyed under
paragraph (1)(A)(i), including access to the land
through roadways, trails, and forest roads, shall
remain open and available to subsistence uses,
noncommercial recreational hunting and fishing, and
other noncommercial recreational uses by the public
under applicable law--
``(i) without liability on the part of the
Urban Corporation, except for willful acts of
the Urban Corporation, to any user as a result
of the use; and
``(ii) subject to--
``(I) any reasonable restrictions
that may be imposed by the Urban
Corporation on the public use--
``(aa) to ensure public
safety;
``(bb) to minimize
conflicts between recreational
and commercial uses;
``(cc) to protect cultural
resources;
``(dd) to conduct
scientific research; or
``(ee) to provide
environmental protection; and
``(II) the condition that the Urban
Corporation post on any applicable
property, in accordance with State law,
notices of the restrictions on use.
``(B) Effect.--Access provided to any individual or
entity under subparagraph (A) shall not--
``(i) create an interest in any third party
in the land conveyed under paragraph (1)(A)(i);
or
``(ii) provide standing to any third party
in any review of, or challenge to, any
determination by the Urban Corporation with
respect to the management or development of the
land conveyed under paragraph (1)(A)(i), except
as against the Urban Corporation for the
management of public access under subparagraph
(A).
``(6) Miscellaneous.--
``(A) Special use authorizations.--
``(i) In general.--On the conveyance of
land to an Urban Corporation under paragraph
(1)(A)(i)--
``(I) any guiding or outfitting
special use authorization issued by the
Forest Service for the use of the
conveyed land shall terminate; and
``(II) as a condition of the
conveyance and consistent with section
14(g), the Urban Corporation shall
issue the holder of the special use
authorization terminated under
subclause (I) an authorization to
continue the authorized use, subject to
the terms and conditions that were in
the special use authorization issued by
the Forest Service, for--
``(aa) the remainder of the
term of the authorization; and
``(bb) 1 additional
consecutive 10-year renewal
period.
``(ii) Notice of commercial activities.--
The Urban Corporation, and any holder of a
guiding or outfitting authorization under this
subparagraph, shall have a mutual obligation,
subject to the guiding or outfitting
authorization, to inform the other party of any
commercial activities prior to engaging in the
activities on the land conveyed to the Urban
Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i).
``(iii) Negotiation of new terms.--Nothing
in this paragraph precludes the Urban
Corporation and the holder of a guiding or
outfitting authorization from negotiating a new
mutually agreeable guiding or outfitting
authorization.
``(iv) Liability.--Neither the Urban
Corporation nor the United States shall bear
any liability, except for willful acts of the
Urban Corporation or the United States,
regarding the use and occupancy of any land
conveyed to the Urban Corporation under
paragraph (1)(A)(i), as provided in any
outfitting or guiding authorization under this
paragraph.
``(B) Mutual use agreement for roads and
facilities.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary of
Agriculture shall seek to enter into a binding
mutual use agreement for--
``(I) the use of National Forest
System roads and related transportation
facilities (including marine access
facilities, log transfer facilities,
sort yards, and associated log rafting
and storage areas) in the Tongass
National Forest by the Urban
Corporation and designees of the Urban
Corporation; and
``(II) the use of the roads and
related transportation facilities
(including marine access facilities,
log transfer facilities, sort yards,
and associated log rafting and storage
areas) of the Urban Corporation by the
Forest Service and designees of the
Forest Service.
``(ii) Terms and conditions.--The binding
mutual use agreement under clause (i)--
``(I) shall provide that the use of
road and transportation facilities
infrastructure by a third party shall
not begin until the date on which the
third party signs a mutual use
agreement entered into with the Urban
Corporation;
``(II) shall provide that the State
(including entities and designees of
the State) shall be authorized to use
the roads and related transportation
facilities of the Urban Corporation on
substantially similar terms as are
provided by the Urban Corporation to
the Forest Service;
``(III) shall include restrictions
on, and fees for, the use of the
National Forest System roads and
related transportation facilities in
existence as of the date of enactment
of this section, as necessary, that are
reasonable and comparable to the
restrictions and fees imposed by the
Forest Service for the use of the roads
and related transportation facilities;
``(IV) shall not restrict or limit
any access to the roads and related
transportation facilities of the Urban
Corporation or the Forest Service that
may be otherwise provided by valid
existing rights and agreements in
existence as of the date of enactment
of this section; and
``(V) shall provide for periodic
updates to the mutual use agreement if
the terms and conditions of the updated
mutual use agreement are consistent
with the terms and conditions described
in subclauses (I) through (IV).
``(iii) Intent of congress.--It is the
intent of Congress that the mutual use
agreement under clause (i) shall be entered
into as soon as practicable after the date of
enactment of this section and in any case by
not later than 1 year after the date of
incorporation of the Urban Corporation.
``(iv) Continued access.--Beginning on the
date on which the land is conveyed to the Urban
Corporation under paragraph (1)(A)(i) and
ending on the effective date of a binding
mutual use agreement entered into under clause
(i), the Urban Corporation shall provide and
allow administrative access to roads and
related transportation facilities on the land
under substantially similar terms as are
provided by the Forest Service as of the date
of enactment of this section.
``(C) Effect on other laws.--
``(i) In general.--Nothing in this section
delays the duty of the Secretary to convey land
to--
``(I) the State under Public Law
85-508 (commonly known as the `Alaska
Statehood Act') (48 U.S.C. note prec.
21); or
``(II) a Native Corporation under--
``(aa) this Act; or
``(bb) the Alaska Land
Transfer Acceleration Act (43
U.S.C. 1611 note; Public Law
108-452).
``(ii) Statehood entitlement.--
``(I) In general.--Statehood
selections under Public Law 85-508
(commonly known as the `Alaska
Statehood Act') (48 U.S.C. note prec.
21) are not displaced by the parcels of
land described in subclauses (I)
through (V) of paragraph (1)(A)(i).
``(II) Boundary adjustments.--In
the event of a dispute between an area
selected as a Statehood selection and a
parcel of land referred to in subclause
(I), the Secretary shall work with the
Urban Corporation and the State in good
faith to adjust the boundary of the
parcel to exclude any area selected as
a Statehood selection.
``(iii) Conveyances.--The Secretary shall
promptly proceed with the conveyance of all
land necessary to fulfill the final entitlement
of all Native Corporations in accordance with--
``(I) this Act; and
``(II) the Alaska Land Transfer
Acceleration Act (43 U.S.C. 1611 note;
Public Law 108-452).
``(iv) Fish and wildlife.--Nothing in this
section enlarges or diminishes the
responsibility and authority of the State with
respect to the management of fish and wildlife
on public land in the State.
``(D) Maps.--
``(i) Availability.--Each map referred to
in paragraph (1)(A)(i) shall be available in
the appropriate offices of the Secretary and
the Secretary of Agriculture.
``(ii) Corrections.--The Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture,
may make any necessary correction to a clerical
or typographical error in a map referred to in
paragraph (1)(A)(i).
``(7) Escrow funds.--Beginning on the date of enactment of
this section, the escrow requirements of section 2 of Public
Law 94-204 (43 U.S.C. 1613 note) shall apply to proceeds
(including interest) derived from the land withdrawn under
paragraph (2).
``(c) Conveyance of Roads, Trails, Log Transfer Facilities, Leases,
and Appurtenances.--
``(1) In general.--The land conveyed to an Urban
Corporation under subsection (b)(1)(A)(i) shall include all
right, title, and interest of the United States in all roads,
trails, log transfer facilities, leases, and appurtenances on
or related to the land conveyed to the Urban Corporation.
``(2) Conditions.--The land conveyed to an Urban
Corporation under subsection (b)(1)(A)(i) shall be subject to
all valid existing rights in accordance with section 14(g),
including any reciprocal rights-of-way, easements, or
agreements for the use of the roads, trails, log transfer
facilities, leases, and appurtenances conveyed under subsection
(b)(1)(A)(i).
``(3) Continuation of agreements.--
``(A) In general.--On or before the date on which
land is conveyed to an Urban Corporation under
subsection (b)(1)(A)(i), the Secretary shall provide to
the Urban Corporation notice of all reciprocal rights-
of-way, easements, and agreements for use of the roads,
trails, log transfer facilities, leases, and
appurtenances on or related to the land in existence as
of the date of enactment of this section.
``(B) Requirement.--In accordance with section
14(g), any right-of-way, easement, or agreement
described in subparagraph (A) shall continue unless the
right-of-way, easement, or agreement--
``(i) expires under its own terms; or
``(ii) is mutually renegotiated.
``(d) Settlement Trust.--
``(1) In general.--Each Urban Corporation may establish a
settlement trust in accordance with section 39 for the purposes
of promoting the health, education, and welfare of the trust
beneficiaries, and preserving the Native heritage and culture,
of the community of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, or
Wrangell, as applicable.
``(2) Proceeds and income.--The proceeds and income from
the principal of a trust established under paragraph (1)
shall--
``(A) first be applied to the support of those
enrollees, and the descendants of the enrollees, who
are elders or minor children; and
``(B) thereafter to the support of all other
enrollees.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary $12,500,000, to be used by the Secretary
to provide 5 grants in the amount of $2,500,000 each, to be used only
for activities that support the implementation of this section,
including planning and development.''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
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