Legis Daily

Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-3903| House 
| Updated: 3/4/2026
Nicholas J. Begich

Nicholas J. Begich

Republican Representative

Alaska

Cosponsors (1)
Jeff Hurd (Republican)

Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025 aims to resolve a long-standing land ownership conflict stemming from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Following the spill, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council (EVOSTC) used settlement funds to acquire over 600,000 acres for conservation, including 241,000 acres of surface estate and conservation easements in the Chugach Region. A significant issue arose because, under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), Chugach Alaska Corporation, a Regional Corporation, retained the subsurface estate for approximately 231,000 acres of this land, while the federal government acquired the surface estate . This split ownership created a direct conflict between the conservation goals of the EVOSTC Program and Chugach Alaska's responsibility to develop its subsurface resources for its Native shareholders. To address this, Congress mandated a study by the Bureau of Land Management, which identified viable federal land for an exchange. This bill now authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior to exchange approximately 231,000 acres of Chugach Alaska's subsurface estate for about 65,374 acres of federal fee simple land within one year of enactment. The federal land to be conveyed to Chugach Alaska includes specific parcels of National Forest System land and land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service. Conversely, Chugach Alaska will convey its subsurface interests in areas where the United States holds surface fee title or conservation easements, or where the State holds fee title and the United States holds a conservation easement. This exchange is intended to consolidate federal ownership of both surface and subsurface estates for conservation purposes, thereby perfecting the Program's goals. It also supports ANCSA objectives by balancing cultural and economic land values for Native corporations, and is deemed to be in the public interest.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-8363
Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2024
Jun 11, 2025
Introduced in House
Jun 11, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Sep 4, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.
Sep 9, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Nov 20, 2025
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Nov 20, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Nov 20, 2025
Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Discharged
Dec 17, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2016
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jan 14, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 386.
Jan 14, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-451.
Mar 3, 2026
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Mar 3, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2349-2352)
Mar 3, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3903.
Mar 3, 2026
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2349-2351)
Mar 3, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2349-2351)
Mar 3, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 4, 2026
Received in the Senate.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-8363
    Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2024


  • June 11, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • June 11, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • September 4, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.


  • September 9, 2025
    Subcommittee Hearings Held


  • November 20, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.


  • November 20, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • November 20, 2025
    Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Discharged


  • December 17, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2016
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • January 14, 2026
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 386.


  • January 14, 2026
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-451.


  • March 3, 2026
    Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • March 3, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2349-2352)


  • March 3, 2026
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3903.


  • March 3, 2026
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2349-2351)


  • March 3, 2026
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2349-2351)


  • March 3, 2026
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • March 4, 2026
    Received in the Senate.

Native Americans

Related Bills

  • S 119-2016: Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025
AlaskaLand transfersLand use and conservation

Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025

USA119th CongressHR-3903| House 
| Updated: 3/4/2026
The Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025 aims to resolve a long-standing land ownership conflict stemming from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Following the spill, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council (EVOSTC) used settlement funds to acquire over 600,000 acres for conservation, including 241,000 acres of surface estate and conservation easements in the Chugach Region. A significant issue arose because, under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), Chugach Alaska Corporation, a Regional Corporation, retained the subsurface estate for approximately 231,000 acres of this land, while the federal government acquired the surface estate . This split ownership created a direct conflict between the conservation goals of the EVOSTC Program and Chugach Alaska's responsibility to develop its subsurface resources for its Native shareholders. To address this, Congress mandated a study by the Bureau of Land Management, which identified viable federal land for an exchange. This bill now authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior to exchange approximately 231,000 acres of Chugach Alaska's subsurface estate for about 65,374 acres of federal fee simple land within one year of enactment. The federal land to be conveyed to Chugach Alaska includes specific parcels of National Forest System land and land administered by the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service. Conversely, Chugach Alaska will convey its subsurface interests in areas where the United States holds surface fee title or conservation easements, or where the State holds fee title and the United States holds a conservation easement. This exchange is intended to consolidate federal ownership of both surface and subsurface estates for conservation purposes, thereby perfecting the Program's goals. It also supports ANCSA objectives by balancing cultural and economic land values for Native corporations, and is deemed to be in the public interest.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-8363
Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2024
Jun 11, 2025
Introduced in House
Jun 11, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Sep 4, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.
Sep 9, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Nov 20, 2025
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Nov 20, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Nov 20, 2025
Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Discharged
Dec 17, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-2016
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jan 14, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 386.
Jan 14, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-451.
Mar 3, 2026
Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Mar 3, 2026
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2349-2352)
Mar 3, 2026
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3903.
Mar 3, 2026
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2349-2351)
Mar 3, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2349-2351)
Mar 3, 2026
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 4, 2026
Received in the Senate.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-8363
    Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2024


  • June 11, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • June 11, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • September 4, 2025
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.


  • September 9, 2025
    Subcommittee Hearings Held


  • November 20, 2025
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.


  • November 20, 2025
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held


  • November 20, 2025
    Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Discharged


  • December 17, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-2016
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • January 14, 2026
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 386.


  • January 14, 2026
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-451.


  • March 3, 2026
    Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


  • March 3, 2026
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2349-2352)


  • March 3, 2026
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3903.


  • March 3, 2026
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2349-2351)


  • March 3, 2026
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2349-2351)


  • March 3, 2026
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.


  • March 4, 2026
    Received in the Senate.
Nicholas J. Begich

Nicholas J. Begich

Republican Representative

Alaska

Cosponsors (1)
Jeff Hurd (Republican)

Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee

Native Americans

Related Bills

  • S 119-2016: Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AlaskaLand transfersLand use and conservation