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Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

USA119th CongressHR-41| House 
| Updated: 3/5/2026
Nicholas J. Begich

Nicholas J. Begich

Republican Representative

Alaska

Cosponsors (1)
Jeff Hurd (Republican)

Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation, titled the "Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act," seeks to redress the historical omission of five specific Southeast Alaska Native communities from the original Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Its primary purpose is to authorize the Native residents of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell to form Urban Corporations under ANCSA. These newly recognized corporations will then be eligible to receive certain settlement land as compensation. The bill amends ANCSA to explicitly allow the Native residents of these five communities to organize as Urban Corporations, clarifying that this does not impact existing Native Corporation land entitlements. The Secretary is directed to enroll individual Natives from these communities into their respective Urban Corporations. Each enrolled Native who was also a shareholder of the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska will receive 100 shares of Settlement Common Stock in their Urban Corporation, with provisions also made for inherited shares. A central provision of the Act is the authorization for the Secretary to convey the surface estate of approximately 23,040 acres of Federal land to each of the five Urban Corporations. Concurrently, the subsurface estate for this land will be conveyed to the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska. These conveyances are considered the full and final satisfaction of the communities' entitlement under ANCSA, with specific acreage ranges and adjustment mechanisms. The land is withdrawn from public land and mining laws until conveyed and is subject to public easements. The conveyed lands will remain open for subsistence uses and noncommercial recreational activities by the public, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by the Urban Corporations. The bill also mandates the termination of existing Forest Service guiding and outfitting special use authorizations on conveyed land, requiring Urban Corporations to issue new ones. Furthermore, it directs the Secretary of Agriculture to pursue binding mutual use agreements for roads and transportation facilities between the Forest Service and the Urban Corporations. Finally, each Urban Corporation is authorized to establish a settlement trust to promote the health, education, and welfare of its beneficiaries and preserve Native heritage, prioritizing elders and minor children.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-8751
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-9116
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-3231
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4748
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act
Jan 3, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Mar 5, 2026
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Mar 5, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-8751
    Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-9116
    Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-3231
    Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4748
    Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act


  • January 3, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 3, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • March 5, 2026
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.


  • March 5, 2026
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Native Americans

Related Bills

  • S 119-2554: Alaska Native Landless Equity Act
AlaskaAlaska Natives and HawaiiansFederal-Indian relationsHistorical and cultural resourcesIndian claimsIndian lands and resources rightsIndian social and development programsLand transfersMinority educationMinority health

Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

USA119th CongressHR-41| House 
| Updated: 3/5/2026
This legislation, titled the "Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act," seeks to redress the historical omission of five specific Southeast Alaska Native communities from the original Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Its primary purpose is to authorize the Native residents of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell to form Urban Corporations under ANCSA. These newly recognized corporations will then be eligible to receive certain settlement land as compensation. The bill amends ANCSA to explicitly allow the Native residents of these five communities to organize as Urban Corporations, clarifying that this does not impact existing Native Corporation land entitlements. The Secretary is directed to enroll individual Natives from these communities into their respective Urban Corporations. Each enrolled Native who was also a shareholder of the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska will receive 100 shares of Settlement Common Stock in their Urban Corporation, with provisions also made for inherited shares. A central provision of the Act is the authorization for the Secretary to convey the surface estate of approximately 23,040 acres of Federal land to each of the five Urban Corporations. Concurrently, the subsurface estate for this land will be conveyed to the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska. These conveyances are considered the full and final satisfaction of the communities' entitlement under ANCSA, with specific acreage ranges and adjustment mechanisms. The land is withdrawn from public land and mining laws until conveyed and is subject to public easements. The conveyed lands will remain open for subsistence uses and noncommercial recreational activities by the public, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by the Urban Corporations. The bill also mandates the termination of existing Forest Service guiding and outfitting special use authorizations on conveyed land, requiring Urban Corporations to issue new ones. Furthermore, it directs the Secretary of Agriculture to pursue binding mutual use agreements for roads and transportation facilities between the Forest Service and the Urban Corporations. Finally, each Urban Corporation is authorized to establish a settlement trust to promote the health, education, and welfare of its beneficiaries and preserve Native heritage, prioritizing elders and minor children.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-8751
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-9116
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-3231
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4748
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act
Jan 3, 2025
Introduced in House
Jan 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Mar 5, 2026
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Mar 5, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-8751
    Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-9116
    Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-3231
    Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4748
    Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act


  • January 3, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • January 3, 2025
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • March 5, 2026
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.


  • March 5, 2026
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Nicholas J. Begich

Nicholas J. Begich

Republican Representative

Alaska

Cosponsors (1)
Jeff Hurd (Republican)

Natural Resources Committee

Native Americans

Related Bills

  • S 119-2554: Alaska Native Landless Equity Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AlaskaAlaska Natives and HawaiiansFederal-Indian relationsHistorical and cultural resourcesIndian claimsIndian lands and resources rightsIndian social and development programsLand transfersMinority educationMinority health