Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 639.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is named the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act. It addresses the past omission of five southeastern Alaska communities from eligibility under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. These communities are Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell. The legislation allows Alaska Natives in these communities to organize as Urban Corporations. It also arranges for these new corporations to receive certain settlement lands. Finally, the bill sets rules for shareholder eligibility, land conveyances, and distribution rights.
Yes· 3 of 17
- Scored +9
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The legislation specifically redresses historical landless exclusions for five Alaska Native communities under ANCSA.
- Scored +8
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill redresses historical omissions under ANCSA, providing official recognition and land entitlements to five Alaska Native communities.
- Scored +7
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill directly empowers rural Alaska Native communities in Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Would business owners be better off under this?
Existing commercial guides and outfitters face terminations of current federal permits and transition to corporation-issued authorizations.
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes $12,500,000 in appropriations for implementation grants.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Formation of Urban Corporations: Under Section 3, Native residents of Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell may organize as Urban Corporations, which helps address their previous omission from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
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Shareholder Stock and Benefits: Under Section 4, eligible individuals enrolled in these communities will receive 100 shares of Settlement Common Stock in their respective Urban Corporation, or matching shares if received through inheritance.
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Continued Regional Distributions: Under Section 5, Native members who become shareholders in these new Urban Corporations will still keep their eligibility to receive distributions as at-large shareholders of the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska.
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Land and Trust Benefits: Under Section 6, each Urban Corporation will receive the surface estate in approximately 23,040 acres of Federal land. Furthermore, they are allowed to establish settlement trusts to promote the health, education, welfare, and cultural preservation of their community members, giving priority support to elders and minor children.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Withdrawal of Public Lands: Under Section 6, the specified Federal lands are withdrawn from entry, appropriation, disposal, mineral leasing, and mining locations, which may restrict general public and commercial access or activities previously allowed on those public lands.
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Termination of Existing Permits: Under Section 6, any guiding or outfitting special use authorization issued by the Forest Service for the use of the conveyed land will terminate upon conveyance to an Urban Corporation, which could disrupt current commercial operators until new terms or authorizations are managed.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The legislation specifically redresses historical landless exclusions for five Alaska Native communities under ANCSA. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill directly empowers rural Alaska Native communities in Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Settlement trust proceeds are explicitly prioritized to support elders first. Would children be better off under this? — Settlement trust proceeds are specifically prioritized to support minor children and elders. Would retired people be better off under this? — Elder support is prioritized through the establishment of settlement trusts. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Trust programs and economic development are designed to improve the welfare of community members. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Enrollees gain corporate shares and community economic benefits. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Enrollees and descendants will benefit from educational and welfare support via settlement trusts. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — General community membership benefits from corporate asset growth. Would business owners be better off under this? — Existing commercial guides and outfitters face terminations of current federal permits and transition to corporation-issued authorizations.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill redresses historical omissions under ANCSA, providing official recognition and land entitlements to five Alaska Native communities. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Settlement trusts established by the Urban Corporations will provide financial support to elders and minor children.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Establishing Urban Corporations and land transfers provides new economic assets and opportunities for Alaska Native communities. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — New Urban Corporations will have assets and opportunities to engage in commercial activities and forestry support. Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill authorizes initial grants and land conveyance that will support local economic development and planning. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes $12,500,000 in appropriations for implementation grants.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The legislation supports rural Alaska Native communities through land conveyances and mutual use road agreements. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill clarifies land entitlements and establishes structured mutual use and public access frameworks on conveyed federal lands.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill requires federal agencies to execute land conveyances and distribute specific grant appropriations.
- 9/17/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 639.
- 7/16/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2/12/2026
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-305.
- 7/30/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Dan SullivanRepublican · Alaska