Bill > HR41

This bill addresses the historical omission of five southeastern Alaska Native communities (Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell) from the original Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). The bill allows Native residents of these communities to form Urban Corporations and receive land entitlements similar to those granted to other Alaska Native communities. Specifically, each Urban Corporation will receive approximately 23,040 acres of surface estate land, with the subsurface estate going to the Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska. Each eligible Native who was originally enrolled in these village regions will receive 100 shares of Settlement Common Stock in their respective Urban Corporation. The bill ensures that these Native shareholders will continue to receive distributions from the Regional Corporation and maintains their existing rights. Additionally, the Urban Corporations will have the ability to establish settlement trusts to support community health, education, welfare, and cultural preservation, with a priority on supporting elders and minor children. The land conveyances will be subject to public access for subsistence, recreational, and other non-commercial uses, and the bill includes provisions for existing special use authorizations and mutual use agreements for roads and transportation facilities.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/41/all-info