Congressman Nick Begich III introduced three crucial Alaska-focused bills in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, immediately after being sworn in.
“Alaska deserves quick, decisive action,” said Congressman Begich. “By introducing these bills on my first day, I want Alaskans to know that my team and I are hitting the ground running to advocate for our state’s future—starting right now.”
The bills are:
- Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act (H.R. 2687 in the 118th)
- The bill excludes settlement trust benefits for certain Alaska Natives—those who are blind, disabled, or age 65 and older—from being considered income when determining eligibility for means-tested federal benefits such as SSI, SNAP, and housing assistance. This is a bill similar to one that was introduced but never passed by former Rep. Mary Peltola.
- It closes a longstanding gap in Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act provisions, so that elders and individuals with disabilities are not forced to choose between a settlement trust income and critical federal assistance.
- Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act (H.R. 4748 in the 118th).
- Also known as the “Landless Bill, it amends ANCSA to allow Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell — historically excluded Native communities — to form urban corporations and select 23,040 acres each from the Tongass National Forest. The bill restores land entitlements for these unrecognized communities while preserving existing rights-of-way, ensuring meaningful economic and cultural opportunities for Alaskans.
- Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act (H.R. 6489 in the 118th)
- The bill eliminates the requirement under ANCSA Section 14(c)(3) that Alaska Native Village Corporations convey land to the State to be held in trust for future municipalities. Instead, it returns undeveloped land to the original village corporations and empowers Alaska Native communities to develop and use their lands for housing, community expansion, and other economic ventures, alleviating decades of land-title uncertainties and unlocking long-term development potential.
