Bill · S. 2554· Senate(119-S-2554)
Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act
- Introduced
- 7/30/2025
- Last activity
- 9/17/2026 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 639.
- Sponsored by
- Lisa Murkowski
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- 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
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+9
The legislation specifically redresses historical landless exclusions for five Alaska Native communities under ANCSA.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+8
The bill redresses historical omissions under ANCSA, providing official recognition and land entitlements to five Alaska Native communities.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+7
The bill directly empowers rural Alaska Native communities in Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell.
The opposite
Would business owners be better off under this?-1
Existing commercial guides and outfitters face terminations of current federal permits and transition to corporation-issued authorizations.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-1
The bill authorizes $12,500,000 in appropriations for implementation grants.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
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. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Native Americans+9Good For Rural Residents+7Good For Seniors+5Good For Children+4Good For Retirees+4Good For Low Income Households+3Good For Middle Aged+2Good For Young Adults+2Good For Middle Class Households+1Good For Business Owners-1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+8Improves Poverty Reduction+4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+3Improves Small Business Support+2Increases Job Creation+2Reduces Government Spending-1
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+4Improves Public Land Management+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+1
- 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.
- 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