A bill to finalize Sealaska Corporation’s Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act land claims passed the U.S. House of Representatives, Tuesday.
Rep. Young’s H.R. 1408, the Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization and Jobs Protection Act, passed as part of an omnibus bill sponsored by California Rep. Jeff Dunham - R. The Conservation and Economic Growth, H.R. 2578, passed the House with a vote of 232 to 188.
The legislation would allow Sealaska to select from federal lands that are not available under the original agreement
Sealaska Native Corporation would be entitled to the revenue derived from the sale of harvested timber.
Sealaska is a private Alaska Native Regional Corporation. Created in 1971 as part of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Sealaska has claim to certain lands in Southeast Alaska. Young’s bill would grant Sealaska choice of lands outside of ANCSA boundaries.
Sealaska Corporation owns more than 290,000 acres of surface lands.
Senator Lisa Murkowski also sponsored a Sealaska land claims bill, S. 730 the Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization and Jobs Protection Act. Murkowski’s bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources – of which she is a ranking member.
Young said in a press release that the Conservation and Economic Growth Act is an effort to boost Southeast Alaska’s timber industry.
The Act could have a broader impact on Southeast Alaska.
A recent Reuters article said the omnibus bill would place control of lands within 100 miles of Mexico or Canada under the control of U.S. board patrol agents (goo.gl/otdgs).
H.R. 2578 would “prohibit the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture from impeding or restricting activities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection on land under their respective jurisdiction within 100 miles of an international U.S. border,” according to bill language.
If passed, the bill would give precedence to border protection over the Endangered Species Act and the Wilderness Act. U.S. Customs and Border Protection could construct and maintain roads, fences temporary structures and surveillance equipment on land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture.
H.R. 2578 now moves to the Senate.
• Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at russell.stigall@juneauempire.com.
Comments (21)
Add commentSad news - It's a land grab
Land in exchange for votes. It puts a large chunk of the Tongass public lands into a for-profit corporation.
Sad.
Let's hope it dies in the Senate. Let's keep the Tongass in public hands, not private hands.
This is almost no chance of passing in the Senate
Even Republican Congressmen voted against it. There are not only environmental groups against, but it has alienated states on the borders because of the expansion of border patrol jurisdiction -- whatever happened to states rights? Why expand federal government control? Why give give Customs and Border Patrol such wide power (100 miles) on the border? This control could cover Lynden & Bellingham, Washington and other cities on the border of Canada.
two problems
first - amendments like this shouldn't be snuck into an Omnibus bill - they need to stand on their own.
Second - sponsored by a Californian - so not someone who cares a hoot about Alaskans.
Third - my understanding is that Alaskan's are overwhelmingly against this bill. ANCSA was a contract. Now one of the players wants to change the deal, and exchange land they've already used, can't used, or want someone else to protect for them, for land they can trash. Pure and simple.
ok - that's three, but this bill deserves all three.
So Don...
Finally showed up to work and THIS is what he voted on?
Tell me again. Why do we keep reelecting him?
Comments
Rough cut, I think I usually agree with you but this timber will be quickly harvested and exported as logs if the bill becomes law. At least when it remains with the USFS it must be harvested using sustainable yield, and it is subject to in-state primary processing (admitting of course that little will be harvested if in fact it remains with the USFS). Also, the land is locked up to people who live around it once it leaves public ownership. We have all seen the no trespassing signs on Sheeatika and Goldbelt lands where Juneau likes to recreate. And on top of that we have Senator Kookesh shaking down city governments over this legislation - and for some peculiar reason the legal community doesn't care.
Seedog, the unlimited control by the Homeland boys extends not just to Bellingham. Juneau shares a boundary with Canada, as do Haines and Skagway - all of Southeast. So long as the US government can still borrow money, if this law is enacted we can expect to see Homeland Security increase its take throughout Southeast.
Latitude, you need to go door-to-door in the Railbelt (where it counts) for Sharon Cissna. She would push back against this latest Homeland Security grab. I will be voting for Young however because a Democrat Congress would come for my guns! Land issues won't matter much to me if I am dead.
MacNamara, I think you will have the most traction with Senator Begich. He may also have been bought but people will be declaring their intent to run against him as early as January, and he knows that. By the way, do you know how Congressman Young gets away with saying the legislation transfers no old growth? I do not know.
Oh doggy
"I will be voting for Young however because a Democrat Congress would come for my guns!"
If it weren't so non-PC I'd call you a retard.
LOL lat!! You got my first
LOL lat!! You got my first laugh of the day with that one. I had been looking for a reason to not vote for this guy again. Wasn't hard just wanted one more thing to make me feel better. Before I would keep voting for our people because it's nice to know our people have a lot of power. But they continue to play politics with that power and now it's effecting the land I live in. Glad I voted against douche miller but murk and young won't be getting my votes again. Stop pandering to small special interest groups and take care of EVERYBODY.
a test for Senator Begich
It is difficult to pass anything in the Senate, the 60 vote hurdle so the Senators can vote on the bill itself has stopped virtually all legislation since President BO took office. Hopefully Senators Murkowski and Begich will be able to get 10 Dem's to cross the line so a actual vote on the bill can be had.
Senator Murkowski is not the only Alaska US Senator put in office by high Native voter turnout, isn't that right Senator Begich....
Wow, Brad Fleutsch is back
I wonder how long it will be before he has a meltdown.
(waves) - hi brad (bjfleutsch)!
FYI - Bills passed during the first two years of President Obama's 4-year term, it is only after the ultra-conservatives that were elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 that Congress became gridlocked. Even the Speaker Boehner can't keep them in line. Maybe you should take a civics lesson, the House must pass a bill and the Senate either must pass the same bill or the two meet in conference and reconcile the bills. Since the mainstream Republican party has been hijacked by ultra right-wing conservatives, this reconciliation process no longer takes place. In the Senate, when the Republicans can't get their way they filibuster the bill, put a secret hold on the bill, or refuse to let it come out of the rules committee. Please Brad, learn how the legislative branch works before you post again.
sovereignty only
One more chip-away at our Native American sovereignty. Because of ANCSA we'll be conciderd 'wards of the state' for years to come. The AK Native corporate oligarchs need to stop thinking they're nobles and come back to our level where they belong.This Raven hopes the US Senate stops it.
Dim witted as ever seahinnie
Dim witted as ever sea-hinnie! Frankly, I thought you would be enjoying the hospitality of the State of Washington by now, but instead all we get is blah blah blah blah, Obama???? blah blah blah blah OBAMA?????
...
I used to support the Forest Service. My ENTIRE family, including myself, has worked for the Forest Service. My father is retired from the organization. The philosophy in the organization has evolved from caring for public lands to taking ownership of them. Until this philosophy changes, I will support privatizing these lands and eliminating an organization that is not supported by our Constitution.
I would rather see the Native Corporations take ownership of them. The federal government owns no lands.
??????
Just curious, would most of these comments be posted if it were a non-native corporation? My bet is No. Land grab? Think back in history, who was on this land before. The discovery of gold and anyone could and did build on the land without finding out who's land is this.
I'm wondering where this idea of loosing our guns by voting for a Democrat? Even Democrats own guns. Now someone well come back and say "Follow the news, listen to what is being said" I do follow the news, listen and read what is being said and by whom.
The native vote made a difference and well again if the need arises.
LOL Glacierdogs
"Democrat Congress would come for my guns! Land issues won't matter much to me if I am dead"
Ok what part of twilight zone you came from?
This is how it happens
H.R. 2578 would “prohibit the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture from impeding or restricting activities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection on land under their respective jurisdiction within 100 miles of an international U.S. border,” according to bill language. Just a little addition to the bill and ops now this gets passed with few even paying attention to what it says.
All the controversy over having the NPS patrol areas was gong to be a Don Young priority. He sure fixed that as the Border Patrol will now be patrolling those same areas along with the NPS. Get out your maps ad see where a 100 mile swath along the border become a Border Patrol Jurisdiction. How much of South East is 100 miles from the border?
Thanks,Don!
"give precedence to Border Protection over the Endangered Species Act & the Wilderness Act ". Hell, yes!!
Remove the U.S. Forest Service goons from a large chunk of S.E. Alaska ? Hell,yes!!
You have our vote !
wavemkr, you fool
This act doesn't remove any goons, it just adds more goons, with pretty much unlimited powers.
Unless the admin and all of
Unless the admin and all of congress get majority support, there's no point messing with the borders because anything done will just get changed and tweaked and then redone. Unless your prepared to do it right the first time don't waste our time.
Noone has actually answered a question I have asked many times when it comes to the sealaska land transfer.
WHY ARE THE ORIGINAL TERMS THAT WERE AGREED UPON DECADES AGO BEING REDONE?
Why is this an issue in anyway? Give "them" what "we" and "they" agreed upon already.
Blah, blah, blah.
Any bets?
Guns
What crap! I remember when NRA claimed Clinton would come for your guns. Did he? Nooooo. Democrats are not stupid, guns is too hot button to deal with. NO DEMOCRAT WILL BE COMING FOR YOUR GUNS. VOTE FOR THE PERSON THAT WILL BEST REPRESENT YOU. DO NOT BUY INTO THE NRA REPUBLICAN BULL! THINK FOR YOURSELVES.