Legislation FAQ

+ Congress started a new session at the beginning of 2021. When do you anticipate legislation to be reintroduced?

Congressman Don Young has reintroduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Senators Murkowski and Sullivan plan to reintroduce legislation this summer.

+ Will the new legislation be identical to legislation that was introduced in the last session of Congress?

The House bill includes slight changes to the maps—areas that included U.S. Forest Service cabins were removed based on feedback from the communities. The Senate bill may include some changes as well, but the Senators are still reviewing public input they have received on the bill.

+ Numerous forms of draft legislation were introduced in previous sessions of Congress. Why continue to reintroduce new legislation now?

Asking why we keep persisting is like asking why equality of opportunity matters. Never before have the landless received this much support or attention at the local and state levels, and we intend to use the momentum that has been building for half a century to get our legislation introduced and passed for our landless communities. Justice is rarely convenient, but always necessary.

+ Is this a timber development bill?

No. This is not a timber development bill. It is a recognition of the five communities excluded from ANCSA and an authorization to treat those communities the same way that more than 200 other Alaska Native communities were treated. The fact that there are trees on the land does not mean that timber will be developed. Each Native community has the right to decide for themselves how to manage the land.

+ Is this legislation to resolve outstanding Alaska Native allotments?

No. This legislation does not address any issues related to Native allotments. We are not aware of any such legislation pending before Congress.

+ Has there been ample time to discuss community concerns surrounding legislation?

There has been more than enough time to discuss community concerns surrounding landless legislation, especially given the fact that this inequity has been mounting for 50 years. In addition to dedicated grassroots advocacy efforts for the past two years, the Southeast Alaska Landless Corporation has publicized specific land nominations to be included in the legislation and sought public and Tongass stakeholder feedback throughout their outreach. Numerous community and stakeholder meetings have been held in each community and throughout Southeast Alaska, Anchorage and Washington state to build awareness of the legislative process and progress on the bill. The bottom line is that we have been doing the work.

+ I have questions and concerns I would like to express about the landless legislation. Who should I reach out to?

Get in touch with our team at info@withoutland.org and we’ll get all your questions, comments or concerns addressed right away!

+ What effect will the legislation have on habitat, water quality and fisheries?

There is no question that timber was a driving economic force in Southeast Alaska in the 1970s and 1980s, and timber development by public and private landowners created significant political tension related to impacts on habitat, water quality and fisheries. An Alaska Native corporation has the right, if it chooses, to develop resources on its land, just like any other landowner, including federal, state, and tribal governments. However, the economy of Southeast Alaska is very different today, and Alaska Native corporations are taking a very different approach to questions about how to invest in timber and other economic opportunities, including fisheries and tourism. Alaska Native corporations are unique from standard corporations in the sense that they are managed through the lens of the Indigenous owners, Indigenous managers, and Indigenous experience. This means that Alaska Native corporations are driven by and for their Native values, which are inherently instilled in their business practices.

+ Tourism is an important industry in Southeast Alaska. How will this legislation affect tourism?

While this legislation doesn’t directly correlate with tourism, it does correlate with enhanced economic development that will be influenced by the specific industries that each urban corporation has the opportunity to invest in ─ this could very well include tourism, but that is up to each urban corporation to decide.

+ What are the next legislative steps? Once a bill is introduced in Congress, what are the legislative steps through to legislation becoming law?

Great question! After a bill is introduced, it is referred to the Congressional committee with jurisdiction over the legal question. Committee staff will research the legislation and the committee will meet in a hearing to discuss the merits of the legislation and take testimony on the legislation. After a hearing, and after the members of the committee have had an opportunity to consider the need, if any, for changes to the legislation, the committee will “mark up” the bill and then vote on whether to report the bill to the full Senate or full House, as applicable. Once the bill has been reported by the committee, it is available for consideration by the full House or Senate. If the bill is brought up for consideration on the Senate or House Floor, Members of that body will debate the bill and propose and consider further amendments before voting on passage. If a majority votes for and passes a bill, it moves to the other house for consideration. Both houses must agree on the same version of the bill before it goes to the president. The president can choose to sign or veto the bill; if the president signs the bill, it becomes law. For a simple breakdown of how a bill becomes law, head here!