S 1468

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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 10, 2025

Mr. Sullivan introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to provide that Alexander Creek, Incorporated, is recognized as a Village Corporation under that Act, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ALEXANDER CREEK RECOGNITION.

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“SEC. 43. ALEXANDER CREEK RECOGNITION.

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) Alexander creek, incorporated.—The term ‘Alexander Creek, Incorporated’ means Alexander Creek, Incorporated, the entity organized and recognized—

“(A) on the day before the date of enactment of this section, as a Group Corporation; and

“(B) effective beginning on the date of enactment of this section, as a Village Corporation.

“(2) Alexander creek village.—The term ‘Alexander Creek village’ means the community—

“(A) located in T. 15 N., R. 7 W., Seward Meridian, in the State; and

“(B) recognized as a Native village under subsection (b)(2).

“(3) Region.—The term ‘Region’ means Cook Inlet Region, Incorporated, the appropriate Regional Corporation for Alexander Creek, Incorporated, under section 14(h).

“(b) Recognition of Alexander Creek.—Notwithstanding section 1432(d) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (Public Law 96-487; 94 Stat. 2543) and the deadline described in section 11(b)(3), subject to the requirements of this section—

“(1) Alexander Creek, Incorporated, is recognized as a Village Corporation pursuant to this Act; and

“(2) Alexander Creek village shall be recognized as a Native village, notwithstanding any other provision of this Act.

“(c) Organization of Alexander Creek, Incorporated.—As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this section, Alexander Creek, Incorporated, shall submit to the Secretary—

“(1) any amendments to the State corporate charter of Alexander Creek, Incorporated, necessary to convert Alexander Creek, Incorporated, from a Group Corporation to a Village Corporation; and

“(2) if necessary, any amendments to the State corporate charter or governing business documents of Alexander Creek, Incorporated, that fulfill the terms of the agreement described in subsection (d).

“(d) Agreement.—

“(1) Negotiations.—Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall offer to enter into negotiations with Alexander Creek, Incorporated, for the purposes of fairly and equitably settling—

“(A) the aboriginal land claims of Alexander Creek, Incorporated; and

“(B) any other claims of Alexander Creek, Incorporated, against the United States.

“(2) Condition.—As a condition of recognition as a Village Corporation under this Act, Alexander Creek, Incorporated, shall enter into an agreement with the Secretary to achieve the purposes described in paragraph (1) by not later than 13 months after the date of enactment of this section.

“(3) Parity.—To the maximum extent practicable, the agreement under this subsection shall achieve parity, with respect to approximate value, with similar agreements of other Village Corporations.

“(4) Treatment for federal property purposes.—

“(A) Coordination with gsa.—The Secretary shall coordinate with the Administrator of General Services with respect to any surplus property to be transferred to Alexander Creek, Incorporated, pursuant to the agreement under this subsection.

“(B) Status as a state and state agency.— Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 549(a) of title 40, United States Code, Alexander Creek, Incorporated, shall be considered to be a ‘State’ and a ‘State agency’ under that section for purposes of the agreement under this subsection.

“(C) Surplus property.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Alexander Creek, Incorporated, shall be eligible to receive real property declared to be surplus under section 1303 of title 40, United States Code, for purposes of the agreement under this subsection.

“(e) Shareholder Participation.—

“(1) In general.—Alexander Creek, Incorporated, shall notify each member of Alexander Creek village that—

“(A) effective beginning on the date of enactment of this section, the members shall cease to receive benefits from the Region as at-large shareholders pursuant to section 7(m); and

“(B) all future resource payments from the Region shall be retained by Alexander Creek, Incorporated, pursuant to section 7(j).

“(2) Liability.—The Region shall not be liable under any State, Federal, or local law, or under State or Federal common law, for damages arising out of or relating to the cessation of payments to members of Alexander Creek village under paragraph

(1)(A).

“(f) Construction Relating to Land Entitlements.—

“(1) In general.—Except as provided in this section with respect to Alexander Creek, Incorporated, nothing in this section modifies or amends any land conveyance entitlements or conveyance agreement between—

“(A) the Region and Village Corporations other than Alexander Creek, Incorporated;

“(B) the Region and the Federal Government; and

“(C) any party described in subparagraph (A) or

(B) and the State.

“(2) Current alexander creek, incorporated, land.—Nothing in this section reduces the land entitlement of Alexander Creek, Incorporated, as a Group Corporation before the date of enactment of this section, including any land selected by and conveyed to Alexander Creek, Incorporated, before that date of enactment.”. <all>