[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2017 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2017

To amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to recognize Alexander 
      Creek, Alaska, as a Native village, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 9, 2015

 Ms. Murkowski 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 recognize Alexander 
      Creek, Alaska, as a Native village, 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 VILLAGE 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 VILLAGE RECOGNITION.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Agency.--The term `agency' includes--
                    ``(A) any instrumentality of the United States;
                    ``(B) any element of an agency; and
                    ``(C) any wholly owned or mixed-owned corporation 
                of the Federal Government identified in chapter 91 of 
                title 31, United States Code.
            ``(2) Alexander creek.--The term `Alexander Creek' means 
        Alexander Creek, Incorporated, a Village Corporation recognized 
        and organized pursuant to section (b).
            ``(3) Region.--The term `Region' means Cook Inlet Region 
        Incorporated, a Regional Corporation, which is the appropriate 
        Regional Corporation for Alexander Creek under section 14(h).
    ``(b) Recognition of the Village of Alexander Creek.--Subject to 
the limitations of this section and notwithstanding subsection (d) of 
section 1432 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act 
(Public Law 96-487; 94 Stat. 2543) or any conveyance under that 
section, Alexander Creek, Incorporated, a Group Corporation organized 
pursuant to this Act located within T. 15 N., R. 7 W., Seward Meridian, 
Alaska, is recognized as an eligible Native village under section 
11(b)(3).
    ``(c) Organization of Alexander Creek.--As soon as practicable 
after the date of enactment of this section, Alexander Creek shall file 
in the State--
            ``(1) any amendments to the corporate charter of Alexander 
        Creek that are necessary to convert from a Group Corporation to 
        a Village Corporation; and
            ``(2) any amendments to the corporate charter and governing 
        business documents of Alexander Creek that are necessary to 
        fulfill the terms of the agreement authorized under subsection 
        (d).
    ``(d) Negotiations; Agreement.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
        enactment of this section, the Secretary shall commence 
        negotiations with Alexander Creek to fairly and equitably 
        settle any aboriginal land claims and any other claims that 
        Alexander Creek has against the United States.
            ``(2) Agreement.--
                    ``(A) Deadline.--Not later than 13 months after the 
                date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall 
                enter into an agreement with Alexander Creek relating 
                to the claims described in paragraph (1).
                    ``(B) Terms.--Notwithstanding the prior status of 
                Alexander Creek as a Group Corporation, an agreement 
                under this paragraph shall be in approximate value 
                parity, considering inflation, with agreements of other 
                Village Corporations.
                    ``(C) Availability of funds.--Any funds to be 
                provided for Alexander Creek under an agreement entered 
                into under this paragraph shall be available subject to 
                appropriations.
                    ``(D) Applicable law.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                        carry out an agreement entered into under this 
                        paragraph--
                                    ``(I) in accordance with this 
                                section and other existing authorities; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) in coordination with the 
                                Administrator of General Services 
                                pursuant to section 549 of title 40, 
                                United States Code, with respect to 
                                property to be transferred to Alexander 
                                Creek pursuant to the agreement, 
                                subject to clause (ii).
                            ``(ii) Consideration as state.--
                        Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3) of 
                        section 549(a) of title 40, United States Code, 
                        Alexander Creek shall be considered a `State' 
                        and a `State agency' under that section for the 
                        purposes of the Secretary carrying out an 
                        agreement under this paragraph.
    ``(e) Shareholder Participation.--
            ``(1) In general.--Alexander Creek shall notify each member 
        of the Village Corporation recognized under subsection (b) 
        that, as of the date of enactment of this section--
                    ``(A) the member 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 made to the Village Corporation pursuant to 
                section 7(j).
            ``(2) Limitation of liability.--The Region shall not be 
        liable under any Federal, State, or local law or under Federal 
        or State common law for damages arising out of or related to 
        the cessation of payments to the members of Alexander Creek 
        described in paragraph (1)(A).
    ``(f) Effect.--Except as provided in this section with respect to 
Alexander Creek, nothing in this section--
            ``(1) modifies or amends any land conveyance entitlement or 
        conveyance agreement--
                    ``(A) between the Region and a Village Corporation 
                (other than Alexander Creek) in the Region;
                    ``(B) between the Region and the Federal 
                Government; or
                    ``(C) between any party described in subparagraph 
                (A) or (B) and the State; or
            ``(2) reduces the land entitlement to which Alexander Creek 
        became entitled as a Group Corporation, including the land 
        selected by and conveyed to Alexander Creek on the date of 
        enactment of this section.''.
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