[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 LEGISLATION PROVIDING FOR LAND CONVEYANCE TO VILLAGES WITHIN THE COOK 
                              INLET REGION

                                 ______


                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 28, 1995
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today, at 
the request of six villages of the Cook Inlet region, a bill to address 
a long standing unfulfilled obligation of the Federal Government under 
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to six Alaska Native villages 
within Cook Inlet region.
  Nowhere in Alaska were the competing interests for land so fierce as 
in southcentral Alaska. Nearly 20 years ago, Cook Inlet region and its 
six villages entered into a series of agreements with the Department of 
the Interior that were intended to address the competing land interests 
in southcentral Alaska and, at the same time, provide for the 
fulfillment of the Federal Government's obligation to them under the 
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
  This bill that I introduce is intended to fulfill the ANCSA 
entitlement to the Cook Inlet villages.
  The villages within Cook Inlet region have worked diligently to 
secure from the Bureau of Land Management 29,900 acres of high priority 
lands selected over 20 years ago. Starting in 1979, BLM had issued a 
number of decisions and had taken a number of administrative steps 
towards conveyance of these lands. In spite of this long track record 
of moving toward conveyance, the Department has now indicated to the 
villages that it lacks authority to make the conveyances.
  I am convinced that the villages of Cook Inlet have an equitable 
argument that the conveyances are proper, and that further delay in 
conveyance will cause them unnecessary economic hardship.
  My legislation provides the additional authority to the Department 
and directs that these conveyances be made with no further delays.


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