[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 150 (Friday, October 29, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2219-E2220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE CRAIG MUNICIPAL EQUITY ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 28, 1999

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce a bill to solve a 
unique Alaska problem occurring in the city of Craig, a city located in 
the far southeastern part of Alaska on Prince of Wales Island, the 
third largest island in the country. Craig is unlike any other small 
town or village in Alaska. It has no land base upon which to maintain 
its local services and no ability to utilize many Federal programs 
which are dependent upon a large Alaska Native population for 
eligibility.
  Nevertheless, the community has grown from a mostly Native population 
of 250 in 1971 to over 2,500 residents, most of whom are not Alaska 
Natives. Despite this change in demographics, the town is surrounded by 
land selections from two different Alaska Native Village Corporations. 
In fact, 93 percent of the land within the Craig city limits is owned 
by these village corporations. Under Federal law passed in 1987, none 
of the village land is subject to taxation so long as the land is not 
developed. The city of Craig has only 300 acres of land owned privately 
by individuals within its city limits to serve as its municipal tax 
base. It can annex no other land because the entire land base outside 
its municipal boundaries is owned by the Federal Government as part of 
the Tongass National Forest or another Alaska Native corporation.
  As its population increases and costs rise, Craig's demands for 
municipal services increase. According to the State of Alaska, Craig is 
the fastest-growing first class city in the State. Since its large non-
Native majority population makes the town and its residents largely 
ineligible for Federal programs which serve virtually all other ANSCA 
villages, it has requested a small conveyance of 4,532 acres of Federal 
land located not far from the town. That land entitlement would permit 
the city to develop a land base upon which it could support its 
increasing demand for municipal services.
  The land base which is included in this bill has been carefully 
chosen. It is less than 20 miles from the city and abuts the existing 
road system. It is the first available land from the city limits not 
owned by an Alaska Native corporation. The land will complete a sound 
management system by providing municipal ownership of land adjacent to 
both existing private and State-owned land. It will be a good use of 
this land which is nowhere near any environmentally sensitive lands 
such as wilderness areas. This part of Prince of Wales Island has 
roads, communities, and other developed sites near it. There will be no 
land use conflicts created by this conveyance.
  My bill provides a fairly simple and very reasonable solution to 
Craig's dilemma: it provides a direct grant of 4,532 acres to the city. 
While I reviewed a land exchange, the city has no land to trade. The 
city received no municipal entitlement because the Forest Service never 
agreed to any land selection by the State of Alaska in this part of 
Prince of Wales Island. The only substantial land near Craig besides 
the actual 300 acres on which Craig sits is owned by the Federal 
Government in

[[Page E2220]]

the national forest or by Alaska Native corporations.
  I intend to hold a hearing on this bill early in the next session and 
begin the process to move the bill through the House to final passage 
in the Congress.

                          ____________________