[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 211 (Monday, December 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H5879-H5880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CAPE FOX LAND ENTITLEMENT FINALIZATION ACT OF 2025
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2815) to provide equitable treatment for the people of the
Village Corporation established for the Native Village of Saxman,
Alaska, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2815
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Cape Fox Land Entitlement
Finalization Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Cape fox.--The term ``Cape Fox'' means the Cape Fox
Village Corporation, a Village Corporation for the Native
Village of Saxman, Alaska, organized pursuant to the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).
(2) Federal land.--The term ``Federal land'' means the
approximately 180 acres of surface land within the Tongass
National Forest in the State of Alaska, as generally depicted
on the Map.
(3) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``Cape
Fox Village Corporation Final Selection'' and dated December
18, 2023.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. WAIVER OF CORE TOWNSHIP REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN LAND.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 16(b) of the
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1615(b)), Cape
Fox shall not be required to select or receive conveyance of
the approximately 185 acres of unconveyed land described in
subsection (b) located within the township in which the
Native Village of Saxman, Alaska, is located.
(b) Land Described.--The land referred to in subsection (a)
is as follows:
(1) Approximately 40 acres in T. 74 S., R.90 E., sec. 10,
SWNE, Copper River Meridian.
(2) Approximately 144.57 acres in T. 75 S., R.91 E., sec.
1, lots 1, 3, and 4, Copper River Meridian.
SEC. 4. SELECTION OUTSIDE EXTERIOR SELECTION BOUNDARY.
(a) Selection and Conveyance of Surface Estate.--Not later
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, if Cape
Fox submits to the Secretary a written notice of selection of
the Federal land, the Secretary shall, on receiving that
written notice, convey the Federal land to Cape Fox.
(b) Conveyance of Subsurface Estate.--On conveyance to Cape
Fox of the surface estate to the Federal land under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall convey to Sealaska
Corporation the subsurface estate to that Federal land.
(c) Timing.--It is the intent of Congress that the
Secretary complete the conveyances to Cape Fox and Sealaska
Corporation under subsections (a) and (b), respectively, as
soon as practicable after the date on which the Secretary
receives a written notice of the selection of Cape Fox under
subsection (a), but not later than 180 days after the date on
which the Secretary receives that written notice.
(d) Entitlement Fulfilled.--The conveyance of Federal land
to Cape Fox and the subsurface interest in the Federal land
to Sealaska Corporation under subsections (a) and (b),
respectively, shall be considered to fulfill the entitlement
of--
(1) Cape Fox under section 16 of the Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1615); and
(2) Sealaska Corporation to any subsurface interest in the
Federal land under section 14(f) of that Act (43 U.S.C.
1613(f)).
SEC. 5. PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENT.
The conveyance of the Federal land under section 4 shall be
subject to the reservation of a public easement under section
17(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C.
1616(b)) to allow for access to National Forest System land
further inland on Revillagigedo Island from the George Inlet.
SEC. 6. VALID EXISTING RIGHTS.
Unless otherwise agreed to by the Secretary, the Secretary
of Agriculture, and Cape Fox, the
[[Page H5880]]
conveyances under this legislation shall be subject to any
valid existing rights, reservations, rights-of-way, and other
encumbrances of third parties in, to, or on the Federal land
as of the date of enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Minnesota (Mr. Stauber) and the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr.
Hernandez) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.
General Leave
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 2815, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Minnesota?
There was no objection.
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2815, the Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization
Act of 2025, introduced by Representative Begich of Alaska, would
finalize the Cape Fox Corporation's remaining Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act, or ANCSA, land entitlement. In addition, this
legislation will resolve land management issues tied to the Mahoney
Lake power project.
ANCSA was enacted by Congress to settle the aboriginal land claims of
Alaska Natives. Under ANCSA, Alaska Native Corporations were
established to receive land under the settlement and disburse money to
Alaska Natives. The Cape Fox Corporation, or CFC, has yet to receive
their full conveyance, with 180 acres remaining.
The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for conveying the
remaining acres to CFC and has proposed specific acreage to complete
the entitlement. However, CFC has rejected the BLM's proposal, as the
proposed lands were outside of their core township, noncontiguous with
their existing land holdings, and of limited economic value.
CFC has identified 180 acres of land between their existing parcels,
which would connect the land and complete the settlement. The acres in
this legislation would also enable the development of Mahoney Lake
power projects. CFC holds a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
license and an easement for a power line and road corridor nearby. They
also own the land adjacent to the substation.
Power demand for the area exceeds available supply. In fact, in 2024,
all available power was online, and it still was not enough. This
legislation takes steps to increase the availability of affordable
power for the area.
This legislation would not only finalize CFC's remaining ANCSA land
conveyance, but it also resolves land management issues related to the
power project.
Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Begich for his work on behalf of his
constituency. I urge support for this bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, or ANCSA, was
enacted to recognize and settle the land claims of Alaska Natives. As
part of this act, the Cape Fox Village Corporation received a land
entitlement but was unable to select usable land due to a technicality
that restricted Cape Fox from selecting lands within six miles of
Ketchikan. This left Cape Fox with mostly remote, mountainous lands
with no productive or economic value. As a result, ANCSA settlement for
Cape Fox remains unresolved.
H.R. 2815 would waive the technical requirement and allow the
Secretary of the Interior to convey approximately 180 acres of surface
estate within the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska to the
Cape Fox Corporation, along with subsurface interests to the Sealaska
Corporation. This legislation would resolve the longstanding land claim
issue for Cape Fox.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Alaska (Mr. Begich), the lead sponsor of this bill.
Mr. BEGICH. Mr. Speaker, Alaska's future is tied to land. It is how
we build infrastructure, develop our resources, and create
opportunities for our communities, but for far too long, Alaska Native
Corporations have faced unnecessary delays and constraints in securing
the lands they were promised under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement
Act.
After more than 50 years, Cape Fox Corporation, representing the
village of Saxman, is among the last southeast villages still waiting
for a full land entitlement.
H.R. 2815 fixes that. The bill authorizes a simple strategic land
exchange, about 180 acres, to finally connect two Cape Fox parcels and
honor a promise made decades ago.
This bill also paves the way for a renewable energy corridor and
year-round access to vital subsistence and tourism areas. It enables
local development, supports energy independence, and strengthens
southeast Alaska's economy, all while respecting Tribal sovereignty and
the original intent of ANCSA.
There is strong local support for this bill from utilities,
businesses, and local governments. It is a commonsense, consensus-
driven solution. Let's finish what Congress started and deliver
resolution to the people of Saxman.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2815 and help move
the people of Saxman forward.
Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2815 finalizes CFC's outstanding ANCSA
land conveyance while working to alleviate future land concerns with
the Mahoney Lake power project. This legislation has the support of
various Alaska organizations, government representatives, and impacted
groups.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Begich for his hard work on this bill. I
urge passage of H.R. 2815, and I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1640
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2815, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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