Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill to allow five Southeast Alaska communities to finally be allowed to form urban corporations under the terms of 1971's Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, the Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act. I am joined in sponsoring this bill by my Alaska colleague, Senator Dan Sullivan. At the very beginning of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 there are a series of findings and declarations of congressional policy that explain the underpinnings of this landmark legislation. The first clause reads: ``There is an immediate need for a fair and just settlement of all claims by Natives and Native groups of Alaska, based on aboriginal land claims.'' The second clause states: ``The settlement should be accomplished rapidly, with certainty, in conformity with the real economic and social needs of Natives.'' Unfortunately 44 years have passed since the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act became law and still the Native peoples of five communities in Southeast Alaska: Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Tenakee and Haines--the five ``landless communities''--are still waiting for their fair and just settlement. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act originally awarded $966 million and 44 million acres of land to Alaska Natives and provided for the establishment of Native Corporations to receive and manage such funds and lands.…”