Sam Gibbons: “Mr. Speaker, Senate 1466 accelerates the process of conveying public land in Alaska under the Native Allotment Act of…”

“Mr. Speaker, Senate 1466 accelerates the process of conveying public land in Alaska under the Native Allotment Act of 1906, the Alaska Statehood Act of 1958, and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. Ninety million acres of Federal land entitlements intended for Alaska natives, the State of Alaska, and native corporations under these three acts are yet to be surveyed. While such lands may be selected or conveyed on an interim basis, full ownership of the lands is not enjoyed until the final conveyance. Existing procedures for transferring the lands affected by this bill are highly complex. Lawsuits and delays are inevitable as competing claims attempt to sort out the confusion. Senate 1466 enhances the ability of the Federal Government, the State, and Alaska natives to speed up the conveyance process through a more flexible process of negotiation and through authorization of appropriations to finish the necessary surveys of the land. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to adopt this bill.”