Sam Gibbons: “Senate 1421 is legislation sponsored by the gentlewoman from Alaska (Senator Murkowski) that will yield tremendous…”

“Senate 1421 is legislation sponsored by the gentlewoman from Alaska (Senator Murkowski) that will yield tremendous benefits to Alaska native owners of lands they obtained under the Native Allotment Act of 1906. The bill resolves a problem that is confounding the State of Alaska, Alaska municipalities and the owners of native allotments. In the past few years, government attorneys have questioned whether current law authorizes the subdivision of Alaska native allotments or the placement of certain easements across them. Some allotments have already been subdivided, and the validity of these subdivisions is now in question. This bill fixes the problem. It allows Alaska natives to subdivide their allotments and dedicate rights-of-way on them, according to State law, without losing the protections in the restricted status of such lands. The law does not force Alaska natives to do anything with their lands. Rather, it gives them more freedom to utilize their property in an economically beneficial manner. This is an excellent, noncontroversial bill worked out cooperatively by all affected parties. I urge the adoption of this bill.”