Land Conveyances for Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans

Floor Speech

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Mr. BEGICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on H.R. 410, the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025.

This bill extends the application period for the Alaska Native Vietnam era veterans land allotment program by 5 years, ensuring that eligible veterans can claim the land that they were promised.

For decades, thousands of Alaska Native veterans who served in Vietnam were unfairly denied the ability to apply for land allotments due to their service overseas. While Congress took steps to correct this injustice, the executive branch, until recently, has been slow processing applications and conveyances, leaving many veterans in limbo.

As of January 2025, out of more than 2,000 eligible veterans, only 41 applications have been certified, and only 18 veterans have received their conveyances.

Fortunately, executive orders issued by the current administration have reinstated Federal land withdrawals that were previously revoked. This bill will give these veterans time to participate in the program, with ample land for viable selections.

These veterans served our country honorably, and we need to make sure that they are not denied what they were promised.

I thank the Speaker for consideration of H.R. 410, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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