Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025

Floor Speech

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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 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.

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Mr. STAUBER. 2815, the bill now under consideration.

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.
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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.

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