Congressional Record, December 16, 2021, from Page S9265 — United States Senate
Summary
Page S9265 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for December 16, 2021, in interleaved columns. Resolution text calls on the Government of the Russian Federation to abide by commitments agreed to in 2014 and 2015 in the Minsk agreements. Senate Resolution 481 urges the Secretary of the Interior to recognize a leadership model in the State of Alaska under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and whereas clauses recall the naming of a school for Roberto Clemente. Committees are authorized to meet during that day's session of the Senate.
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December 16, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S9265
(4) calls on the Government of the Russian New Roberto Clemente Middle School in ership model used in the 48 contiguous
Federation to abide by commitments agreed April 2005; States of designating reservations held in
to in 2014 and 2015 in the Minsk agreements. Whereas the Paterson School District des- trust by the Federal Government;
f ignated an elementary school the Roberto Whereas, recognizing the uneven distribu-
Clemente Elementary School in September tion of natural resources in the State among
SENATE RESOLUTION 481—URGING 1975; the 12 regions in the State, subsections (i)
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTE- Whereas the Newark Board of Education and (j) of section 7 of ANCSA (43 U.S.C. 1606)
RIOR TO RECOGNIZE THE HIS- designated an elementary school the Roberto include provisions that reflect the Alaska
TORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF RO- Clemente Elementary School; Native values of sharing and cooperation;
BERTO CLEMENTE’S PLACE OF Whereas The Roberto Clemente Little Whereas, under section 7 of ANCSA (43
DEATH NEAR PINONES IN LOIZA, League in Branch Brook Park in Newark, U.S.C. 1606)—
New Jersey, is named in his honor; (1) 70 percent of the annual revenues of
PUERTO RICO, BY ADDING IT TO each land-owning Regional Corporation de-
Whereas Roberto Clemente was post-
THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF humously awarded the Presidential Medal of rived from the land of that Regional Cor-
HISTORIC PLACES Freedom, Presidential Citizens Medal, and poration are required under subsection (i) of
Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. the Congressional Gold Medal for his civic that section to be shared with all other Re-
BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. BROWN, and charitable contributions; and gional Corporations; and
Whereas the crash site in the adjacent area (2) Regional Corporations are then re-
Mr. CASEY, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. MARKEY, quired, under subsection (j) of that section,
to Playa Aviones in the municipality of
Mr. PADILLA, Ms. WARREN, Mr. LUJÁN, to share 50 percent of the revenues described
Loı́za, Puerto Rico, was the last place where
and Ms. DUCKWORTH) submitted the fol- Roberto Clemente graced this world 49 years in paragraph (1) with—
lowing resolution; which was referred ago: Now, therefore, be it (A) the Village Corporations and Urban
to the Committee on Energy and Nat- Resolved, That the Senate requests that the Corporations that are located in the same
ural Resources: Secretary of the Interior recognize the crash region as the applicable Regional Corpora-
S. RES. 481 site of Roberto Clemente’s airplane and the tion; and
adjacent land by adding the site to the Na- (B) the at-large shareholders of the appli-
Whereas Roberto Clemente was a renowned cable Regional Corporation;
baseball player born on August 18, 1934, in tional Register of Historic Places.
Whereas each Regional Corporation, at
Carolina, Puerto Rico; f times, has received more shared revenue
Whereas Roberto Clemente started playing under section 7(i) of ANCSA (43 U.S.C.
for the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National SENATE RESOLUTION 482—RECOG- 1606(i)) than internally produced revenue,
League in Major League Baseball in 1955, and NIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY demonstrating the importance of incor-
went on to play for them for 18 seasons, be- OF THE ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS porating the Alaska Native values of sharing
coming a baseball legend; SETTLEMENT ACT AND THE and cooperation into ANCSA;
Whereas Roberto Clemente won the 1960 LASTING IMPACT OF THAT ACT Whereas, under ANCSA during the 50-year
and 1971 World Series Championships with period preceding the date of adoption of this
ON THE STATE OF ALASKA AND
the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 1971 World Series resolution, Alaska Native people have man-
Most Valuable Player Award, the 1966 Na- ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLE
aged their land successfully, fostering sus-
tional League Most Valuable Player Award, Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself and Ms. tainable businesses and creating employ-
15 All Star selections (1960-1967, 1969-1972), 12 MURKOWSKI) submitted the following ment opportunities for all Alaskans, Native
consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1961-1972), 4 resolution; which was referred to the and non-Native, and people across the United
National Batting Titles (1961, 1963-1965, 1967, States and around the world;
Committee on Indian Affairs:
1969), and hit the only walk-off, inside-the- Whereas ANCSA has benefitted all Alas-
park grand slam home run in professional S. RES. 482
kans—
baseball history on July 25, 1956; Whereas the Alaska Native Claims Settle- (1) through diversifying the economy of the
Whereas Roberto Clemente became the ment Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) (referred to State; and
first Latin American ballplayer to reach in this preamble as ‘‘ANCSA’’) was signed (2) by bringing revenue and expertise back
3,000 career hits on September 30, 1972; into law on December 18, 1971, to settle long- to the State through Native Corporation
Whereas Roberto Clemente enlisted into standing issues of Alaska Native aboriginal business ventures in the national and inter-
the United States Marine Corps in 1958, and land claims in the State of Alaska (referred national realms;
served as an infantryman for 6 years until to in this preamble as the ‘‘State’’); Whereas ANCSA has been amended by al-
1964, when he was honorably discharged; Whereas the 1970s welcomed a new era of most every Congress since the enactment of
Whereas Roberto Clemente embodied the Federal Indian policy, one of economic and that Act in 1971, with some of the most sig-
values of a model citizen through his acts of self-determination, with the passage of nificant and lasting amendments being en-
service and humanitarian efforts toward ANCSA; acted in the Alaska Native Claims Settle-
those in need, regardless of their location; Whereas title to 44,000,000 acres of land and ment Act Amendments of 1987 (Public Law
Whereas Roberto Clemente was on his way $962,500,000 were transferred to Alaska Native 100–241; 101 Stat. 1788) (commonly known as
to selflessly provide humanitarian aid to people as a result of the land claims settle- the ‘‘1991 amendments’’) (referred to in this
earthquake-ridden Nicaragua when he died; ment under ANCSA, including— preamble as the ‘‘1991 amendments’’);
Whereas the plane that Roberto Clemente (1) title to property in the clearly defined Whereas among the provisions in the 1991
was on crashed into the ocean shortly after traditional homelands of Alaska Native peo- amendments was an extension of the prohibi-
taking off from Isla Verde International Air- ple; and tion on the sale of Native Corporation stock
port/Aeropuerto Internacional de Isla Verde (2) money to help compensate for the land in perpetuity unless a majority of all share-
on December 31, 1972; Alaska Native people would not receive; holders of the applicable Native Corporation
Whereas Roberto Clemente was only 38 Whereas the purpose of the land claims set- voted to remove that restriction, which—
years old when he passed away; tlement under ANCSA was to ensure the so- (1) enabled shares to be held mostly by the
Whereas Roberto Clemente was the first cial and economic well-being of Alaska Na- Alaska Native people; and
Puerto Rican inducted into the National tive people without creating a lengthy ward- (2) allowed Alaska Native people to pass
Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973; ship under the Federal Government; that stock from 1 generation to the next and,
Whereas Buenaventura Boulevard was des- Whereas ANCSA mandated— as a result, increase the number of Alaska
ignated as the Roberto Clemente Memorial (1) the creation of— Native shareholders in a Native Corporation;
Roadway by the Osceola County Board of (A) 12 land-owning and for-profit Re- Whereas another provision in the 1991
County Commissioners in 2015; gional Corporations covering all of the amendments allowed shareholders of each
Whereas Stonewall Jackson Middle School State; and Native Corporation to vote to include de-
was renamed Roberto Clemente Middle (B) 1 non-land-owning Regional Corpora- scendants of original shareholders born after
School by the Orange County School Board tion for non-residents of the State; and the date of enactment of ANCSA to become
in September 2020; (2) the incorporation of over 200 Village shareholders regardless of date of birth;
Whereas Stonewall Jackson Road, a mile- Corporations and Urban Corporations within Whereas the pioneering work of Alaska Na-
long stretch of road off of Semoran Boule- each region of the State, either as for-profit tive leaders of the mid-20th century created
vard, was renamed for Roberto Clemente by or nonprofit corporations, with the land, as- a lasting legacy of professional, personal,
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
the Orlando City Council in June 2021; sets, and businesses of those corporations to and historic economic success;
Whereas a portion of Route 21 in Newark be owned by Native shareholders; Whereas Alaska Native people have pros-
was designated as the Roberto Clemente Me- Whereas ANCSA redefined Alaska Native pered from their own initiative and innova-
morial Highway by the New Jersey Legisla- land ownership by conveying Native-owned tive approaches to fostering economic devel-
ture in June 2016; fee simple title to the newly-created Native opment through self-determination;
Whereas the Paterson School District, the Corporations and, through those Corpora- Whereas Alaska Native resiliency, leader-
City of Paterson, and New Jersey Schools tions, to Alaska Native shareholders of each ship, and relentless work ethic have devel-
Construction Corporation inaugurated the Corporation, rather than using the land own- oped and supported some of the previously
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S9266 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 16, 2021
most underserved regions in the United For those who are not familiar with They also provide important services
States into some of the most thriving, im- Alaska’s history, ANCSA, as we call it, for their people, like scholarships and
proving life expectancy and health condi- is one of the foundational laws for my cultural stewardship, often through
tions in those very regions;
Whereas subsequent to ANCSA ushering in
State. It settled aboriginal land names. their nonprofit foundations. Because of
the era of self-determination in Federal In- It chartered hundreds of Alaska Native ANCSA, significant investments have
dian policy, the Indian Self-Determination corporations to own lands and to em- been made in real estate, construction,
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 power their Alaska Native share- tourism, workforce development, pro-
et seq.) (referred to in this preamble as the holders. fessional services, and so much more.
‘‘ISDEAA’’) was enacted in 1975; Now, this structure is very unique. I We have also seen the very clear ben-
Whereas the ISDEAA defined Native Cor- think most of us think about a cor- efit of resource development. We see
porations as Indian Tribes for the purposes this up in the NANA region with the
poration and you think about an IBM
of that Act;
or a General Electric, but an Alaska Red Dog Mine. We are hoping that can
Whereas, because of the ISDEAA, federally
recognized Alaska Native Tribes and Native Native corporation and the share- be replicated at prospects like Donlin
Corporations have worked together to serve holders who are part of them are very, Gold in the Calista region. Revenue
as providers for health, housing, and other very different from the corporate sharing—very, very unique within
Tribal services; structure that most know. ANCSA—revenue sharing with village
Whereas, beyond monetary benefits to This approach that was arrived at corporations and leadership in the area
shareholders, Native Corporations, through with the Alaska Native Claims Settle- of cultural resource protection—we see
the structure and mandates of ANCSA, pro- that down in the southeast region.
vide countless additional benefits, includ-
ment Act was new. It was a clear, clear
departure from the reservation model These are just a few of the examples of
ing—
(1) scholarships; in the lower 48. It ushered in a new where ANCSA really got it right.
(2) burial and funeral assistance; level of economic self-determination As we look back at ANCSA, we recog-
(3) internships; through private land ownership. nize that there were many, many peo-
(4) language revitalization programs; ple who helped to make it happen—not
(5) careers; and Alaska Native leaders took a look at
(6) culture camps; the reservation system that was just President Nixon, as I mentioned,
Whereas education has, and continues to throughout other parts of America, and the congressional delegation, of course,
be, a key focus for Regional Corporations, in most of them—not all, but most of but more importantly, the many
which is evidenced by the fact that all 12 them—decided on another path, saying: strong Alaska Native leaders, like
land-owning Regional Corporations have— That is not the route that we would Emil Notti, Etok Edwardsen, and John
(1) education foundations to help support Borbridge, among many, many others.
shareholders and descendants who want to take.
They wanted to manage their lands, We are fortunate that some of the
advance their educational endeavors; and
(2) as of the date of adoption of this resolu- manage their resources on their own key ANCSA advocates are still with us
tion, awarded more than 54,000 individual terms, and to have greater economic today, but, sadly, many of the vision-
scholarships; prosperity and independence. ary leaders who were so instrumental
Whereas Alaska Native people hold numer- So in Alaska, we have 229 Tribes in in the negotiations have passed on, and
ous positions of leadership in the State and there are far too many to mention
the State, and, as someone who comes
beyond, inspiring younger generations of here, but I will share the story of one
Alaskans; from a State where you do have many
Tribes, I think it always gets people’s of them.
Whereas further improvements to ANCSA Don Wright, this individual right
must continue in order to fulfill all of the attention when I say we have about 40
promises of ANCSA and all of the promises percent of the Tribes in the Nation here, was born in Nenana back in 1929.
made by the Federal Government to Alaska He is shown here with Ted Stevens,
that are located in Alaska.
Native people; ANCSA established more than 200 vil- over to the right. This is Don’s wife
Whereas the dedication and enthusiasm of lage corporations along with regional Carol, and this is the Senator from
the next generations of Alaska Native lead-
and urban corporations. And under this Vermont, Senator Stafford.
ers honors the previous generations of Alas- Don was known for his charisma and
ka Native leaders who worked diligently to settlement, Congress transferred some
his skill as a negotiator and a political
achieve the most significant Native land set- 44 million acres of land in Alaska to
leader. Many Alaska Natives at the
tlement in the history of the United States; the private ownership of these newly time were just very, very personally in-
Whereas, with the adoption of Senate Res- created corporations. They also appro- vested in this effort, and he was one
olution 351, 112th Congress, agreed to Decem- priated $962 million in compensation.
ber 17, 2011, the Senate recognized the impor- who really led in this. He personally
So there was the transfer of ownership, contributed to the advocacy effort,
tance of ANCSA; and
as well as the conveyance of dollars. both in time and money. Don led that,
Whereas the people of the United States
have reason to honor the tremendous edu- So as shareholders, the Alaska Na- along with others.
cational, social, political, economic, and cul- tive people would then be able to de- He and others spent nights sleeping
tural achievements of Alaska Native people cide for themselves how to use, how to on the streets here in Washington, DC,
over the past 50 years: Now, therefore, be it protect, and how to guide development or in the Halls of Congress. They
Resolved, That the Senate— of their lands and their resources. As
(1) recognizes December 18, 2021, as the 50th
maxed out credit cards to pay for the
Marlene Johnson put it, ANCSA meant long trips all the way from Alaska to
anniversary of the passage of the Alaska Na- that Alaska Natives ‘‘were able to sur-
tive Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et come here to DC to the Capitol. Don
seq.) (referred to in this resolution as
round and put their arms around the once paid the way for 20 Alaskans to
‘‘ANCSA’’); land that belonged to their forefathers travel with him to lobby for the legis-
(2) commemorates the extensive achieve- and will belong to their grandkids,’’ lation. He was really all in. He fought
ments made by Alaska Native people and she said, ‘‘That is really impor- tirelessly to secure Native land rights.
through the implementation of ANCSA, tant.’’ It really is. He was president of the Alaska Fed-
while simultaneously maintaining their cul- Today the economic success of eration of Natives when ANCSA actu-
ture, traditions, and ways of life, during the ANCSA is as self-evident as it is self- ally became law. He was able to meet
50-year period preceding the date of adoption determined. ANCSA has positively im-
of this resolution; and with President Nixon in 1971 to encour-
pacted not just Alaska Native people age passage of the bill and was truly a
(3) celebrates the successes of Alaska Na-
tive people during that 50-year period, with but Alaska as a whole. ANCs, as we call driving force behind the effort.
optimism for the next 50 years and beyond. them, have become key economic driv- He framed it well by saying that
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, ers, creating jobs and industry in Alas- year:
ka but also across the country and
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I mentioned that I came to the floor to The President and the Congress must de-
speak about a significant matter for even around the globe. cide whether this last chapter is to be writ-
Alaska. It is a significant milestone for ANCs consistently rank as the top 10 ten in dignity or dishonor.
my State. Just 2 days from now, on De- Alaska-owned businesses by gross rev- I think, thanks to Don Wright and
cember 18, we will mark the 50th anni- enue, and many of the largest office many other Native leaders, it was writ-
versary of the Alaska Native Claims buildings and employers in Anchorage ten in dignity.
Settlement Act being signed into law and Fairbanks and Juneau are home to I am really very, very humbled by all
by President Nixon back in 1971. ANCs. of the incredible people who helped
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December 16, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S9267
shape ANCSA, many of whom I am for- its text and therefore unable to create merly used defense sites, were con-
tunate to know and to call my friends. what we call urban corporations. taminated. The Federal Government
It is a privilege to be able to honor and Today, this is a 50-year injustice for knew they were contaminated, but
thank them here on the Senate floor these five Alaska Native communities they were still conveyed to the ANCs
for their fortitude, their determina- of Haines, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Peters- as contaminated lands, and the govern-
tion, and their perseverance. burg, and Tenakee. I have had the ment is saying: OK. This is part of your
I remain unwavering in my commit- privilege to live in Wrangell and to be land settlement. We are going to give
ment to help today’s leaders as we con- born in Ketchikan, so these are com- you these lands, but you can’t use
tinue to improve ANCSA and ensure munities that are pretty close to my these lands because they are contami-
that the Federal Government upholds heart. nated.
its promise to Alaska Native people. The situation in terms of being left There are horrible consequences that
Now, we say around here all the time out was challenging enough. It is not we are seeing to this. We have clusters
that there is no law that we have writ- made easier by their location in the of illnesses, cancer. I just had a report
ten and passed that is perfect, and Tongass National Forest. But I would that was presented to the Alaska Fed-
ANCSA is certainly no exception. It is remind the Senate that they and their eration of Natives Convention just this
really a living document, if you will, ancestors lived in this area. They took past week. This is causing real suf-
still changing, still evolving. There are care of these lands long before the Fed- fering, true consequences, death in
gaps; we recognize that. There are eral Government came along and made these communities.
shortcomings, and we still have unfin- the designation of a national forest. It is no fault of the people who live
ished business, important issues that That nearly all of their region has there and received these lands in set-
we have to resolve. One of these is re- since been taken and classified as a tlement from the Federal Government.
cent, unfortunately, and it does not in- Federal forest is no reason to refuse to It is a Federal responsibility for us to
volve amending ANCSA, but, instead, acknowledge and work with us on this. take care of this, so we have a plan we
it calls for flexibility for the unique So I have recently reintroduced legisla- have—we have a plan in the sense that
corporations it created. tion to allow those five southeast com- we have identified where these con-
After the COVID pandemic struck munities to receive their rightful land taminated lands are, but what we need
our country, those of us in Congress entitlements under ANCSA. is a comprehensive plan in terms of the
came together. We were seeking to pass I would urge my colleagues, take a action, what we are actually going to
the CARES Act to provide relief across look at this. Recognize that this is a do to clean up the land and make it
the spectrum. As part of that—and I matter of the Federal Government right and make it right as soon as pos-
was really very pleased to be able to be making good on its promise to thou- sible.
part of that effort that was able to sands of Alaska Natives. I would ask Another issue that we need to resolve
dedicate significant funding for Tribes that you would join me and Senator is the issue of ‘‘afterborns.’’
and Tribal entities. It was $8 billion SULLIVAN and Congressman YOUNG as The day that ANCSA became law,
that was dedicated for Tribes, Tribal we work to advance this bill into law, December 18, 1971, was kind of an arbi-
entities, including ANCs. as we, again, continue to address trary deadline, if you will, for Alaska
But ANCs’ eligibility for that funding unfulfilled promises within ANCSA. Native people to be included in its ben-
was quickly challenged despite the A third matter is a provision in efits. So if a Native person was alive on
very clear intention here in Congress. ANCSA that, quite honestly, is just the date of enactment, December 18,
The case ultimately went to the Su- outdated, no longer needed. 1971, they were included as an eligible
preme Court. It wasn’t decided until Congress, in trying to do the right shareholder in the ANCSA corporation
June 25 of this year, when they ulti- thing, required village corporations to that aligned with their traditional
mately prevailed. take a portion of the lands they re- Tribal homelands. But if a Native per-
As a result of that litigation, ANCs ceived under ANCSA and give them to son, even from the same family—same
received their allocations under that the State of Alaska to hold in trust for area, same family—if they were born
CARES funding, but they only recently future community needs. after December 18, 1971, they were not
received this. So they got the litiga- Fast-forward some 50 years, and included, and they did not receive
tion through, and they received their many of these lands are simply being shares in any Native corporation. So
allocation but very late. But now we held in trust now even though they are what you had, you created two distinct
have a new problem. The new problem not needed for municipal purposes and classes of Native people. You had origi-
is, that CARES Act money needs to be quite likely will never be. It is just nal shareholders and nonshareholder
spent by December 31—a matter of a time to end that requirement and en- descendants—they call them
couple weeks. That is just not right. able the village corporations to receive afterborns—who were effectively disen-
That is not fair here. It is clearly not these lands back if they so choose. franchised from the benefits that Con-
long enough to be able to responsibly We also have to remember that this gress intended for them.
utilize these very important funds, and is a land settlement, but it is not fully There was a past amendment to
it is really not fair as a result of the implemented. Keep in mind—it has ANCSA that dealt directly with this
litigation they faced. been 50 years now. It is a land settle- issue but didn’t sufficiently solve this
So the congressional delegation— ment that hasn’t been implemented problem. This was an effort that we ad-
Senator SULLIVAN, Congressman fully after 50 years. A total of 5.5 mil- vanced several years ago, a decade or
YOUNG, and I—is seeking to extend the lion acres are still under interim con- so. Congress has allowed ANCSA cor-
deadline through the end of next year. veyance, and another 1.5 million acres porations to open enrollment to de-
We are basically saying: Look, fair is remain unconveyed from the original scendants through an affirmative vote
fair. ANCs should have the time that entitlement. of their current shareholders. As a re-
they need and that others had. We have to provide the resources to sult, what we have seen is that about 5
While the Senate has agreed to pass a the Department of the Interior to com- regional corporations have opened en-
broader bill that includes this exten- plete this very important work. rollment, and about 5 of the more than
sion, it is stalled over on the House There are at least four more issues 200 village corporations have done the
side and really has left us with no clear that we need to help resolve as well same. Unfortunately, so many of these
path forward, even at this very late that I will mention. small village corporations that want to
hour. So that is something I am asking The first here on this list is really open enrollment simply can’t afford
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my colleagues and the administration concerning to me, and it is actually this process. It is a relatively com-
for their support on in gaining this really very devastating when you think plicated process.
flexibility. about it. This is the matter of contami- This is a problem that we are prob-
Another top priority for me is some- nated lands. This problem is not only ably going to have to address legisla-
thing that was left out of ANCSA all not going away, it is getting worse. tively—not by directing Alaska Na-
those years ago. Five communities in It really pains me to say, but signifi- tives on what to do but by providing
Southeast Alaska were missing from cant lands in Alaska, including for- some support and resources so that
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S9268 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 16, 2021
they can make that choice at their dis- At the annual meeting of the Alaska Alaska from Russia. Within the agree-
cretion. Federation of Natives, which, I men- ment, there was acknowledgement of
One of the more significant promises tioned, just took place earlier this the Alaska Native people and their
made to Alaska Native people dealt week, I reflected and recognized the lands, but, still, almost 100 years after
with the issue of subsistence. generation of Alaska Native leaders the purchase from Russia, even fol-
In Alaska, subsistence is hunting, it who fought for the passage of ANCSA. lowing statehood for Alaska, the
is fishing, and it is gathering. It is in- It was their efforts that helped pave claims settlement that the Native peo-
extricably tied to Native culture. It is the way for the many Alaska Native ple had to their own lands was still in
food security for places where grocery youth who may be watching back in limbo.
stores simply don’t exist, or if they do Alaska, across the country, and maybe It got a kick and a turbo charge
exist, the food is so expensive that the even around the world. I want them to when oil was discovered on Alaska’s
average family can’t afford it. So this know about the work that was done to North Slope during a worldwide short-
is, again, something where we need to pass this historic law and how it is ap- age, which created new urgency to de-
find fair solutions for Alaska Native preciated. As I reflect here today on velop Alaska for our resources but to
subsistence rights. the passage of this important law, I am do so by settling these land claims.
The last issue I will bring up today is hopeful about what ANCSA will rep- There were allies in the Federal Gov-
something too significant not to ac- resent for our Alaska Native youth in ernment who were helpful, but it was
knowledge. ANCSA was meant to be a the future. truly the Alaska Native people and
fair and just settlement, accomplished My colleague Senator SULLIVAN and I their determination to themselves and
rapidly, with certainty and in con- have introduced a resolution to ensure to future generations and their resil-
formity with the real economic and so- that the U.S. Senate recognizes the iency and brilliance which led to the
cial needs of Native people without 50th anniversary of ANCSA. Our reso- passage of ANCSA 50 years ago, which
litigation. Congress wrote that into lution acknowledges the incredible ac- became the largest and, certainly,
ANCSA itself. Yet, in reality, ANCSA complishments that Alaska Native peo- most innovative indigenous land set-
severed Alaska Tribes from the Tribal ple have made through their ANCs over tlement, certainly, in U.S. history, and
land base. these past 50 years. There are many it is no exaggeration to say probably in
While many Alaska Native people are successes to acknowledge and to cele- the world—44 million acres of land
owners in Native corporations that brate, but in its text, we also reflect on going to the Native people of my State.
manage Native traditional homelands, the work that is left ahead and the It brought tremendous educational,
Alaska Tribal governments were not a promises left unfilled—the promises social, political, economic, and cul-
consideration in the law. Alaska the Federal Government has made to tural achievements for the Alaska Na-
Tribes, whose collective aboriginal Alaska Native people that must be tive people. It certainly wasn’t perfect,
land rights led to the creation of honored. but this body played a very important
ANCSA, were left without a viable re- So I thank Senator SULLIVAN for role.
source stream to effectively govern. standing with me to submit this impor- Now, there were obstacles, chal-
They, too, need tools and resources to tant resolution, which acknowledges lenges. In fact, when you look back on
create opportunities, and that is also the tenacity of the Alaska Native peo- the history over 50 years ago, it was
an issue that we must consider in going ple and the success of ANCs over the kind of a classic David-and-Goliath
forward. past 50 years. I know that the dean of story.
But all of this—all of this—requires the House, Congressman YOUNG, joins Let me spend a few minutes going
education and understanding. That is with us in acknowledging this golden back in time to set the stage for what
going to be key, and that has been, un- anniversary. was happening in Alaska.
fortunately, lacking—severely lack- I would certainly encourage all of In 1954, the U.S. Department of the
ing—as we have seen, repeatedly, mis- those who have had an opportunity to Interior did a health survey on the Na-
guided attacks from Members here in hear my comments—I know my col- tive people of Alaska. Here is a quote
Congress against ANCSA and its cor- league Senator SULLIVAN is going to from that survey: ‘‘The indigenous peo-
porations. I will tell you, it is hard to speak later as well—to just take a bit ple of Native Alaska are the victims of
express how frustrating that is, how in- of time to better understand this sickness, crippling conditions and pre-
furiating these attacks truly are. But foundational law for Alaska Natives’ mature death to a degree exceeded in
one additional benefit of this 50th anni- self-determination. very few parts of the world. . . . health
versary is the opportunity that it pro- Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, today problems are nearly out of hand. If . . .
vides us to help Congress, to help the I introduced a resolution with Senator Americans could see for themselves the
administration, to help, really, the MURKOWSKI celebrating the 50th anni- large numbers of the tuberculosis, the
American public understand ANCSA versary of the Alaska Native Claims cripple, the blind . . . the malnour-
and the promises that were made with- Settlement Act—ANCSA, as we call it ished, the desperately ill among [this]
in that settlement act. back home in Alaska—which was an relatively small [Native] population,’’
Alaska Pacific University and the enormously consequential piece of leg- it would have a profound impact on
Wilson Center’s Polar Institute have islation that, after years and years of them. And it did.
held a series of events that are free for debate right in this body, passed the Even in the face of these crippling
anyone who wants to learn and under- House, then passed the U.S. Senate, conditions, the Alaska Native people
stand more about ANCSA. The Ted and then was signed into law by Presi- joined hands, joined hearts and said:
Stevens Foundation is developing a dent Nixon on December 18, 1971, al- This is our land. We need rights to it.
documentary on this. Indian Country most exactly 50 years ago to this day. They did this by coming together. In
Today, First Alaskans magazine, Alas- It was a great day for Alaska. the mid-1960s, they formed the Alaska
ka Public Media, and the Anchorage I know Senator MURKOWSKI was on Federation of Natives—AFN, as we call
Daily News, among others, have all the floor earlier talking about ANCSA it back home—an entity that is very
published long-form articles, exploring and why it is so important and why in important to our communities.
ANCSA’s history, its meaning, its im- Alaska, right now, we have been cele- Of course, the Native people in our
pacts, and its future. So I would en- brating 50 years of this important piece State looked for potential allies. In the
courage folks to take a look at that. of legislation. lower 48, they gave speeches. They
I think it is also important to re- I want to go back in time a little bit wrote columns. They formed their own
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
member that, while ANCSA’s passage to help explain, because part of what newspaper, The Tundra Times, edited
ushered in a period of self-determina- Senator MURKOWSKI and I do here is we by legendary Howard Rock, which was
tion and self-governance for Alaska Na- are constantly talking about and edu- highly read throughout the State, cele-
tive communities, it provided opportu- cating our colleagues about this very brated throughout the globe, and had
nities for these communities to really unique legislation, which happened an enormous impact on bringing people
look to the future. In short, ANCSA right here in the U.S. Senate. together.
was designed to address the past by If you go back in time to 1867, that is A few years ago, my team and I
looking to the future. when the United States purchased combed through some of the hearings
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December 16, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S9269
that led to ANCSA. It was many years wrong people are running this hearing the globe. They have become the heart
in development. There were field hear- and taking our testimony,’’ he said to and soul of our economy in Alaska, em-
ings that took place in Alaska in 1968, the Senators. ‘‘It seems that [maybe] ploying thousands of both Alaska Na-
1969—3 years before the passage of we should be on the bench and you peo- tive and non-Native people.
ANCSA. ple should be . . . giving [us] the testi- And they have prospered with their
Incredibly proud and determined first mony.’’ own initiative and with innovative ap-
peoples from all over the State— I love that—strong words from Ma- proaches to fostering economic devel-
Tlingit, Haida, Athabascan, Inupiat, rine Jerome Trigg, who had a very im- opment through self-determination.
Yupik, Aleut—travel to Anchorage, to portant point to make. And beyond the economic benefits,
Fairbanks to give their testimony in So many in our communities testi- these ANCs, these groupings, these
field hearings to U.S. Senators. Some fied in front of Congress. One happened shareholders in these Alaska Native
of them had never even left their vil- to be a beautiful, young Alaska Native entities created right here on this
lages. Some of them didn’t even speak woman in her thirties from the village floor, provided benefits in terms of cul-
English. of Rampart named Mary Jane Fate, ture, language revitalization, scholar-
Many were veterans—and I am going who not only worked on this but came ships, burials, funeral assistance, and
to talk briefly about that. Dozens and to Washington, DC, to lobby U.S. Sen- an enormous focus on education. Over
dozens of young men and women, old ators to pass ANCSA. I had the very 54,000 individual scholarships were
men and women, all of them testifying great privilege of being the son-in-law given to younger Alaska Native people.
before U.S. Senators and Congressmen, of that great Native woman who, un- And, importantly, this law, passed by
telling their stories of how they lived fortunately, passed away recently. this body, gave the Native people the
off the land and the rights that they That was my mother-in-law, Mary opportunity to thrive; to continue to
needed for thousands of years on the Jane Fate, who came to this body and live on their land, practice their cul-
land. made sure Senators understood what ture, create leaders throughout the
They told stories of strong and resil- was happening in Alaska and got them State. In what was once one of the
ient people who had been able to thrive to vote for ANCSA 50 years ago. most impoverished places in the coun-
in some of the harshest conditions in So here is what it did in a nutshell. try are now, in many areas, strong, dy-
the planet. But as I mentioned earlier, As I mentioned, it was the largest in- namic—health, education, housing,
they also told stories of health chal- digenous land settlement in the history food security, and sanitation have all
lenges. of the country: 44 million acres of land, improved immensely.
The first AFN president, Emil Notti, almost a billion dollars from the State We have a long way to go. There is
who is still a great leader in Alaska, and Federal Government to transfer still a lot of misunderstanding. In Alas-
then only 36 years old, spoke with pas- land in fee simple—not the reservation ka, you have Tribes, Tribal members,
sion at these hearings and heartbreak system like you have in the lower 48, you have ANCs, and shareholders.
about the conditions in rural Alaska. which was a huge innovation at the These are the Native people. You have
He said to a group of Senators in a time. They own this land. It is theirs. crossover. And sometimes there is a
hearing: It is not held in trust by the United misunderstanding.
The indigenous people of Native Alaska are States like it is in the lower 48 on In- For example, the American Recovery
the victims of sickness, crippling conditions dian reservations. and Reinvestment Act specifically ex-
and premature death to a degree exceeded in Congress mandated the creation of cluded tens of thousands of Alaska Na-
very few parts of the world. for-profit Alaska Native corporations tives because they were members of an
He told the committee then that life solely owned by Alaska Native share- organization that Congress created. My
expectancy for the average Native holders. Twelve of these regional cor- own view was that was outrageous.
Alaskan was 34 years old. This is in the porations and 200 village ANCs were So that is why we need to keep edu-
late 1960s. The average life expectancy created by the Congress. Sometimes cating our colleagues here. But overall,
in the United States at that time was people talk about ANCs as if they were this was a story of success, of resil-
69—34 years old to 69. some foreign entity. They were actu- ience, of what can happen when you
Many spoke of how much they had ally created right here 50 years ago. allow people to take charge of their
sacrificed for their country. And this is What did all of this do? It provided own destiny. It is a story of self-deter-
an issue I never tire of talking about. economic opportunity. These were not mination and, in many ways, heroism,
Alaska Natives serve at higher rates in typical entities, but they were more and it is a story for the ages.
the U.S. military than any other eth- than just corporations. They were kind I am honored to represent these peo-
nic group in the country. So they are of a combination: social, cultural, eco- ple, wonderful people—many of whom
fighting for their country in World War nomic. They passed on the values to the leaders are still alive who made
II and Korea and Vietnam, and they the different shareholders. this happen 50 years ago—and their
are coming home and they are being One of the great things about ANCSA children and grandchildren. We have
denied fundamental rights themselves. was that it required, actually, the more work to do, but 50 years ago, on
Here is what Jerome Trigg, a leader sharing of revenues. Some of these re- December 18, 1971, it was the start of a
and a marine from Nome, had to tell gional corporations did very well; oth- new, positive, innovative chapter in
U.S. Senators who were in Alaska. His ers didn’t. There were provisions early the history of Alaska. And that is why
testimony was said to have brought on that said, if these corporations are Senator MURKOWSKI and I wanted to
tears to the eyes of many. He looked at doing great and these aren’t, there is celebrate this very important mile-
the U.S. Senators and said this: We going to be some sharing. It was called stone this afternoon.
have showed our patriotism as proudly the 7(i) provision. These provisions
as any Americans on Earth. We have have been critical to the survival of f
answered the call of duty with pride in ANCs, which regional ANCs at times,
serving in our military. In World War as I mentioned, were receiving more
II, we answered the call 100 percent. AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO
revenue than others.
Every man—old and young—in every So that day 50 years ago—December MEET
village volunteered with the Alaska 18, 1971—was really an important day Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I have
National Guard. for our State. How has it worked out? 3 requests for committees to meet dur-
On Vietnam, which was raging at the It has worked out well, but, of course, ing today’s session of the Senate. They
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
time, he said: I have never heard of an we always have more work to do. have the approval of the Majority and
Alaska Native burning their draft card Over the last 50 years, the Alaska Na- Minority Leaders.
or our Nation’s flag. We love our land, tive people have managed their lands Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph
and we will sacrifice and fight to pro- to foster sustainable businesses, cre- 5(a), of the Standng Rules of the Sen-
tect it. ated employment opportunities for all ate, the following committees are au-
He concluded with this thought, people—Native and non-Native—in thorized to meet during today’s session
which I love: ‘‘Sometimes I think the Alaska, across the country, and across of the Senate:
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