Alaska Native corporations gain 180 acres of Tongass forest; public access narrowed.

What it does

This bill finalizes a land entitlement for Cape Fox Village Corporation (a Native Alaskan village corporation) by allowing it to select and receive approximately 180 acres of federal land in the Tongass National Forest instead of 185 acres within its home township, and grants the subsurface rights to those lands to Sealaska Corporation (a regional Native corporation). The bill waives a requirement under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act that would normally require Cape Fox to take land in its home township, allowing it to take land outside that area instead.

Why we flagged it

The bill resolves a specific claim by Alaska Native corporations under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act by modifying the geographic constraints on land selection and conveying federal forest land to private Native entities.

What the text implies

• Sealaska Corporation gains subsurface (mineral/resource) rights to 180 acres of Tongass National Forest land, potentially enabling future extraction or development of those resources without surface-owner consent.
• Public access to the selected land is limited to a narrow easement for inland access; the surface estate is privately held by Cape Fox, restricting general public recreation or use of previously federal forest.
• The bill fulfills both Cape Fox's surface entitlement AND Sealaska's subsurface entitlement under ANCSA, closing two separate claims simultaneously and potentially preventing future disputes over the same land.
• The 90-day selection window and 180-day conveyance deadline create a fast-track process that bypasses normal federal land-transfer procedures and environmental review timelines.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill fulfills a long-standing land entitlement to Alaska Native corporations, addressing a historical claim under federal law and potentially supporting Native economic self-determination. However, the transfer of subsurface rights to Sealaska (a separate regional corporation) and the loss of public access to the selected land (subject only to a narrow easement for inland access) may limit public use of federal forest resources and concentrate subsurface mineral/resource rights in a private

Who stands to gain

• Cape Fox Village Corporation (surface land rights)
• Sealaska Corporation (subsurface mineral/resource rights)

Named in the bill

Cape Fox Village Corporation, Native Village of Saxman, Alaska, Sealaska Corporation, Tongass National Forest, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA)

Where it stands

• Apr 10, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Apr 10, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources”
• May 20, 2025 — Hearing held · Congress.gov: “Subcommittee Hearings Held”
• Sep 17, 2025 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Sep 17, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent”
• Dec 15, 2025 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5879-5880)”
• Dec 15, 2025 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Stauber moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended”
• Feb 26, 2026 — Passed both chambers · Congress.gov: “Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S697-699)”
• May 12, 2026 — Sent to president · Congress.gov: “Presented to President”
• May 19, 2026 — Signed into law · Congress.gov: “Became Public Law No: 119-93”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

1 lobbying clients named this bill on 1 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Dec 2025 to Dec 2025. Those filings disclosed $690,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 83 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 0% of bills with at least one filing.

Nicholas Begich, the sponsor, reported $1,087,127 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees — $690,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jan 16, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.