Alaska Natives
Fighting for the Rights of All Alaskans

The defense of Alaskan Natives is a responsibility and a privilege which I take very seriously. I understand the unique barriers which constantly challenge growth and development for our Native communities, and I fight every day to develop solutions. I fight to maintain what benefits we have garnered and to create new opportunities for our diverse communities. It has been my pleasure to work on legislation that specifically addresses these issues; issues like the need for accessible rural health care, education, infrastructural improvements and expanding employment opportunities. With your support I will continue that fight I began over 35 years ago, for the rights of our Native communities, and for the future of all Alaska.
           
I believe in producing results instead of promises. Here are just a few of the things which I have been working on as your Representative in Congress.

Alaska Native Education Equity Act
The Alaska Native Education Equity Act funds programs to improve educational standards for Alaska Natives and I took recent efforts to eliminate this program very personally. For years, our Native students have been pushed aside and not been given the same opportunities for success. This is unacceptable. According to school districts throughout the state, students are improving and dropout rates are declining, all as a result of this program. I found myself on the House floor aggressively defending this all too important program which helps our Alaska Native students by funding programs such as dropout prevention, Head Start and Even Start and training for educators. And I am happy to report that 351 of my colleagues agreed with me and voted with me in defeating this attack on our students.

Congressional Hearings on Alaska Native Corporation
The House Committee on Natural Resources, of which I am currently the Ranking Republican Member, has been conducting hearings designed to promote economic opportunities in Alaska's Native communities while preserving their rich heritage and unique culture. One such hearing, which was conducted on September 19, 2007, featured Julie Kitka, the President of AFN and Sarah Lukin of Afognak Native Corporation and Alutiiq, LCC, who had accepted my invitation to come and testify. Together, we were able to promote awareness of the goals and obstacles shared by our Native communities, and helped enlist support to ensure that the promises made by the federal government would be kept, and that permanent solutions to the issues plaguing our families and neighbors would be found.

Bills Passed by the House and Voted For

H.R. 2314 - Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act
This bill would express the policy of the United States regarding the United States relationship with Native Hawaiians and to provide a process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing entity.

Bills Sponsored

H.R. 1381 - This bill would permanently extend the existing tax treatment for Alaska Native Trusts. Currently, these provisions (Section 646 of the IRS Code) are slated to expire on December 31, 2010. Section 646 provides for an elective regime for Alaska Native settlement trusts that (i) provides for a trust level tax at various rates ranging up to 10% in lieu of beneficiary level taxes; (ii) allows contributions to be made to these trusts on a tax favored basis; and (iii) streamlines administrative reporting for these trusts.  When adopted, this elective treatment initially provided significant incentives to the use of settlement trusts to further the ANCSA settlement, and Alaska Native corporations utilized this provision to provide benefits through Alaska Native settlement trusts.

H.R. 2018 - Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act
This bill would recognize the five landless communities of Southeast Alaska and allow them to form urban Native Corporation pursuant to ANCSA and provide them with a corresponding land settlement.

H.R. 2099 - Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization Act
This bill provides for the completion of certain land selections under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act for the Native Regional Corporation for Southeast Alaska. A hearing was held on this legislation on March 17, 2010.

H.R. 2340 - Salmon Lake Land Selection Resolution Act
This bill ratifies and agreement between the State of Alaska, the United States, and the Bering Straits Native Corporation, which resolves overlapping land selections. A mark-up of this legislation was held on June 16, 2010.

H.R. 2507 - Native American Challenge Demonstration Project Act
This bill adapts the lessons of foreign aid to underdeveloped economies to similarly situated remote Native American communities to promote economic growth, eliminate poverty, and strengthen good governance, entrepreneurship, and investment in Native communities.

H.R. 3229 - Alexander Creek Village Recognition
This bill amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) to recognize the village of Alexander Creek located in Alaska as an eligible Native village.

H.R. 3568 - Alaska Native Conservation Parity Act
This bill would give parity to Alaska Native Corporations by making them eligible for a tax credit for the charitable donation of a conservation easement. Individuals and many farmers and ranchers are already able to garner such a credit. H.R.3568 would treat ANC’s as if they were farmers or ranchers and allow them to receive a tax benefit of up to 100% of their taxable income for donating a qualified conservation easement.

H.R. 5402 - Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act
This bill amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to allow Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans who were serving in Vietnam and did not have an opportunity to apply for their Native allotment, to now apply for their allotment of up to 160 acres of land under the Native Allotment Act.

H.R. 5452 – Native American Economic Advisory Council Act of 2010
This bill would authorize and establish a Native American Economic Advisory Council to consult, coordinate with, and make recommendations to the Executive Office of the President, Cabinet officers, and Federal agencies.

Bills Cosponsored

H.R. 2708 - Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments
This bill would amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to revise requirements for health care programs and services for Indians, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations.

H.R. 4347 - Department of the Interior Tribal Self-Governance Act of 2009  
This bill would amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 to provide greater legal authority to Native American Tribes as they pursue, at each Tribe's option, the goal of transferring authority and responsibility from the federal program bureaucracy to tribal program administration.