Legislative Activity

The Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act mandates the installation of certified Airborne Position Reference Tools and Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems at eligible FAA contract air traffic control towers within one year. This legislation also establishes a training program for controllers on using this new technology and provides retroactive funding for towers that previously installed similar situational awareness equipment. The goal is to significantly improve safety and operational awareness at these facilities.

This bill, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council Representation Enhancement Act of 2026, aims to increase representation on the Council overseeing Alaskan fisheries. It mandates the inclusion of specific seats for recreational fishers, non-industrial commercial fishers, and subsistence users. Furthermore, the bill increases the total number of voting members and adjusts voting requirements to ensure these new perspectives influence Council decisions.

This bill establishes a grant program to support veterinary services in rural areas facing shortages, focusing on food safety and public health. It also authorizes the Indian Health Service to provide direct public health veterinary services to Tribal communities to control zoonotic diseases. Additionally, the legislation mandates a study on delivering oral rabies vaccines to wildlife in Arctic regions.

The Geo POWER Act aims to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation geothermal energy by establishing a Milestone-Based Geothermal Demonstration Program. This program will provide innovative, milestone-based financing to overcome high upfront costs for geothermal exploration and drilling in new regions. The goal is to generate public data and catalyze demonstration projects across diverse geologies to reduce risk and attract private investment.

The DATA Act of 2026 establishes a new type of utility called a Consumer-Regulated Electric Utility (CREU) designed to serve new, isolated electric loads independently of the existing grid. CREUs are fully exempt from regulation under the Federal Power Act, FERC, DOE, and PURPA, provided they remain physically islanded from the bulk-power system. This legislation also allows CREUs to utilize existing public rights-of-way under limited review criteria.

This bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act to permit the transport, purchase, and sale of pelts, handicrafts, garments, and art derived from Southcentral and Southeast Alaska northern sea otters taken legally for subsistence purposes. It specifically allows for the commercialization of these items, regardless of whether they are traditional or contemporary.

The Airport Regulatory Relief Act of 2025 allows states to utilize their own highway construction standards for runway projects at nonprimary airports serving aircraft under 60,000 pounds. This legislation aims to streamline infrastructure improvements by permitting the use of state specifications, provided the Secretary of Transportation determines that safety standards are maintained.

The Unrecognized Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition and Compensation Act addresses the historical exclusion of five communities—Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell—from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). This bill authorizes these communities to form Urban Corporations, grants them specific land entitlements, and establishes shareholder eligibility for their residents. Additionally, it provides a framework for land management, public access, and the creation of settlement trusts to support the health, education, and cultural heritage of these communities.

The Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025 authorizes a land exchange between the Chugach Alaska Corporation and the U.S. government. This exchange aims to consolidate federal ownership of lands acquired through the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Habitat Protection Program. In return for approximately 231,000 acres of Chugach's subsurface land, the federal government will convey about 65,374 acres of federal land to the Corporation. The Secretary of the Interior is directed to complete this exchange within one year of enactment.

The Protect Future Dividends Act amends the federal tax code to exclude payments received from state sovereign wealth funds from an individual's gross income. This legislation ensures that residents receiving periodic distributions from state-maintained permanent funds are not subject to federal income tax on those payments.

This Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey approximately 180 acres of surface land within the Tongass National Forest to the Cape Fox Village Corporation. The conveyance fulfills Cape Fox's land entitlement under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, while also waiving certain selection requirements. The transfer requires reserving a public access easement across the land for continued public use.

The Fishing Vessel Financing Improvement Act of 2026 expands federal loan guarantees and direct loan programs to support the U.S. fishing industry and seafood trade. This legislation specifically modifies financing rules to include the purchase of used fishing vessels and sets new funding limits based on vessel type. Furthermore, it ensures that new financing remains consistent with the wise use and conservation of vital fishery resources.

The Bycatch Reduction and Research Act of 2026 mandates significant research into Alaska salmon life history, ecosystem impacts, and fishing gear effectiveness. It establishes new partnerships and funding mechanisms to develop and test technology aimed at reducing bycatch and minimizing damage to marine habitats. Furthermore, the bill streamlines requirements for electronic monitoring and enhances transparency regarding observer coverage in federal fisheries.

This bill, the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025, extends the deadline for the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Program. Specifically, it amends existing law to change the application period from five years to ten years. This extension provides more time for eligible veterans to participate in the program.

This bill seeks to reauthorize the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System through fiscal year 2029. It specifically authorizes funding for the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to operate and maintain the system.

This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to transfer specific parcels of federal land in Anchorage, Alaska, to the Southcentral Foundation (SCF). The transfer is generally made without monetary consideration, contingent on SCF using the land exclusively for health care and related services. Furthermore, the Act shields SCF from liability for pre-existing environmental contamination on the conveyed property.

This joint resolution seeks to disapprove the Bureau of Land Management's rule regarding the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision. If enacted, this disapproval would prevent the submitted rule from taking effect.

This joint resolution expresses the disapproval of Congress regarding a specific rule issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) concerning the "Central Yukon Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan." By invoking the Congressional Review Act, this action immediately nullifies the BLM's submitted rule. Consequently, the Central Yukon Resource Management Plan will not take effect as a regulation.

The Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025 extends the military withdrawal period for key training lands in Alaska, New Mexico, and California until 2051. This legislation also corrects the official acreage descriptions for the McGregor Range and Fort Irwin military lands. The bill ensures continued federal land availability necessary for Department of Defense training operations.

This bill amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow for the importation of polar bear trophies from sport hunts in Canada. It mandates the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits for trophies legally harvested before specific dates in 1997 or 2008. These provisions apply even if the polar bear was later listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.