Legislative Activity

The Bycatch Reduction Act aims to protect marine ecosystems and reduce unintended catch in North Pacific fisheries by mandating new gear performance standards and requiring the use of salmon excluder devices. The bill enhances transparency and public participation in the fishery management process while investing in innovative technology and research to minimize seafloor habitat damage. Additionally, it establishes stricter oversight for foreign seafood imports and modernizes electronic monitoring to ensure sustainable fishing practices.

The Archie Cavanaugh Migratory Bird Treaty Amendment Act clarifies federal law regarding authentic Alaska Native articles of handicraft. This bill amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to permit the possession and sale of these handicrafts, even if they contain nonedible migratory bird parts. The exception applies unless the bird part was taken illegally or wastefully. The Act also requires the State Department to establish procedures with treaty partners to reflect this clarification.

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.

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.

This bill amends the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to establish a federal grand challenges prize competition program for artificial intelligence. The program aims to speed up AI research, development, and commercialization by tackling specific, measurable challenges across various priority areas. The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is tasked with establishing and overseeing this competition structure.

The Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvests (FISH) Act of 2026 strengthens U.S. efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and associated human rights abuses, such as forced labor. The bill mandates the creation of a public list of foreign vessels and owners engaged in these illicit activities, imposes visa sanctions on identified offenders, and enhances international cooperation and enforcement capabilities. Additionally, it authorizes funding for research, technology integration, and capacity-building programs to improve global fisheries management and protect U.S. interests.

This bill transfers administrative jurisdiction of approximately 5,624 acres of land on Adak Island, Alaska, from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of the Navy. This transfer allows the Navy to use the land for various defense-related activities, including testing and training. Consequently, the specified acreage is immediately removed from the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge system.

This bill recognizes five previously excluded Southeast Alaska Native communities—Haines, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Tenakee, and Wrangell—under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. It authorizes these communities to form new Urban Corporations and grants them specific entitlements of federal land. The legislation also establishes rules for shareholder eligibility and protects existing distribution rights for affected Alaska Natives.

This bill, the Polar Express Act of 2026, directs the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study on establishing a new rail route connecting Alaska to the continental North American rail network. The study must be completed and reported to Congress within two years of initiation. This legislation only authorizes the study and does not commit federal funds for any actual construction.

The American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026 establishes a **Strategic Bitcoin Reserve** and a **Digital Asset Stockpile** within the Department of the Treasury to modernize U.S. national assets. This legislation mandates the secure custody of qualifying forfeited Bitcoin for a minimum of 20 years while requiring transparent, quarterly proof-of-reserve reporting. Furthermore, it directs studies on budget-neutral acquisition methods and protects the private property rights of individuals regarding their digital assets.

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.

This Act, also known as the ARTIST Act, updates federal law to protect the ability of Alaska Natives to create and sell authentic handicrafts made from marine mammal parts. It specifically exempts these traditional crafts from certain restrictions under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Furthermore, the bill prohibits states from banning the interstate commerce of these authentic Alaska Native items.

This bill, the Geese House Site Conveyance Act, directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer approximately 21,578 acres of federal land within Denali National Park and Preserve to Doyon, Limited. The transfer is subject to certain restrictions, including prohibiting mineral activities and requiring the preservation of the cultural value of the Geese House. The Act also mandates an adjustment to the National Park and Preserve boundary to exclude the conveyed land.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.