H.R. 1901 – Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Land Transfer Act of 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 2:25 PM UTC

The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Land Transfer Act of 2017 directs the federal government to give a parcel of land in Sitka, Alaska—about 19 acres—to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium. The transfer is meant to support the consortium’s health and social‑service programs and does not require the consortium to pay for the land or meet any new conditions. The law also shields the consortium from liability for any environmental contamination that existed before the transfer.

Key Provisions

Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must convey the described property to the consortium by warranty deed.
The transfer is made at no cost and imposes no obligations, terms, or reversionary interest on the consortium.
Any prior quit‑claim deed between the Secretary and the consortium is superseded by this conveyance.
The consortium is not liable for any soil, water, or other contamination that existed on the land before the transfer.
The Secretary retains any easement or access needed to fulfill retained federal obligations, and must follow CERCLA notice requirements.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee

June 7, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 4, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Natural Resources Committee

April 4, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

Environment Subcommittee

April 7, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.

Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee

April 12, 2017

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee

June 7, 2017

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about H.R. 1901 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Rep. Don YoungR-AK · Dec 10, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 825) to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium located in Sitka, Alaska, and…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 825) to provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium located in Sitka, Alaska, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 825, the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Land Transfer Act of 2017.

The consortium provides comprehensive healthcare to Native communities throughout Alaska's panhandle. It also delivers healthcare on behalf of the Federal Government through self-determination compacting.

The consortium operates Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka, a 25-bed,

critical-access facility. The hospital was constructed towards the end of World War II. It is in dire need of updating due to its age and condition.

For the consortium to secure financing for the project to update the conditions of the facilities, they need land on the hospital campus, which is currently held by IHS, conveyed by warranty deed.

S. 825 is a companion bill to my bill, H.R. 1901. Simply, it would transfer 19 acres of Federal land to the consortium, allowing them to update and improve healthcare services for Alaska Natives.

From the 112th to the 114th Congress, three of my bills that authorized similar land transfers for different entities were signed into law. These bills were nearly identical to S. 825.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Bishop and his staff for moving this bill through committee. I would also like to thank Ranking Member Grijalva and his staff for their bipartisan work on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Rep. Ruben GallegoD-AZ-7 · Dec 10, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, composed of 18 Native communities, is one of the oldest and largest Native-run…

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 4, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1901

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 4, 2017

Mr. Young of Alaska introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To provide for the conveyance of certain property to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium located in Sitka, Alaska, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium Land Transfer Act of 2017.

2.

Conveyance of property

(a)

In general

As soon as practicable, but not later than 180 days, after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the Secretary) shall convey to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium located in Sitka, Alaska (referred to in this Act as the Consortium), all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the property described in section 3 for use in connection with health and social services programs.

(b)

Effect on any quitclaim deed

The conveyance by the Secretary of title by warranty deed under this section shall, on the effective date of the conveyance, supersede and render of no future effect any quitclaim deed to the property described in section 3 executed by the Secretary and the Consortium.

(c)

Conditions

The conveyance of the property under this Act—

(1)

shall be made by warranty deed; and

(2)

shall not—

(A)

require any consideration from the Consortium for the property;

(B)

impose any obligation, term, or condition on the Consortium; or

(C)

allow for any reversionary interest of the United States in the property.

3.

Property described

The property, including all land and appurtenances, described in this section is the property included in U.S. Survey 1496, Lots 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11A, 11A Parcel A, and 11B, partially surveyed Township 55 South, Range 63 East of the Copper River Meridian, containing 19.07 acres, in Sitka, Alaska.

4.

Environmental liability

(a)

Liability

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Consortium shall not be liable for any soil, surface water, groundwater, or other contamination resulting from the disposal, release, or presence of any environmental contamination on any portion of the property described in section 3 on or before the date on which the property is conveyed to the Consortium.

(2)

Environmental contamination

An environmental contamination described in paragraph (1) includes any oil or petroleum products, hazardous substances, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, pollutants, toxic substances, solid waste, or any other environmental contamination or hazard as defined in any Federal or State of Alaska law.

(b)

Easement

The Secretary shall be accorded any easement or access to the property conveyed under this Act as may be reasonably necessary to satisfy any retained obligation or liability of the Secretary.

(c)

Notice of hazardous substance activity and warranty

In carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall comply with subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 120(h)(3) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9620(h)(3)).