Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025

Mr. President, I come to the floor with my friend and colleague from Nevada Senator Cortez Masto to seek unanimous consent to pass two noncontroversial bills as a bipartisan pair. The first is H.R. 2815. This is sponsored by Congressman Begich from Alaska. It is the identical companion to my Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act. And the second is H.R. 972, sponsored by Representative Dina Titus of Nevada. It is the identical companion to Senator Cortez Masto's Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act.

These are important bills to those in Southeastern Alaska and in Nevada. It probably won't make headlines out of those two areas, but they are very significant and important bills. After more than five decades, the Cape Fox bill will finally complete the land entitlement for the Native Village of Saxman in Southeast Alaska. The Sloan Canyon bill will facilitate construction of a water pipeline in the Las

Vegas Valley. This is critical infrastructure for hundreds of thousands of people.

These are House-passed bills, OK, so they can go directly to the President's desk to be signed into law. I mentioned that they are both noncontroversial. Their pairing is also noncontroversial. And there are no objections on the merits, on the substance, to either one of them. Both have had full process in the Senate over the course of multiple Congresses. So if these look familiar, it is because we have seen them before.

Both these bills passed the Senate by unanimous consent at the end of 2024, so over a year ago. Our cloakrooms on both sides of the aisle hotlined them again 6 weeks ago, and so that is what brings us here today as we are still trying to move them.

We have kind of gotten to a really difficult and frustrating-- frustrating, as much as anything--time in our process. People are wondering, and they are asking me--those in the Ketchikan-Saxman area: What is the holdup here? If everybody is supportive of this, why is it taking so long and proving so hard for Congress to agree on things?

I don't have a good answer on that. I am not sure that there is one. But, again, we are trying to move noncontroversial bills through a process that requires support and consent on both ends of this building. And this end of the building has said yes, and things are getting stuck over on the other side. And rather than point fingers and call names, I want to unstick things. I want to have us know that we can move these bills that are important in our communities and in our regions and they don't get taken hostage, if you will, by the other body as they are trying to figure out how they gain leverage over something else here. That is not fair to the constituents that we represent. That is not fair to the lawmakers who are working very hard to try to advance their bills. So I appreciate the discussion that I have had with my colleagues here on the floor about a way, a process, a dialogue that needs to be had with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

So there are a few bills that we are looking at today specifically, but I think it goes to a bigger concern that needs to be addressed in a way that is going to work for other Members who are also trying to advance their bills into full passage by law.

So my commitment to my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle and on the Democrat side of the aisle is let's leave from here and let's make the calls to set up the sitdowns with our colleagues on the other side--in the other body--to talk about how we are going to move these in a way that is fair and does not penalize the Members, the communities. We need to do right by our own process, and I would just suggest that we need to be doing more than we are so that we are not in a situation where we are waiting months and months and months to be able to see these matters resolved.

Before I make any motion on these bills, I want to yield to Senator Cortez Masto.

Mr. President, we speak about the frustrations. There is always room for frustration around here. But I share the many concerns of my friend from California. Three of my bills and ones that he also cares about and more that I have cosponsored are also pending over there. And so this is not just the three of us sharing that we need to find a path forward, but I think it is also an effort and a need to find a path forward, working with the House to move these bills forward.

In the meantime, here in the Senate, we need to keep doing our work, but we can't forget that we have the other body that we need to have a working relationship with, and passage of the bills requires just that.

So I think, today, we want to get focused on outcomes, pushing to pass the bills where we can, however we can, whether they start with an ``H.R.'' or an ``S,'' not caring about who gets the credit but just making sure we are advancing some laws here.

Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged and the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc; further, that the bills be considered read a third time and passed en bloc and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc: H.R. 2815, Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025 and H.R. 972, Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act.

Mr. President, I want to thank not only the Senator from California but my colleague Senator Cortez Masto from Nevada as we have worked through this.

Know that the Senator from California does have my commitment to try to address not only the matters that are on your specific docket today but, again, to try and find a better path forward for all the legislation that means so much to so many of us in our communities. And I thank you for the courtesy today.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2815) to provide equitable treatment for the people of the Village Corporation established for the Native Village of Saxman, Alaska, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2815, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2815, the Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025, introduced by Representative Begich of Alaska, would finalize the Cape Fox Corporation's remaining Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, or ANCSA, land entitlement. In addition, this legislation will resolve land management issues tied to the Mahoney Lake power project.

ANCSA was enacted by Congress to settle the aboriginal land claims of Alaska Natives. Under ANCSA, Alaska Native Corporations were established to receive land under the settlement and disburse money to Alaska Natives. The Cape Fox Corporation, or CFC, has yet to receive their full conveyance, with 180 acres remaining.

The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for conveying the remaining acres to CFC and has proposed specific acreage to complete the entitlement. However, CFC has rejected the BLM's proposal, as the proposed lands were outside of their core township, noncontiguous with their existing land holdings, and of limited economic value.

CFC has identified 180 acres of land between their existing parcels, which would connect the land and complete the settlement. The acres in this legislation would also enable the development of Mahoney Lake power projects. CFC holds a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license and an easement for a power line and road corridor nearby. They also own the land adjacent to the substation.

Power demand for the area exceeds available supply. In fact, in 2024, all available power was online, and it still was not enough. This legislation takes steps to increase the availability of affordable power for the area.

This legislation would not only finalize CFC's remaining ANCSA land conveyance, but it also resolves land management issues related to the power project.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Begich for his work on behalf of his constituency. I urge support for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Begich), the lead sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2815 finalizes CFC's outstanding ANCSA land conveyance while working to alleviate future land concerns with the Mahoney Lake power project. This legislation has the support of various Alaska organizations, government representatives, and impacted groups.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Begich for his hard work on this bill. I urge passage of H.R. 2815, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I rise today, along with my good friend and colleague from Alaska Senator Murkowski, to ask for the passage of both H.R. 2815 and H.R. 972. As the Presiding Officer has heard, they have already passed the House. There have been sets of hearings there, work to be done.

Let me talk a little bit about H.R. 972. This is the Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Water Pipeline Act. This is the same bill that this Chamber already passed by unanimous consent last Congress. And, right now, almost 40 percent of Las Vegas residents and businesses depend on the South Valley Lateral pipeline. That is one single pipeline for nearly 3 million people. And that pipeline is 25 years old. Ten years from now, it will reach 95 percent capacity, and it won't be able to safely and reliably serve Las Vegans long term.

This bill that we are, hopefully, passing today will allow the Southern Nevada Water Authority to build a new pipeline that will improve the reliability and capacity of our existing water system and protect the water supply for nearly half of our Las Vegas residents and businesses.

And if you are from the West, water is the issue. My colleague from California knows this. This is why I appreciate the conversation we have had today.

Let me just say this. As a member of leadership in the Democratic caucus as well as a member of Energy and Natural Resources and the ranking member on the Public Lands Subcommittee, I couldn't agree more with not only the comments Senator Murkowski has made about our challenges in the work we need to do to pass several pieces of legislation, in both Houses, to the benefit of our constituents and my commitment to do just that.

I also understand and respect my colleague from California. We work so closely on so many issues, from water issues to land issues. I understand his frustration. I understand his concern that there is a lack of movement with some of these important bills that we all need to work on together. So I make a commitment to him to use whatever authority and power I have to get this unstuck, to make sure that we are working together to address his concerns, which are completely valid, and to move forward as quickly as we possibly can, whether that is requiring meetings amongst the--bicameral--with the House Members of jurisdiction, making sure that, as a Senate caucus, this is a priority, working with our Republican colleagues as well.

I really appreciate the Senator bringing this to everyone's attention in the way that he has, and I think it is important for us to continue to move forward together now to follow through and unstick a lot of the challenges that we are seeing with these lands bills and bills that we need to get passed in both Chambers.

So I thank the Senator, and I will yield to Senator Murkowski.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, colleagues, I have been down here many, many times and have spoken up in committee many, many times as we try to create a better way of ensuring that we, indeed, have a fair and bipartisan and bicameral approach to consideration and passage of public lands bills.

I certainly understand my colleagues' frustration with how the public lands process is currently playing out. I am glad that they are acknowledging I, too, share that frustration. But I also can't believe we can't create a scenario where the Senate completely cedes to the House the ability to pick and choose which public lands bills are allowed to be sent to the White House.

Regardless of who is in the majority, the process has historically been both bicameral and bipartisan, and we need to get back to that.

So as I said publicly, and as I have reminded in private, my objection to

these bills is not on the substance, and my objection is not an objection forever. So I appreciate when my colleagues have offered to join me in this effort to push leadership of both parties of the committees in both Houses to convene and create that process that isn't just going to be a fair consideration of my proposals or their proposals but all the proposals that come from the Senate through the Natural Resources Committee; give them a shot for consideration on the House side and proper consideration for signature by the President of the United States.

My colleague from Alaska, not just as a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee but her leadership on the Committee of Indian Affairs--not all public lands bills involve Indian Country, but many, indeed, do, including some of mine that have been in the pipeline--I appreciate her willingness to bring her authority and role in her caucus to bear in this effort and conversation.

My colleague from the State of Nevada, not just a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee but a member of the leadership team on the Democratic side here in the Senate, I appreciate her willingness to bring her authority and power to bear in advancing this conversation.

So, for today, I shall not object on these two bills but reiterate my frustration and am glad to be joined by two additional colleagues in trying to push, again, leadership on both sides of the aisle, not just the Senate committees but the House committees, to establish a fair way forward for all Members and all of our proposals.

I yield the floor.

Mr. Speaker, Alaska's future is tied to land. It is how we build infrastructure, develop our resources, and create opportunities for our communities, but for far too long, Alaska Native Corporations have faced unnecessary delays and constraints in securing the lands they were promised under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

After more than 50 years, Cape Fox Corporation, representing the village of Saxman, is among the last southeast villages still waiting for a full land entitlement.

H.R. 2815 fixes that. The bill authorizes a simple strategic land exchange, about 180 acres, to finally connect two Cape Fox parcels and honor a promise made decades ago.

This bill also paves the way for a renewable energy corridor and year-round access to vital subsistence and tourism areas. It enables local development, supports energy independence, and strengthens southeast Alaska's economy, all while respecting Tribal sovereignty and the original intent of ANCSA.

There is strong local support for this bill from utilities, businesses, and local governments. It is a commonsense, consensus- driven solution. Let's finish what Congress started and deliver resolution to the people of Saxman.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2815 and help move the people of Saxman forward.