S. 5649

Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Fulfillment Act of 2026

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II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5649

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 30, 2026

Mr. Sullivan introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To make additional Federal public land available for selection under the Alaska Native Vietnam era veterans land allotment program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Fulfillment Act of 2026.

2.

Making additional land available for selection under the Alaska Native Vietnam era veterans land allotment program

(a)

Wildlife Refuge System land

All Federal land identified as suitable for allotment selection in the report under subsection (c)(1) of section 1119 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (43 U.S.C. 1629g–1), and published by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the report entitled Identification of National Wildlife Refuge System Lands in Alaska That Should Be Made Available for Allotment Selection by Eligible Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans (November 2020), shall be made immediately available by the Secretary of the Interior for selection in accordance with that section.

(b)

Federal land managed by Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service

(1)

Definition of available Federal land

Section 1119(a)(1) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (43 U.S.C. 1629g–1(a)(1)) is amended—

(A)

in subparagraph (A), by striking clause (i) and inserting the following:

(i)
(I)

is vacant and unappropriated, and is identified as available for selection under subsection (b)(5) or (e); and

(II)
(aa)

is unreserved; or

(bb)

is within a unit of the National Forest System or a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System; or

; and

(B)

in subparagraph (B)—

(i)

by striking clause (v); and

(ii)

by redesignating clauses (vi) through (x) as clauses (v) through (ix), respectively.

(2)

Identification of Federal land

Section 1119 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (43 U.S.C. 1629g–1) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(e)

Identification of Federal land administered by the Forest Service

(1)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary, the State, Regional Corporations, and Village Corporations, shall identify available Federal land within units of the National Forest System in the State that should be made available for allotment selection by eligible individuals.

(2)

Exclusions

In identifying available Federal land within units of the National Forest System in the State that should be made available for allotment selection under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall not identify any available Federal land in a unit of the National Forest System—

(A)

the conveyance of which, independently or as part of a group of allotments, could interfere with the management plan of the unit;

(B)

that is located within 300 feet from the shore of a body of water that the State asserts is navigable;

(C)

that is designated by Congress as wilderness; or

(D)

that is identified by the Forest Service as suitable timber lands.

(3)

Availability of land

All available Federal land identified as suitable for allotment selection under this subsection shall be made immediately available for selection in accordance with this section.

.