Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025 in plain language
1: Short title
This section says the Act may be called the Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025 .
2: Definitions
This section would define four terms used throughout the Act. Cape Fox means the Cape Fox Village Corporation, the Village Corporation set up for the Native Village of Saxman, Alaska, under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Federal land means about 180 acres of surface land inside the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, shown on a specific map. The Map means the map titled Cape Fox Village Corporation Final Selection, dated December 18, 2023. The Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
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2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Cape Fox The term Cape Fox means the Cape Fox Village Corporation, a Village Corporation for the Native Village of Saxman, Alaska, organized pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. ). (2) Federal land The term Federal land means the approximately 180 acres of surface land within the Tongass National Forest in the State of Alaska, as generally depicted on the Map. (3) Map The term Map means the map entitled Cape Fox Village Corporation Final Selection and dated December 18, 2023. (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
3: Waiver of core township requirement for certain land
This section would excuse Cape Fox from a requirement in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act that would otherwise apply. Despite that requirement, Cape Fox would not have to select or receive about 185 acres of unconveyed land located within the township that contains the Native Village of Saxman, Alaska. The excused land is listed by legal description: about 40 acres in Township 74 South, Range 90 East, section 10 (the SWNE quarter), Copper River Meridian, and about 144.57 acres in Township 75 South, Range 91 East, section 1, lots 1, 3, and 4, Copper River Meridian.
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3. Waiver of core township requirement for certain land (a) In general Notwithstanding section 16(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1615(b) ), Cape Fox shall not be required to select or receive conveyance of the approximately 185 acres of unconveyed land described in subsection (b) located within the township in which the Native Village of Saxman, Alaska, is located. (b) Land described The land referred to in subsection (a) is as follows: (1) Approximately 40 acres in T. 74 S., R.90 E., sec. 10, SWNE, Copper River Meridian. (2) Approximately 144.57 acres in T. 75 S., R.91 E., sec. 1, lots 1, 3, and 4, Copper River Meridian.
4: Selection outside exterior selection boundary
This section would set up a land conveyance process for the Federal land described in section 2. Within 90 days after the Act becomes law, if Cape Fox sends the Secretary a written notice selecting the Federal land, the Secretary would have to convey that Federal land's surface estate to Cape Fox once the notice is received. After that surface estate is conveyed to Cape Fox, the Secretary would then have to convey the subsurface estate in that same land to Sealaska Corporation. Congress states its intent that the Secretary complete both conveyances as soon as practical after receiving Cape Fox's written notice, and no later than 180 days after receiving it. These two conveyances, once made, would count as fully satisfying Cape Fox's land entitlement under section 16 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and as fully satisfying Sealaska Corporation's entitlement to a subsurface interest in the Federal land (not Sealaska's subsurface entitlement generally) under section 14(f) of that Act.
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4. Selection outside exterior selection boundary (a) Selection and Conveyance of Surface Estate Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, if Cape Fox submits to the Secretary a written notice of selection of the Federal land, the Secretary shall, on receiving that written notice, convey the Federal land to Cape Fox. (b) Conveyance of Subsurface Estate On conveyance to Cape Fox of the surface estate to the Federal land under subsection (a), the Secretary shall convey to Sealaska Corporation the subsurface estate to that Federal land. (c) Timing It is the intent of Congress that the Secretary complete the conveyances to Cape Fox and Sealaska Corporation under subsections (a) and (b), respectively, as soon as practicable after the date on which the Secretary receives a written notice of the selection of Cape Fox under subsection (a), but not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary receives that written notice. (d) Entitlement fulfilled The conveyance of Federal land to Cape Fox and the subsurface interest in the Federal land to Sealaska Corporation under subsections (a) and (b), respectively, shall be considered to fulfill the entitlement of— (1) Cape Fox under section 16 of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1615 ); and (2) Sealaska Corporation to any subsurface interest in the Federal land under section 14(f) of that Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1613(f) ).
5: Public access easement
This section would require that when the Federal land is conveyed under section 4, the conveyance keep in place a public easement reserved under section 17(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. That easement would allow public access to National Forest System land that lies further inland on Revillagigedo Island, reached from George Inlet.
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5. Public access easement The conveyance of the Federal land under section 4 shall be subject to the reservation of a public easement under section 17(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1616(b) ) to allow for access to National Forest System land further inland on Revillagigedo Island from the George Inlet.
6: Valid existing rights
This section would make the conveyances under the Act subject to any valid existing rights, reservations, rights-of-way, and other encumbrances that third parties hold in, to, or on the Federal land as of the date the Act becomes law. This limit would not apply only if the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and Cape Fox all agree otherwise.
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6. Valid existing rights Unless otherwise agreed to by the Secretary, the Secretary of Agriculture, and Cape Fox, the conveyances under this legislation shall be subject to any valid existing rights, reservations, rights-of-way, and other encumbrances of third parties in, to, or on the Federal land as of the date of enactment of this Act. Passed the House of Representatives December 15, 2025. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.