Interior Alaska News

U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, both representing Alaska, have introduced legislation to extend the Alaska Native Vietnam Veteran Land Allotment Program for an additional five years. This initiative comes as the program approaches its expiration in December 2025. The program was initially established through a provision authored by Senator Sullivan in 2019, allowing thousands of Alaska Native veterans to apply for land allotments promised by Congress. Many veterans missed this opportunity due to their military service during the Vietnam War era.

The proposed legislation seeks to make lands identified in 2020 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFS) eligible for selection and requires USFS to identify additional lands for conveyance to eligible veterans.

Senator Sullivan expressed frustration over delays under the current administration: “Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans were on track under the previous administration to attain the land allotments that are their birthright thanks to Interior Secretary Bernhardt’s faithful and timely implementation of our hard-won legislation. But under the Biden administration, all of that progress came to a halt with endless delays and legal hurdles,” he stated. He criticized Secretary Haaland for not fulfilling commitments made during her confirmation process, noting that only 18 out of more than 2,000 eligible veterans have received their allotments in three years.

Senator Murkowski highlighted issues arising from partisan objections regarding available lands: “After passage of the Dingell Act, Alaska Native Vietnam veterans were finally eligible to select the land allotments that they had missed out on while serving their country—but due to partisan objections on the lands available for selection, far too many have been unable to select allotments in their region.” She emphasized that extending the program would provide more time for selections and open more lands for these veterans.

Both senators remain committed to ensuring that the government fulfills its promises to these veterans.