Interior Alaska News

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska has expressed approval for the progress of a legislative measure aimed at extending the Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans Allotment Program by five years. The program, initially enacted through a provision authored by Sullivan in 2019, offers Alaska Native veterans the chance to apply for land allotments that were promised by Congress but missed due to their military service during the Vietnam War. Originally set to expire in December 2025, this extension seeks to address ongoing delays.

The legislation was recently advanced by the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Introduced earlier this year by Senators Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, both representing Alaska, it aims to make lands identified in 2020 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service available for selection and mandates further identification of additional lands for eligible veterans.

Senator Sullivan criticized the current administration's handling of the program: “Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans were on track to attain the land allotments that they are entitled to, but the Biden-Harris administration halted that progress with endless delays and legal hurdles,” he stated. He further commented on Secretary Haaland's role at the Department of the Interior, accusing her of yielding to outside pressures and failing commitments made during her confirmation process.

Sullivan highlighted that fewer than 40 out of over 2,000 eligible veterans have received their allotments so far. He emphasized his gratitude towards Senator Murkowski for her advocacy within the ENR Committee and acknowledged Chairman Joe Manchin's efforts in facilitating its passage. Sullivan anticipates that under President Trump's new administration, this legislation will rectify past injustices and honor Vietnam veterans' contributions.