{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398785", "Youngs Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act Passes Committee", "2016-09-22", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Don Young", "Y000033", "donyoung.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources approved H.R. 2387, the Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act, introduced by Alaska Congressman Don Young \u2013 Chairman of the Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee. The bill, which passed by voice vote, provides equitable treatment of Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans under the Native Allotment Act of 1906, allowing veterans to be eligible for land benefits from the federal government.\r\nWhile serving overseas in the Vietnam War, many Alaska Native Veterans were unable to apply for land allotments promised by the federal government before the process ended. In 1998, Congress opened an application period for these veterans, but unfortunately only those who served from 1969\u20131971 were allowed to apply. H.R. 2387 expands the military service dates to coincide with the entire conflict, which officially lasted from 1964-1975. \r\n\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely wrong to punish these Alaska Native veterans, who proudly served their country during time of conflict, by denying them their allotment,\u201d said Congressman Young. \u201cCongress must once and for all rectify this inequity and fulfill its promise to these Native veterans. This is not the first time I\u2019ve introduced this legislation, but I certainly hope it will be the last. I look forward to the day that this matter is closed.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\u201cThis piece of legislation will bring justice and parity for Alaska Natives who honorably served our nation in the Vietnam War,\u201d House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) said. \u201cI am pleased to see this important bill advance. I thank Congressman Young for his effort in allowing our servicemen and women an equal opportunity to obtain what is rightfully theirs.\u201d\r\nCongressman Young\u2019s bill also increases available land for selection by Alaska Native Veterans and reduces previous restrictions and occupancy requirements that prevented many veterans from receiving their allotment during the prior open season. \r\nOn June 10, 2015, Congressman Young chaired a legislative hearing on H.R. 2387, which included testimony from Nelson Angapak \u2013 Senior Vice President for the Alaska Federation of Natives and a veteran himself.\r\n\u00a0\u201cIt is with urgency that we are asking Congress to pass this bill during the [114th] Congress so that there will be equitable treatment of our veterans who served during the whole Vietnam era,\u201d\u00a0Angapak said.\u00a0\u201cAgain, it is with urgency. Our veterans are dying off. Some of our friends are no longer with us and some are dying, that is why we have the urgent request that you pass this bill.\"\r\n\r\nNelson Angapak testifying in favor of H.R. 2387, the Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act on June 15, 2015 (click here to watch).\r\n\u201cThese veterans deserve that land, that\u2019s the whole intent of this bill...,\"\u00a0said Congressman Young.\u00a0\u201cWhy is the Department of Interior so intent in not allowing these veterans to have their land? \u00a0What\u2019s the big hang up? If it stays in trust, mineral deposits stay in your ownership; this is their cultural land, why can\u2019t you let them have their land?\u201d\u00a0\r\n\r\nCongressman Don Young Discussing the Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act in June, 2015 (click here\u00a0to watch).\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://donyoung.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398785"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7197691593319178, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}