Provision allowing Alaska Native veterans to homestead on public lands tucked away in massive bill

Congress on Tuesday passed a massive public lands bill sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski. The bill expands national parks and wilderness areas, creates new national monuments and sends money to states for parks and recreation. Among its 600 pages is a provision to help Alaska Native veterans of the Vietnam War era by allowing them to select up to 160 acres of land. But critics worry about a land grab.

There’s some history to this issue. Nelson Angapak has been working for years to get land for fellow Vietnam War-era veterans.

https://www.alaskapublic.org/2019/02/26/native-vietnam-vets-get-another-chance-to-claim-160-acres/