| About Alaska - Alaskan Legislative Milestones |
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Purchase (October 18, 1867 by the Gregorian calendar, October 7, 1867 by the Julian calendar) – Russian financial difficulties and Secretary of State William Seward’s expansionist desires lead to a late night negotiation over the purchase of the Russian territory to be known as Alaska. At 4:00 AM on March 30, 1867, Russia agreed to sell about 600,000 square miles to the United States government for $7.2 million. The purchase was regarded as full-hardy and the public coined names for the action such as “Seward’s folly,” “Seward’s icebox,” and “Andrew Jackson’s polar bear garden.” In Congress, the Alaskan territory had a strong ally, Senator Charles Sumner. Sumner spoke in favor of the purchase and helped produce a 37 to 2 vote to purchase the territory. The appropriation for the purchase followed a year later following opposition in the House of Representatives but an eventual 113 to 48 victory for supporters.
Alaska Statehood Act – On July 7, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Alaska Statehood Act into law adding a 49th state to the Union. The act enabled Alaska to form a constitutional congress and organize a state government congruent with the United States Constitution. Senator Stevens was a member of the Department of the Interior at the time and was deeply involved in the work to grant statehood to Alaska and Hawaii.
Alaska Gas Pipeline Authorization – In 1976, Congress passed the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act designed to move Alaska's gas to the lower 48. Low gas prices prevented the pipeline from being constructed. Several years ago, as gas prices continued to rise, renewed interest from the oil and gas industry and markets in the lower 48 led Congress to reconsider this important project. The Alaska Gas Pipeline Act was passed by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2005 Military Construction Appropriations Bill. This legislation included a series of incentives and streamlined procedures designed to make the gas pipeline a reality.
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) – Signed into law on December 18, 1971, ANCSA remains the largest land claim settlement in U.S. history. ANCSA resolved Alaska Native claims to almost all Alaska lands in exchange for $962.5 million and 44 million acres of federal lands. Under ANCSA, Alaska Natives became shareholders in 13 newly created Alaska Native Corporations. These regional corporations are responsible for managing the funds and resources associated with the settlement.
Alaska Native Education Equity Act – Promoting education in rural Alaska is of great importance to Senator Stevens. Alaska Native students have a higher dropout rates and lower test scores than their counterparts in other parts of the country. The Alaska Native Education Equity Act bridges this gap by providing competitive grants to school districts to help Alaska Native students improve their performance in the context of their culture. Through the Act, funding is provided for cultural exchanges, community engagement programs, drop-out prevention programs and cultural programs.
Alaska Native Interest Land Claims Act (ANILCA) – Signed into law on December 2, 1980, ANILCA is considered one of the largest pieces of conservation legislation in the United States. ANILCA authorized the withdrawal of more than 100 million acres of Alaska lands, doubling the area of the national park and refuge system and resulting in a sixty percent federal land ownership of Alaska. While a vast majority of these lands were closed to economic development, ANILCA assured that 1.5 million acres of the Arctic Coastal Plain would remain available for oil and gas exploration.
Bering Sea Donut Hole – The Convention on the Conservation and Management of Pollock Resources in the Central Bering Sea banned fishing in the international waters between Alaska and Russia. This international agreement ensured that the Bering Sea pollock fishery, one of America’s most valuable fisheries, would not be threatened by uncontrolled and unmonitored fishing.
Bypass Mail – A large percentage of Alaska communities cannot be reached by road. The bypass mail system directs the U.S. Postal Service to utilize passenger air carriers to deliver mail to these remote communities. Created in 1970, the bypass mail system ensures reliable and affordable passenger air service and the delivery of food, goods and basic consumer necessities to rural Alaska.
Denali Commission – This joint federal and state commission was created in 1998 and promotes infrastructure development in rural Alaska. Modeled after the Appalachian Commission, the Denali Commission effectively delivers federal services to rural Alaska communities in a cost-effective manner through federal, state, and tribal partnerships. Since its inception, the Commission has invested more than $567 million in rural Alaska and provided funding for critical utilities, infrastructure development, health clinics and economic support.
Health Care for Low-Income and Uninsured Alaskans – Senator Stevens has provided extensive support for the Health Resources and Services Administration at the Department of Health and Human Services to create a network of community health centers across Alaska. 115 sites across Alaska receive $30 million in federal funds to provide healthcare to low-income and uninsured Alaskans who otherwise would have access to only the most basic of care. In a situation unique to Alaska, the Alaska Native Health Care System has partnered with this network of facilities to ensure that health care is delivered throughout rural Alaska.
Indian Health Care Construction Funding – Alaska is home to many regional hospitals thanks to the support of Senator Stevens. By directing Indian Health Care construction funds to Alaska there are now hospitals in Kotzebue, Barrow, Nome and Dillingham. These construction funds have also been used to construct a new health clinic on St. Paul Island, 300 miles off the coast of Alaska.
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) – Following public concern over the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act. OPA ensures the federal government has the resources needed to properly respond to oil spills.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act – Recently renewed by the 109th Congress, the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) is often referred to as one of the few successful attempts to balance commercial needs and conservational concerns. MSA sets up regional fishery management councils that oversee the activities of a locality that can act to best serve their area’s environment. In great part to the safeguards established by this bill, there are no endangered or threatened commercial fish in the waters surrounding Alaska. Senator Stevens and former Senator Warren Magnuson (D-Washington) are credited as the primary authors of the bill.
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) – The Marine Mammal Protection Act protects affected animals by outlawing, with a few exceptions, the hunting, capture, or killing of marine mammals. The bill even goes so far as to ban the import of marine mammals from other countries. An important exemption for Alaskans allows for Alaska Natives to continue their traditional subsistence and artistic practices under the law. In this way, this natural resource is protected while guarding the practices of Native people.
Statewide Telemedicine Network – Through Senator Stevens’ support Alaska has the largest telemedicine program in the world. Coordinated through a relationship between the State of Alaska, the Indian Health Service, the Veterans Administration, the United States Coast Guard, and the Department of Defense, this award-winning program links 235 remote villages, military and Coast Guard installations with sophisticated health care facilities in major population centers.
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