I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8398 
To provide for the continuation of higher education through the conveyance 
to the University of Alaska of certain public land in the State of Alaska, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 
Mr. YOUNG introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To provide for the continuation of higher education through 
the conveyance to the University of Alaska of certain 
public land in the State of Alaska, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘University of Alaska 
Fiscal Foundation Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to establish a program 
within the Department of the Interior to fulfill the com-
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mitment of Congress to establish the University of Alaska 
as a land grant university with holdings sufficient to facili-
tate operation and maintenance of a university system for 
the State of Alaska. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) AVAILABLE STATE SELECTED LAND.—The 
term ‘‘available State selected land’’ means Federal 
land in the State that has been selected by the 
State, including top-filed land, but not conveyed or 
patented to the State, pursuant to Public Law 85– 
508 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood 
Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21). 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the Bureau of Land Management. 
(3) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Alaska. 
(4) 
UNIVERSITY.—The 
term 
‘‘University’’ 
means the University of Alaska. 
SEC. 4. UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA LAND GRANT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program within the Bureau of Land Management to 
identify and convey available State selected land to the 
University for a land grant to support higher education. 
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(b) IDENTIFICATION
OF AVAILABLE STATE SE-
LECTED LAND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the State and the 
University may jointly identify not more than 
500,000 acres of available State selected land for in-
clusion in the program established under subsection 
(a) for conveyance and patent to the University. 
(2) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE.—Upon the re-
quest of the State and the University, the Secretary 
shall provide technical assistance in the identifica-
tion of available State selected land for inclusion in 
the program. 
(3) SURVEY.—Upon notification that the State 
and the University have identified available State se-
lected land for conveyance under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall expeditiously survey the available 
State selected land. 
(4) MAPS.—As soon as practicable after the 
date on which the available State selected land is 
identified for conveyance under paragraph (1), the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress 1 or more maps 
depicting the available State selected land identified 
for conveyance under that paragraph. 
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(c) STATE AND UNIVERSITY CONCURRENCE; CON-
VEYANCES.—Subject to subsection (e), if the State and 
the University submit to the Secretary 1 or more joint 
letters stating that the State and the University concur 
with the conveyance of all or a portion of the available 
State selected land identified for conveyance under sub-
section (b)(1), the Secretary shall convey to the Board of 
Regents of the University, subject to valid existing rights, 
the applicable identified available State selected land, to 
be held in trust for the exclusive use and benefit of the 
University. 
(d) ADMINISTRATION
OF CONVEYED LAND.—All 
available State selected land conveyed to the University 
under this Act, together with the income therefrom and 
the proceeds from any dispositions thereof, shall be admin-
istered by the University in trust to meet the necessary 
expenses of higher education programs, similar to prior 
Federal land grants to the University. 
(e) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
(1) MAXIMUM ACREAGE.—The Secretary shall 
convey not more than a total of 360,000 acres of 
available State selected land to the University under 
this Act. 
(2) LETTERS OF CONCURRENCE.—For purposes 
of subsection (c) and subject to the maximum acre-
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age limitation under paragraph (1), the State and 
the University may submit to the Secretary 1 or 
more joint letters of concurrence identifying parcels 
of available State selected land for conveyance as a 
subset of the total acres to be conveyed under this 
Act. 
(3) 
ACREAGE
CHARGED
AGAINST
ALASKA 
STATEHOOD ACT ENTITLEMENT.—The total acreage 
of all parcels of available State selected land con-
veyed to the University under this Act shall be 
charged against the remaining entitlement of the 
State under Public Law 85–508 (commonly known 
as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note 
prec. 21). 
(4) SURVEY COSTS.—In accordance with Public 
Law 85–508 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska 
Statehood Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21), the Sec-
retary shall be responsible for the costs of the survey 
under subsection (b)(3). 
(f) INTENT OF CONGRESS.—It is the intent of Con-
gress that any conveyance requested through a joint letter 
of concurrence under subsection (c) be finalized not later 
than 1 year after the date on which the letter is received 
by the Secretary. 
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(g) STATE AND UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION.—Noth-
ing in this Act requires the State or the University— 
(1) to participate in the program established 
under subsection (a); or 
(2) to submit joint letters of concurrence under 
subsection (c) or (e)(2). 
SEC. 5. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION. 
On conveyance and patent to the University of the 
available State selected land under this Act, the Secretary 
shall notify the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Re-
sources of the House of Representatives of the conveyance. 
Æ 
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