I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2546 
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 
APRIL 14, 2021 
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. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(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 land upon which the State has, 
prior to December 31, 1993, filed a future selection 
application under section 906(e) of the Alaska Na-
tional Interest Lands Conservation Act (43 U.S.C. 
1635(e)), 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) CONSERVATION SYSTEM UNIT.—The term 
‘‘conservation system unit’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 102 of the Alaska National In-
terest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3102). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the Bureau of Land Management. 
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Alaska. 
(5) 
UNIVERSITY.—The 
term 
‘‘University’’ 
means the University of Alaska, acting through the 
Board of Regents. 
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SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 
The Secretary shall establish a program within the 
Bureau of Land Management— 
(1) to identify and convey available State-se-
lected land to the University to support higher edu-
cation in the State; and 
(2) to acquire, by purchase or exchange, Uni-
versity-owned land located within conservation sys-
tem units in the State. 
SEC. 4. IDENTIFICATION OF LAND TO BE CONVEYED THE 
UNIVERSITY. 
(a) 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 avail-
able State-selected land for inclusion in the program es-
tablished under section 3, of which not more than 360,000 
acres may be conveyed and patented to the University. 
(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Upon the request of 
the State and the University, the Secretary shall provide 
technical assistance in the identification of available State- 
selected land for inclusion in the program. 
(c) MAPS.—As soon as practicable after the date on 
which the available State-selected land is identified under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
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of Representatives 1 or more maps depicting the available 
State-selected land identified for conveyance to the Uni-
versity. 
(d) CONVEYANCE.—Subject to subsection (e), if the 
State and the University notify the Secretary in writing 
that the State and the University jointly concur with the 
conveyance of all or a portion of the available State-se-
lected land identified under subsection (a), and that the 
State relinquishes its selection rights to the land covered 
by the notification, the Secretary shall convey the applica-
ble identified available State-selected land to the Univer-
sity, subject to valid existing rights, in the same manner 
and subject to the same terms, conditions, and limitations 
as is applicable to the State under Public Law 85–508 
(commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska Statehood Act’’) (48 
U.S.C. note prec. 21) and other applicable law, to be held 
in trust for the exclusive use and benefit of the University, 
to be administered in accordance with section 6. 
(e) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.— 
(1) MAXIMUM ACREAGE.—Subject to paragraph 
(3), the Secretary shall convey not more than a total 
of 360,000 acres of available State-selected land to 
the University under this section, not to exceed the 
remaining entitlement of the State under Public 
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Law 85–508 (commonly known as the ‘‘Alaska 
Statehood Act’’) (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21). 
(2) LETTERS OF CONCURRENCE.—For purposes 
of subsection (d) and subject to the maximum acre-
age limitation under subsection (a), 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 
section. 
(3) 
ACREAGE
CHARGED
AGAINST
ALASKA 
STATEHOOD
ACT
ENTITLEMENT.—The acreage of 
land conveyed to the University under this section 
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 required 
surveys. 
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SEC. 5. UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA INHOLDINGS WITHIN CON-
SERVATION SYSTEM UNITS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary or the Secretary of 
Agriculture, as appropriate, may acquire by purchase or 
exchange, with the consent of the University, University- 
owned inholdings within conservation system units in the 
State. 
(b) APPRAISALS.—The value of the land to be ex-
changed or acquired under this section shall be determined 
by the Secretary through appraisals conducted— 
(1) in accordance with— 
(A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for 
Federal Land Acquisitions; and 
(B) the Uniform Standards of Professional 
Appraisal Practice; and 
(2) by an appraiser mutually agreed to by the 
Secretary and the University. 
(c) EQUAL VALUE EXCHANGES.—For any land ex-
change entered into under this section, the Federal land 
and University-owned inholdings exchanged shall be of 
equal value. 
(d) PURCHASE ACQUISITIONS.—Pursuant to chapter 
2003 of title 54, United States Code, amounts in the Land 
and Water Conservation Fund established by section 
200302 of that title may be used for the purchase of Uni-
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versity-owned inholdings within conservation system units 
in the State under this section. 
(e) REQUIREMENT.—Any land acquired by the 
United States under this section shall be administered in 
accordance with the laws (including regulations) applica-
ble to the conservation system unit in which the land is 
located. 
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION OF CONVEYED OR EXCHANGED 
LAND. 
All available State-selected land that is tentatively ap-
proved or conveyed to the University under this Act, and 
all land acquired by the University through an exchange 
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. 
SEC. 7. STATE AND UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION. 
Nothing in this Act requires the State or the Univer-
sity— 
(1) to participate in the program established 
under section 3; or 
(2) to enter into sales or exchanges of Univer-
sity-owned inholdings within conservation system 
units under section 5. 
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SEC. 8. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of any convey-
ance and patent to the University under this Act, the Sec-
retary shall notify the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives of the land con-
veyed and patented. 
Æ 
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