S. 2533

A bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to exclude certain payments to Alaska Native elders for determining eligibility for certain programs

Statement of
the Department of the Interior
before
the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
on
S. 2533, a bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to exclude certain
payments to Alaska Native elders for determining eligibility for certain programs

September 16, 2020

Thank you for the opportunity to present this statement on S. 2533, a bill to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to exclude certain payments to Alaska Native elders for determining eligibility for certain programs, and for other purposes.

S. 2533
S. 2533 amends Section 29(c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, 43 U.S.C. 1626(c), to exclude Settlement Trust funds or benefits for Alaska Natives or their descendants who are 65 or older in determining eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program; Social Security Act aid, assistance, or benefits; or to receive any other Federal program or federally-assisted program based on need. This legislation does not have any known impacts to Bureau of Indian Affairs programs. The Department of the Interior (Department) supports the intent of the bill in ensuring that the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act does not replace or diminish any right, privilege, or obligation of the United States to protect and promote the rights or welfare of Alaska Natives as citizens of the United States.

Conclusion

Thank you for the opportunity to provide the Department’s views. This concludes our statement.

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