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H.R.9138

To require the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the Secretary of the Navy administrative jurisdiction of certain land located on Adak Island, Alaska, and for other purposes.

Introduced·6/4/26
Introduced

H. R. 9138

Introduced in House · June 8, 2026

June 4, 2026

Mr. Begich introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To require the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the Secretary of the Navy administrative jurisdiction of certain land located on Adak Island, Alaska, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Transfer of administrative jurisdiction of certain land on Adak Island, Alaska.

  1. (a) In general.—As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall transfer to the Secretary of the Navy administrative jurisdiction of the covered land.
  2. (b) Use of covered land.—The covered land transferred under subsection (a) may be used by the Secretary of the Navy—
  1. (1) as an armament or a testing site for high-hazard explosives described in the Defense Explosives Safety Regulation 6055.09 issued by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (February 23, 2024);
  2. (2) for training for—
    1. (A) aerial gunnery;
    2. (B) rocketry;
    3. (C) electronic warfare; or
    4. (D) tactical maneuvering and air support;
  3. (3) for equipment and tactics development and testing; or
  4. (4) for other defense-related purposes the Secretary of the Navy determines appropriate.
    1. (c) Removal of covered land from National Wildlife Refuge System.—
  5. (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 ( 16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.), Executive Order 1733 (March 3, 1913; relating to establishing Aleutian Islands Reservation as preserve for native birds, animals, and fish), or Public Land Order No. 1949 (24 Fed. Reg. 6872; August 19, 1959), the covered land—
    1. (A) is hereby removed from the National Wildlife Refuge System;
    2. (B) may not be considered as part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge; and
    3. (C) is not subject to any laws pertaining to land within the boundaries of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.
  6. (2) BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.—The Secretary of the Interior shall adjust the boundaries of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge in accordance with paragraph (1).

Effective date.—(3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall take effect on the date on which the Secretary of the Interior transfers to the Secretary of the Navy administrative jurisdiction of the covered land under subsection (a).

  1. (d) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this section may be construed to affect—
  1. (1) the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 ( 16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) or any other law related to the management of the National Wildlife Refuge System; or
  2. (2) except as provided in subsection (c), the status, boundaries, or management of any land within the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.

covered land.— (e) Covered land defined.—In this section, the term “covered land” means the approximately 5,624 acres of land on Adak Island, Alaska, described in Public Land Order No. 7609 titled “Partial Revocation of Public Land Order No. 1949; Alaska” (69 Fed. Reg. 48252; August 9, 2004).