Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act compromises Alaska Native people’s rights

The words “bipartisan,” “American,” “affordability” and “jobs” altogether insinuate taking care of our communities. But the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act does anything but that. 

BAAJA, under the pretext of a permitting reform package, undermines Tribal sovereignty and the rights of Alaska Native Corporations, weakens our environmental laws and limits the public’s ability to both provide input and challenge decision-making. The bill’s Manager Amendment does not sufficiently address these impacts. And the bill is moving through Congress fast.

BAAJA was introduced in the U.S. Senate floor as S. 5653 on September 30, 2026, just before the Senate recessed. Leaders of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works spearheaded the bill. Despite its significant implications for the Alaska Native community and Indian Country more broadly, the bill advanced without formal review by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. On Saturday, November 7, the bill’s sponsors released a substitute manager’s amendment. On Monday, November 9th, the Senate’s first day back in session, the Senate voted on cloture on the motion to proceed with a substitute amendment under H.R. 2347, taking a procedural shortcut to fast-track BAAJA.

Does the Chilkat Indian Village (Klukwan) Tribal Council want to see improved permitting across our state and the country? Absolutely. But this bill strips power from the Alaska Native community and the public in exchange for fast-tracking industry projects at agencies’ discretion, handing more decision-making to outside, extractive corporations. 

We could be building pathways for streamlined permitting and community-based consent while building new workforce opportunities in environmental stewardship and meeting our communities’ needs. But in Alaska, we trade these opportunities for empty promises from burgeoning outside industries that contribute little to our communities’ workforces and livelihoods. The promise of “development” for our future does not feed the people in Alaska today. 

BAAJA will depend on approval from the Alaska delegation who has a responsibility to consider the impact of their decisions on the more than 229 Tribal Nations across the State. Division B, Title III on Historic Preservation of BAAJA strips most of the protections afforded to our Tribal Nations and Alaska Native Corporations for consultation on sacred sites and cultural properties. These sites are spread across Alaska and encompass not only specific areas, but entire territories where we have depended on food for generations and our continued stewardship of these lands and waters are providing workforces for our tribal citizens. The Alliance of Sovereign Tribes of Southeast Alaska and its 19 federally-recognized participating Tribal Nations stand together in our opposition to Title III of BAAJA. 

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan occupy positions of influence they could use to protect both Tribal Nations’ inherent sovereignty and the rights of Alaska Native Corporations in striking Division B, Title III of BAAJA or voting no on the bill to allow for stronger permitting reform language to be drafted that does not compromise the rights of the Alaska Native community or the public. Both Senator Murkowski and Senator Sullivan voted yes on cloture on the motion to proceed on Monday, November 9th. We hope they will stand with us moving forward.