SB 117-51: Empowering the People of Alaska Act - Failed

[Joseph Cao]

Objection to the motion.

[Joseph Cao]

Cloture fails 6-8-2-2. Debate resumes.

I assume the Senator from the Great Lakes objected for a reason and welcome his amendment.

On mobile right now, I'll give it to the Senate soon-ish.

[Joseph Cao]

Objecting to let the Senate know about this.

Empowering the People of Alaska Act

Section 1: Recognition of Alaska Native Peoples

1.1 Rights for Alaska Native Peoples:
This Act formally recognizes the Inupiaq, St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Yup'ik, Cup'ik, Aleut, Alutiiq, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and Athabaskan tribes as the original inhabitants of the lands of Alaska. The Act ensures specific rights pertaining to cultural practices, traditional lands, and resources. Traditional lands are defined as areas inhabited or used by these indigenous groups prior to the arrival of Western explorers. Rights include unrestricted access to traditional lands, the right to participate in decisions regarding resource management on these lands, social services, economic opportunities, and political representation. Violations of these rights will incur a fine of up to $10,000 and/or up to one year of imprisonment.

1.2 Protection of Sacred Sites:
It shall be illegal to desecrate or harm sites of cultural, historical, and spiritual significance. Violations will result in a fine of up to $100,000 and/or up to two years imprisonment. Businesses in violation may face the revocation of permits and licenses.

Section 2: Preservation of Alaska Native Languages

2.1 Preservation:
Efforts shall be made to preserve, promote, and revitalize the languages of each Alaskan tribe. The federal government shall allocate $50 million over a five-year period to support educational programs, immersion schools, and other initiatives specific to each language.

2.2 Establishing Immersion Schools:
Immersion schools shall be established throughout Alaska, covering all grade levels. $25 million from the federal government shall fund these schools over five years.

2.3 Supporting Existing Language Programs:
$5 million over five years will be designated to support existing language programs and initiatives led by native speakers.

2.4 Developing Online Resources:
An online portal, funded by $10 million over five years, will offer a range of materials for learning the indigenous languages of Alaska.

2.5 Promoting Indigenous Languages in Public Life:
Public institutions and businesses in Alaska will be required to incorporate these languages in signage and daily operations, depending on area. Signage will only be required in languages that are relevant to the area.

2.6 Cultural Events and Media:
$5 million over five years will fund cultural events that highlight the significance of Alaska's indigenous languages.

2.7 Collaboration with Global Indigenous Language Programs:
Collaboration with other global indigenous language revitalization programs will share best practices.

Section 3: Support for Land Initiatives

3.1 Land Trust Expansion:
Legislation shall expand land trusts in Alaska, with $20 million funding over five years.

3.2 Tourist Activity Tax:
A 5% tax on tourist activity and hotel occupancy will support land trusts and social services.

Section 4: Implementation

4.1 Support:
The Republic of Atlasia will provide necessary resources and support for this Act's implementation, including institutions, legal frameworks, and funding.

The total funds allocated within this bill, for a five-year implementation period, are as follows:

Preservation and promotion of indigenous languages: $50 million
Expansion of land trusts: $20 million
The total allocation sums up to $70 million over a five-year period.

If I am reading both bills correctly, section 3.2 has already been made law with the Pacific Islanders bill so I don't think it is necessary to repeat it here unless this retroactively raises the tax to 10%.

[Joseph Cao]

Objecting to let the Senate know about this.

Empowering the People of Alaska Act

Section 1: Recognition of Alaska Native Peoples

1.1 Rights for Alaska Native Peoples:
This Act formally recognizes the Inupiaq, St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Yup'ik, Cup'ik, Aleut, Alutiiq, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, and Athabaskan tribes as the original inhabitants of the lands of Alaska. The Act ensures specific rights pertaining to cultural practices, traditional lands, and resources. Traditional lands are defined as areas inhabited or used by these indigenous groups prior to the arrival of Western explorers. Rights include unrestricted access to traditional lands, the right to participate in decisions regarding resource management on these lands, social services, economic opportunities, and political representation. Violations of these rights will incur a fine of up to $10,000 and/or up to one year of imprisonment.

1.2 Protection of Sacred Sites:
It shall be illegal to desecrate or harm sites of cultural, historical, and spiritual significance. Violations will result in a fine of up to $100,000 and/or up to two years imprisonment. Businesses in violation may face the revocation of permits and licenses.

Section 2: Preservation of Alaska Native Languages

2.1 Preservation:
Efforts shall be made to preserve, promote, and revitalize the languages of each Alaskan tribe. The federal government shall allocate $50 million over a five-year period to support educational programs, immersion schools, and other initiatives specific to each language.

2.2 Establishing Immersion Schools:
Immersion schools shall be established throughout Alaska, covering all grade levels. $25 million from the federal government shall fund these schools over five years.

2.3 Supporting Existing Language Programs:
$5 million over five years will be designated to support existing language programs and initiatives led by native speakers.

2.4 Developing Online Resources:
An online portal, funded by $10 million over five years, will offer a range of materials for learning the indigenous languages of Alaska.

2.5 Promoting Indigenous Languages in Public Life:
Public institutions and businesses in Alaska will be required to incorporate these languages in signage and daily operations, depending on area. Signage will only be required in languages that are relevant to the area.

2.6 Cultural Events and Media:
$5 million over five years will fund cultural events that highlight the significance of Alaska's indigenous languages.

2.7 Collaboration with Global Indigenous Language Programs:
Collaboration with other global indigenous language revitalization programs will share best practices.

Section 3: Support for Land Initiatives

3.1 Land Trust Expansion:
Legislation shall expand land trusts in Alaska, with $20 million funding over five years.

3.2 Tourist Activity Tax:
A 5% tax on tourist activity and hotel occupancy will support land trusts and social services.

Section 4: Implementation

4.1 Support:
The Republic of Atlasia will provide necessary resources and support for this Act's implementation, including institutions, legal frameworks, and funding.

The total funds allocated within this bill, for a five-year implementation period, are as follows:

Preservation and promotion of indigenous languages: $50 million
Expansion of land trusts: $20 million
The total allocation sums up to $70 million over a five-year period.

If I am reading both bills correctly, section 3.2 has already been made law with the Pacific Islanders bill so I don't think it is necessary to repeat it here unless this retroactively raises the tax to 10%.

Isn't this restrictive to just Alaska (and in case of the Pacific Islanders, the Pacific Islands)?

Shouldn't that be in the text of the bill then? Because it's not – as currently written a national tax has already been imposed by the Pacific Islanders bill, and this would impose another one.

[Joseph Cao]

So I suppose we're keeping 3.2 after all?

No? I did not and am not withdrawing the amendment, and Laki hasn't objected to it.

[Joseph Cao]

Wait, so the intent of these two bills all along was to impose a combined tourist tax of 10%?

[Joseph Cao]

Wait, so the intent of these two bills all along was to impose a combined tourist tax of 10%?

What I think Laki is saying is that there is a 5% tourist tax solely applying to the "territory" of the previous bill, and this applies a separate 5% tax only for Alaska.

I mean I am still rather confused by that, because neither bill has said anything about where the tax is to be applied – only that there is a tax.

There is nothing in the bill that suggests this is a "regional tourist tax" implemented either regionally or in Alaska only. Every sum of money allocated in this bill is federally funded by taxpayers across the whole nation, it seems reasonable to assume any taxes talked about in the same context are also federal. This applies to both bills.