A look back at ɫ’s congressional delegation and the work they have done for UA this session
ɫ’s three-member congressional delegation –– made up of Republican Sens. Lisa
Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Republican Rep. Don Young –– took important steps last
session to assist the University of ɫ in a number of critical ways including
securing CARES Act funding for higher education institutes and taking steps to address
UA’s still unfulfilled land grant promise.
In 1915, federal legislation granted land to the Territory of ɫ to support the
"Territorial Agricultural College and School of Mines" along with each Section 33
(640 acres per section) located in each township of the Tanana Valley. In 1929, federal
legislation granted an additional 100,000 acres of land to the Territory of ɫ,
for the exclusive use and benefit of the Agricultural College and School of Mines.
With the passage of the ɫ Statehood Act in 1958, the 1915 Act was repealed. In
1959, when ɫ became a state, only a small percentage of the Federal grant lands
from the Acts of 1915 and 1929 had been conveyed to the University. Consequently,
the State of ɫ received over 104 million acres from the Federal Government, more
than any other state. As a result, the University received a smaller land grant for
higher education than any other state except for Delaware. Securing additional land
grants would significantly enhance UA Land Management's ability to generate investable
income to support University programs.
To address the issue, Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan introduced the University of ɫ Fiscal Foundation Act in the Senate and Rep. Young introduced the same legislation in the House.
“As we navigate these unprecedented times, the University of ɫ will continue
to play a critical role by providing quality education to young ɫns and future
generations,” Murkowski said. “This legislation will fulfill the University of ɫ’s
land grant for the benefit of its students and help provide a permanent foundation
to support higher education in ɫ. This is key to a healthy and vibrant future
for our state.”
ɫ’s congressional delegation also worked to reauthorize a Federal Arctic Energy
Office located on the University of ɫ Fairbanks campus.
We thank our congress members for taking such critical steps this session to help
UA continue its mission to serve ɫns.