Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025
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The bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services to convey about 3.4 acres of federal land in Anchorage, Alaska, to the Southcentral Foundation, a Native health organization, for use in health and social services programs.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convey, within two years of enactment, all federal right, title, and interest in roughly 3.372 acres in Anchorage, Alaska, to the Southcentral Foundation for use in health and social services programs. The transfer would be made by warranty deed, could not require payment or impose conditions on the Foundation, and could not allow the United States to reserve any reversionary interest in the property.
The bill would also address environmental liability: the Foundation would not be liable for contamination on the property that occurred before the conveyance date, while the government would not be liable for contamination occurring after the Foundation took control of the property. The Secretary would retain any easement needed to satisfy existing obligations, and this liability arrangement applies only to this specific conveyance.
Key provisions
- 1Would require HHS to convey approximately 3.372 acres in Anchorage, Alaska, to the Southcentral Foundation within two years of enactment
- 2Would require the conveyance be made by warranty deed with no payment, conditions, or federal reversionary interest
- 3Would preserve any easement or access needed for HHS to satisfy retained obligations or liabilities on the property
- 4Would shield the Southcentral Foundation from liability for environmental contamination occurring before the conveyance, while shielding HHS from contamination occurring afterward
Who would be affected
The Southcentral Foundation, a nonprofit Alaska Native health and social services provider in Anchorage, and the Department of Health and Human Services, which currently holds title to the property being transferred.
Why it matters
The transfer would give the Southcentral Foundation clear, unconditional ownership of land it uses for health and social services, removing federal restrictions and clarifying who bears responsibility for any environmental contamination found on the site before or after the handover.
What would change
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Deadline for HHS to convey the property to the Southcentral Foundation
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3620 would have no effect on direct spending or revenues over the 2026–2035 period, with administrative costs of less than $500,000 subject to appropriation.
H.R. 3620 would authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to transfer a parcel of federal land in Anchorage, Alaska, to the Southcentral Foundation (SCF), a nonprofit tribal health care organization, at no charge. Because SCF currently pays no rent or other remuneration for use of the land, CBO estimates the transfer would not affect direct spending (mandatory outlays) or revenues over the 2026–2035 period, and would not increase the deficit. CBO does estimate that the Indian Health Service would incur less than $500,000 in administrative costs to complete the transfer over the 2026–2030 period, but those costs would require a future appropriation. The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates.
How implementation would work
Within two years of enactment, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must execute a warranty deed conveying the specified Anchorage parcel to the Southcentral Foundation, with no payment or conditions attached and no federal reversionary interest retained. The conveyance supersedes any prior quitclaim deed on the property. The Secretary must comply with federal environmental disclosure requirements under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and retains any easement needed to fulfill ongoing obligations, such as environmental remediation.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Committee on Indian Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Official CRS summary
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This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to convey approximately 3.4 acres in Anchorage, Alaska, to the Southcentral Foundation (SCF) for use in connection with health and social services programs.
The conveyance must be made by warranty deed. The conveyance may not (1) require any consideration (such as payment) from the SCF for the property; (2) impose any obligation, term, or condition on the SCF relating to that property; or (3) allow for any U.S. reversionary interest in the property.
HHS must be accorded any easement or access to the property as may be reasonably necessary to satisfy any retained obligation or liability of HHS.
The bill prohibits the SCF from being liable for certain environmental contamination that occurred on or before the date on which the property is conveyed to the SCF. In turn, HHS may not be liable for any contamination that occurred after the date that the SCF controlled, occupied, and used the property.
Legislative subjects
Alaska; Hazardous wastes and toxic substances; Land transfers; Public Lands and Natural Resources
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-398