Honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Representative Don Young. 

Honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Representative Don Young. Whereas Donald Edwin Young was born on June 9, 1933, to James Young and Nora (Bucy) Young in Meridian, California; Whereas Don Young earned an associate degree from Yuba Junior College and a bachelors degree in teaching from Chico State University; Whereas Don Young began what would be decades of service to the United States when he served in the Army as part of the 41st Tank Battalion from 1955 to 1957; Whereas Don Young moved to Alaska in 1959 and found his true home in the village of Fort Yukon, which is located 7 miles above the Arctic Circle; Whereas Don Young met and married the first love of his life, Lula Lu Whereas Don Young and Lu had 2 wonderful daughters, Dawn and Joni, and later 14 grandchildren; Whereas Don Young taught fifth grade at a school run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs during the winter and worked in construction, mining, fishing, and trapping, and as a tugboat captain in the warmer months; Whereas Don Young was elected mayor of Fort Yukon in 1964 and served in that role until 1967; Whereas Don Young was elected to and served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1967 to 1970 and the Alaska State Senate from 1970 to 1973; Whereas Don Young was elected to the House of Representatives in 1973 in a special election and served 24 additional and consecutive terms; Whereas Representative Young served as Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007; Whereas Representative Young was a champion for Alaska Native peoples, including as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; Whereas Representative Young fiercely defended Alaska and Alaskans as the sole Representative for the largest State in the United States and devoted himself to fulfilling the immense promise of his home State; Whereas Representative Young was a leader in strengthening the role of Alaska in providing for the national defense of the United States through his support for the Coast Guard, the Alaskan Command, and the ballistic missile defense and his steadfast commitment to the leadership of the United States in the Arctic; Whereas Representative Young sponsored at least 85 bills that were enacted into Federal law and sponsored and cosponsored many more measures that were part of broader legislation; Whereas legislative achievements by Representative Young span the policy spectrum, from authorizing the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System to important amendments and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. Whereas Representative Young authored and advocated for generational laws, including the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq. Public Law 94265 Public Law 10557 Public Law 10959 Public Law 110132 Public Law 11758 Whereas Representative Young formed strong relationships and friendships with members on both sides of the aisle and proudly worked with 10 different presidents; Whereas Representative Young married his second love, Anne Garland Walton, in 2015, in the United States Capitol; Whereas, on December 5, 2017, Representative Young became the 45th Dean of the House of Representatives, reflecting his status as its most senior member; Whereas Representative Young was the longest-serving Republican in the history of Congress; and Whereas Representative Young ultimately served the 49th State with dedication and distinction for 49 years and 13 days, which is more than 3/4 That the Senate (1) mourns the death of Don Young, congressman for all Alaska and the 45th Dean of the House of Representatives; (2) honors Representative Young for his lifetime of service to Alaska and the United States, his spirited bipartisanship, and his enduring respect for and devotion to the House of Representatives; (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate (A) communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives; and (B) transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable Don Young; and (4) at the time that the Senate adjourns or recesses today, the Senate stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable Don Young.

Summary: This resolution honors the life of Representative Donald Young and offers the condolences of the Senate regarding his death.