Findings

Congress finds that—(1)on June 9, 1933, Donald Edwin Young was born to James Young and Nora (Bucy) Young in Meridian, California;(2)Don Young earned—(A)an associate degree from Yuba Junior College; and (B)a bachelor's degree in teaching from Chico State University;(3)from 1955 to 1957, Don Young began decades of service to the United States when he served in the Army as part of the 41st Tank Battalion;(4)in 1959, Don Young moved to Alaska and found his true home in the village of Fort Yukon, which is located 7 miles above the Arctic Circle;(5)Don Young met and married the first love of his life, Lula Lu Young, in Fort Yukon;(6)Don and Lu Young had—(A)2 wonderful daughters, Joni and Dawn (Sister); and (B)14 grandchildren;(7)Don Young—(A)taught fifth grade at a school run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs during the winter; and (B)during the warmer months, worked—(i)in construction, mining, fishing, and trapping; and(ii)as a tugboat captain;(8)Don Young—(A)was elected mayor of Fort Yukon in 1964; and(B)served as mayor of Fort Yukon until 1967;(9)Don Young was elected to and served in—(A)the Alaska House of Representatives from 1967 to 1970; and (B)the Alaska State Senate from 1970 to 1973;(10)Don Young—(A)was elected to the House of Representatives in 1973 in a special election; and (B)served 24 additional consecutive terms in the House of Representatives;(11)Representative Don Young served as—(A)the Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001; and (B)the Chair of Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007;(12)Representative Don Young was a champion for Alaska Natives, including as Chair of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives;(13)Representative Don Young—(A)fiercely defended Alaska and Alaskans as the sole Representative for the largest State in the United States; and (B)devoted himself to fulfilling the immense promise of his home State;(14)Representative Don Young was a leader in strengthening the role of Alaska in providing for the national defense of the United States through his—(A)support for—(i)the Coast Guard;(ii)the Alaskan Command; and (iii)the ballistic missile defense; and (B)steadfast commitment to the leadership of the United States in the Arctic;(15)Representative Don Young—(A)sponsored not fewer than 85 bills that were enacted into Federal law; and(B)sponsored and cosponsored many more measures that were part of broader legislation;(16)legislative achievements by Representative Don 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.);(17)Representative Don Young authored and advocated for generational laws, including—(A)the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) in 1975;(B)the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) in 1976;(C)the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–57; 111 Stat. 1252) in 1997; (D)SAFETEA–LU (Public Law 109–59; 119 Stat. 1144) in 2005;(E)the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–132; 121 Stat. 1360) in 2007; and (F)the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58; 135 Stat. 429) in 2021;(18)Representative Don Young—(A)formed strong relationships and friendships with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle; and (B)proudly worked with 10 different Presidents;(19)in 2015, Representative Don Young married his second love, Anne Garland Walton, in the United States Capitol;(20)on December 5, 2017, Representative Don Young became the 45th Dean of the House of Representatives, reflecting his status as the most senior Member of the House of Representatives;(21)Representative Don Young was the longest-serving Republican in the history of Congress; and(22)Representative Don Young ultimately served the 49th State with dedication and distinction for 49 years and 13 days, which is more than 3/4 of the period during which Alaska has been a State.