[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4548-S4549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO SUZANNE DOWNING

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay a special tribute to 
a very special Alaskan, Suzanne Downing. Suzanne turned 70 this year, 
and--big news for Alaska--sold her news site Must Read Alaska to 
businessman Jon Faulkner of Homer, who has already

[[Page S4549]]

done a great job with it. So thank you, Jon.
  Established in 2015, Must Read Alaska is a conservative online site 
that has a huge impact in Alaska. Suzanne's reporting gives voice to 
issues and opinions that a large part of our State can't get elsewhere, 
particularly in her unwavering commitment to holding the mainstream 
media accountable or, as Suzanne puts it, ``at least on their toes.''
  Tens of thousands of Alaskans read Suzanne's stories on Must Read 
every day, in part because of her crisp prose and her point of view, 
but also because she is so prolific. She works 10-hour days, at least, 
writing two, sometimes three or more stories a day, covering local 
political races, national issues, foreign policy, you name it. Must 
Read Alaska has been so successful in Alaska in large part because she 
offers an outlet for conservative voices and ideas, but also because of 
her knowledge on many different subjects, particularly on all things 
Alaska. This is knowledge that comes from real world experiences, the 
kind of varied experiences that so many journalists lack today.
  So let me talk briefly about Suzanne's interesting background. 
Suzanne moved to Alaska as a child in 1969, only 10 years after 
statehood. She lived with her family along Auke Bay near the capital 
city of Juneau in a small cabin on the water. Juneau would eventually 
be her home as an adult. In Juneau, she worked in various capacities: 
in the state legislature, at the University of Alaska Southeast, in 
shops in downtown Juneau, and as an editor of the Juneau Empire. She 
worked in commercial fishing in Cook Inlet and on a crab boat out of 
Kodiak. As I said, she has an interesting background, and there is 
more.
  Eventually, Suzanne became a mom and finished her technical writing 
degree at Oregon State University. She got a job as a reporter and 
editor on Bainbridge Island in Washington State for the island's weekly 
newspaper. After 3 years, Alaska called Suzanne home once again, and 
she was hired as the Sunday editor of the Juneau Empire, eventually 
working her way to full-time editor.
  Suzanne then moved to Georgia, where she was the editorial page 
editor for 3 years for the Augusta Chronicle before meeting her husband 
Patrick Yack. They moved to Florida, where she worked in the inner city 
for Fresh Ministries, an Episcopalian group which offered wrap-around 
services for the poor.
  After Hurricane Katrina hit, she created a ministry called 
``Neighbors to the Rescue,'' which connected volunteers to families who 
had escaped the path of the hurricane and could not return to their 
Louisiana homes.
  The cutting-edge technology she deployed in ``Neighbors to the 
Rescue'' caught then-Florida Governor Jeb Bush's attention. She was 
hired as the Florida State Director for faith and community based 
programs, expanding ``Neighbors to the Rescue'' statewide.
  After 7 years away, Suzanne returned to Alaska in 2007, where she 
worked as a philanthropic program developer for the newly-founded 
Alaska Community Foundation. This position reconnected her with people 
across the State, and the next year, she was hired by then Alaska 
Governor Sean Parnell to be his speechwriter. Suzanne stayed with his 
administration until Governor Parnell left office in 2014. The next 
year, Suzanne started Must Read Alaska, which indeed turned into a 
must-read for Alaskans of all political persuasions.
  In addition to news and opinion, the site serves as a community 
message board of sorts, celebrating the success of local Alaskans, 
small businesses, and highlighting events throughout the State, uniting 
a large State with a small population. Importantly, in addition 
Suzanne's own reporting, Must Read Alaska also offers space for other 
conservative columnists. In fact, it is one of the things that Suzanne 
is most proud of. Other outlets across the State tend to shut these 
voices out--to their detriment. In fact, one of the sites most-read 
stories was by Juneau sage Paulette Simpson, who wrote a column about 
the ferry system.
  Suzanne's job is not easy. It is grueling to write as much as she 
does. And I can image that it takes an emotional toll, too. She is 
often under attack--sometimes viciously--from those who take issue with 
her politics. But I know she has thick skin and takes strength from so 
many in Alaska who defend her. They, as well as I, fervently believe 
that defending your beliefs, and giving others a space to do so, is the 
right thing do to. And Suzanne is doing that. I also know that she is 
buoyed by her love of our State, our country, and by something her 
grandfather, the Presbyterian Reverend Robert H. Price, used to tell 
her: ``The world will hear from you.'' Indeed, the good reverend, whom 
Suzanne was very close to, was prophetic. The world has heard from her.
  The sale of Must Read Alaska is thankfully not the end of Suzanne's 
news career. She is still one of the board members, as well as the day-
to-day manager of the publication. While remaining very hands-on, 
Suzanne is now happy to spend more of her summers in Skagway, AK, where 
she and her husband Pat plan to dote on their granddaughter Aven Rain 
Call.
  I know I, as well as thousands of Alaskans, look forward to seeing 
Must Read Alaska's continued success as the conservative news source 
for many more years to come. With Suzanne's guidance, I know it will 
be. Congratulations again, Suzanne, on all of your great 
accomplishments, happy birthday, and thank you for all you do for our 
State and our country.

                          ____________________