[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13155]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          EXCHANGE OF LETTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 2013

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following exchange of 
correspondence between myself and Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank 
Lucas.

                                     House of Representatives,

                                   Washington, DC, August 1, 2013.
     Hon. Frank Lucas,
     Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Longworth House 
         Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Lucas, I write today to highlight a program 
     of significance to rural Alaska and many of our Alaska Native 
     villages. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 
     through the Rural Utilities Service, helps provide financing 
     for the construction of water and waste water systems in 
     remote Alaska villages that face unique, significant 
     obstacles to providing residents with potable water and safe 
     sanitation systems. These obstacles include Alaska's extreme 
     climate and geography as well as the fact that most villages 
     are not connected to the road system and are only accessible 
     by air. The water systems assisted by the program are not a 
     matter of convenience for these communities, but meet a 
     critical public health need.
       Currently, more than 30 villages in Alaska still use 
     ``honeybuckets'' as their method of waste collection. A 
     honeybucket is a five gallon bucket used as a toilet by 
     everyone in a household and emptied by the family on a daily 
     basis. Honeybuckets are a reality for many communities in my 
     state and pose serious health risks for residents, 
     particularly children. Thankfully USDA, the State of Alaska, 
     and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium are working 
     together through the program to create better sanitation 
     facilities in rural Alaska and help make honeybuckets a relic 
     of the past.
       I would like to bring this issue to your attention and 
     would greatly appreciate your assistance in Farm Bill 
     conference negotiations with the Senate to help reauthorize 
     this important program.
           Thank You,
                                                        Don Young,
                                       Congressman for all Alaska.
                                  ____
                                  
                                         House of Representatives,


                                     Committee on Agriculture,

                                   Washington, DC, August 1, 2013.
     Hon. Don Young,
     Rayburn House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Young,  Thank you for your letter 
     regarding the United States Department of Agriculture program 
     that helps provide financing for water and waste water 
     systems in remote Alaska villages. I appreciate you bringing 
     this issue to my attention. Given the urgency that you 
     describe in your letter, I would be happy to work with you 
     during the Farm Bill conference regarding this public health 
     need.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Frank D. Lucas,
     Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture.

                          ____________________