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DON YOUNG
CONGRESSMAN FOR ALL ALASKA


I was re-elected to the 111th Congress in 2008 to serve my 19th term as Alaska's only Representative to the United States House of Representatives. My tenure in office has been driven by my deep love for Alaska and the Nation, and my hope to provide all citizens the opportunity for a better life, not just today, but well into the future. I have an impassioned and sincere desire to continue serving Alaska in the United States Congress. 

On March 6, 1973, against overwhelming odds, I was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on a special election victory. Just hours after being sworn in, I found myself leading the historic battle in the House for the approval of the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline. I often say, “Next to statehood itself, the most historical passage of legislation that ever affected every Alaskan, then, now and in the future, was the passage of the pipeline legislation.”

That same year I was honored by my colleagues as ‘Freshman Congressman of the Year’. I went on to gain key appointments to the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee and pushed through the critical 200 mile fishing limit. At the same time, I continued my vigorous fight against federal control of lands that Alaskans were rightfully entitled - a battle that continues almost 40 years later.

Today, I am the 2nd ranking Republican member and the 7th ranking overall member of the House of Representatives. I am a current member and former Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee which is Congress' largest committee with 75 members. I am also a member of the House Resources Committee, a committee I chaired during the 104th, 105th, and 106th Congresses. Together, these committees have a direct and significant impact on all Alaskans. Teamed with Alaska's Senators, I continue to sponsor legislation and programs that will benefit Alaska and the Nation -- today and into the future.

My home is a stone's throw from Alaska's Yukon River in Fort Yukon, Alaska, a remote village of approximately 700 people located 7 miles above the Arctic Circle in Alaska's central interior region. It was in Fort Yukon that I met and married a young bookkeeper named Lu. Lu was always at my side and supported me throughout my public service career. Lu and I were married for 46 years, and were blessed with and raised two daughters, Joni and Dawn, and 14 grandchildren. Lu passed away on August 2, 2009 at the age of 67. I thank God for the many years we had together and I miss her every day.

I proudly serve as the “Congressman for All Alaska” and love my role as the only Alaskan Representative in Congress. Renewed by the challenges and goals of the 111th Congress and my committee positions, I will continue to champion legislation and funding for programs benefiting Alaska and the nation. My vision remains the same – to provide citizens with the opportunity for a better life not just for today, but also for tomorrow and the future. Below are just some of the things I’ve been able to do for Alaskans.

Working for All Alaskans

Alaska Defense 

  • Secured $70 million to build infrastructure for the F-22 stealth fighters at Elmendorf Air Force Base and $76 million for a new company operations facility and a substantial upgrade in the electrical infrastructure at Ft. Wainwright in H.R. 2642, the FY 2008 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act.
  • Successfully challenged and reversed BRAC recommendation to shut down Eielson Air Force Base.Defeated proposals to increase veterans' health care costs.
  • Worked to establish national missile defense program in locations throughout Alaska.
  • Helped secure a new home for 36 of America's newest F-22A stealth fighters at Elmendorf Air Force Base.

Resources and Energy

  • Successfully lead the fight to pass the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Act which provided for the construction of TAPS.
  • Authored legislation that lifted the oil export ban on Alaska's North Slope oil.
  • Fought to preserve the timber industry in Southeast Alaska and the pension plans of those Alaskans employed by the timber industry.
  • Sponsored the American Land Sovereignty Protection Act.Successfully passed a provision to ensure the natural gas pipeline from Prudhoe Bay is routed through Alaska's interior.
  • Worked to achieve a short term solution for halibut catch limits for the charter fishing industry.
  • Led Congressional efforts to ensure local Alaska control over decisions on mining, logging, oil and gas development and other uses of public lands.
  • Protected the interests of Native subsistence hunters by amending the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act multiple times.
  • Created and permanently extended the CDQ program and allocation to CDQ Groups and amended the Magnuson-Stevens Act numerous times.
  • Assisted and supported efforts to successfully relocate Maggie the elephant from the Alaska Zoo to a facility in northern California. 

Education, Family and Health

  • Secured increased Medicare reimbursement for Alaskan Physicians.
  • Secured increased funding for Head Start Program, Impact Aid, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
  • Voted to preserve Denali KidCare and reauthorize SCHIP for low income children.
  • Introduced legislation to allow King Cove to build an emergency access road and held a hearing in the Natural Resources Committee which convinced his colleagues in the House of the necessity of the road.
  • Sponsored the No Child Left Behind Improvements Act to allow states to adjust the law to their specific situations.
  • Invited Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings to visit rural Alaska schools to show her the reality of education in Alaska.
  • Defeated an amendment by Rep. Scott Garrett that would have stripped funding from the Alask a Native Education Equity program.
  • Helped make a college education more affordable by supporting H.R. 5, which decreased the interest rates on student loans.
  • Obtained federal funding for important organizations and programs such as Parents, Inc., Alaska Family Residency Program, Salvation Army Family Enrichment Place, Alaska Addiction Rehab Services, Anchorage methamphetamine education project and Covenant House.

Alaska Natives

  • Authored the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservations Act of 1980, which included provisions on subsistence rights, access and amended ANCSA.
  • Sponsored legislation to create a tax deduction for Alaska Native whaling captains.
  • Introduced the Alaska Native Veterans Land Allotment Equity Act.
  • Introduced the Native American Challenge Demonstration Project Act.
  • Sponsored H.R. 1328, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Reauthorization.
  • Continued to protect Federal contracting opportunities for Alaska Natives and Alaska Native Corporations [Section 8(a) contracting].
  • Championed efforts to save the rural dental health aide therapists program.
  • Promoted and Defended the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission and the Alaska Walrus Commission, including securing the passage of Congressional Resolutions supporting the right of Alaska Natives to continue subsistence hunts.
  • Secured funding in numerous appropriations measures for the Denali Commission and other Native water and sewer project, telemedicine, airport improvements, etc

Transportation and Infrastructure

  • Authored historic national transportation bill that increased Alaska's share of highway and transit funding to more than $2.35 billion of the next five years-the highest amount in Alaska history. Secured funding for more than 100 important projects like the Knik Arm Crossing, marine intermodal facilities in Ketchikan, Juneau access road, road improvements in Fairbanks and congestion relief projects in every region of the state.
  • Authored legislation for increased funding for improvements to airports throughout Alaska.
  • Secured funding for dozens of communities for water infrastructure improvements in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).
  • Created the Denali Access System Program that directs much needed funds to rural Alaskan communities in need of transportation projects. The program provides $15 million each year for improvements to or new construction of local streets, roads, boardwalks, dust abatement, boat launch sites and inter-village road connections.
    

Congressman Don Young
PO Box 100298
Anchorage, AK 99510
akfordy@gmail.com
www.donyoung2010.com
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