Welcome to the official page for Alaska Congressman Don Young! Even today, he remains the only licensed mariner in Congress. Mrs.
Congressman Don Young was re-elected to the 117th Congress in 2020 to serve his 25th term as Alaska’s only Representative to the United States House of Representatives. First sworn in as a freshman to the 93rd Congress after winning a special election on March 6, 1973, Congressman Young is today the Dean of the House and the longest serving member of the current Congress. Congressman Young served
as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee from 1995 to 2001 and then as the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee from 2001-2007. In the 110th Congress, Representative Young returned to the helm of the Resources Committee to lead his fellow Republicans as the Ranking Member. In the 112th Congress, he was chosen to serve as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs (IIANA) – a position he held until January 2017. After fulfilling a successful 6-year term as Chairman of the IIANA Subcommittee, Congressman Young was named Chairman Emeritus of the full House Committee on Natural Resources – a role that allows him to bring his years of experience and knowledge to all five of the panel’s Subcommittees. Today, Congressman Young currently serves as the most senior Republican on both the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and House Natural Resources Committee. Congressman Young calls Fort Yukon, Alaska home; a remote village of approximately 700 people located 7 miles above the Arctic Circle in Alaska’s central interior region. Born on June 9, 1933 in Meridian, California, he earned his associate degree at Yuba Junior College in 1952, and his bachelor’s degree in teaching at Chico State College in 1958. Between earning these degrees, he served in the US Army’s 41st Tank Battalion from 1955 to 1957. When he first moved to Alaska, Congressman Young made a living in construction and tried his hand at commercial fishing, trapping, and in the search for gold. In Fort Yukon he taught in a 25-student, 5th grade elementary class in the Bureau of Indian Affairs school. Constructed of logs, the school had a wood stove that kept his Alaska Native students warm in the sub-freezing, arctic winter. With the annual spring break-up of the river ice, he captained his own tug and barge operation to deliver products and supplies to villages along the Yukon River. It was in Fort Yukon that Rep. Young met and married a young bookkeeper named Lu. Lu was always at the Congressman’s side and supported him throughout his public service career. Lu and Don were married for 46 years. They were blessed with and raised two daughters, Joni and Dawn, and 14 grandchildren. Young passed away on August 2, 2009. Although Congressman Young never imagined finding love again, on June 9, 2015 he married Anne Garland Walton, a Fairbanks-area flight nurse and proud mother of two children and six grandchildren. Congressman Young first entered public service in 1964 when he was elected Mayor of Fort Yukon. Two years later, Alaskan voters elected him to the State Legislature in Juneau where he served in the State House from 1966 to 1970, and later in the State Senate from 1970 to 1973. Just hours after being sworn in to United States House of Representatives in 1973, he found himself leading the historic battle for approval of the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline. Often citing this as the single most important achievement in his career, Congressman Young stated, “Next to statehood itself, the most historical legislation passed that affected every Alaskan then, now, and in the future, was the passage of the pipeline legislation.”
That same year, his colleagues honored him as the “Freshman Congressman of the Year.” He went on to gain a key appointment on the then Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee where he pushed through the 200-mile fishing limit critical to Alaska’s fishing industry. He fought against federal control of lands and resources to which Alaskans are rightfully entitled – a battle he continues today with the same vigor. In 1997, he passed by a 419 to 1 vote, the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, which sets guidelines and priority uses within our nation’s 550-plus wildlife refuges. Congressman Young proudly serves as the “Congressman for All Alaska” and loves his role as the only Alaskan Representative in Congress. Renewed by the challenges and goals of the 116th Congress and his committee positions, Congressman Young will continue to champion legislation and funding for programs benefiting Alaska and the nation. His 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.
04/02/2022
Today, Anchorage Baptist Temple will host a public memorial service for Alaska Congressman Don Young from 11AM - 12:30PM.
The service will be streamed live by Anchorage Baptist Temple on its website, social media platforms and KCFT Channel 35. In addition, Alaska News Source will live-stream the service on their website, Facebook and through their television affiliate KYES Channel 5.
What: Memorial service for Congressman Don Young.
When: Saturday, April 2, 2022
Time: 11:00AM AK time
Where: Anchorage Baptist Temple
Attending in person: Congressman Young’s family, friends, and staff invite you to a service in Anchorage memorializing his life and legacy. This event is open to the public and we encourage anyone who wants to honor Congressman Young’s many accomplishments on behalf of Alaska to join us at Anchorage Baptist Temple on April 2nd. Doors open at 9am.
Watch Congressman Don Young's Alaska Memorial Service Live:
Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, C-SPAN will be covering Congressman Don Young’s Lying in State ceremony in Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. Their live coverage will allow Alaskans and those around the nation to watch as Congressman Young is memorialized by family, friends, staff, and other dignitaries.
Coverage starts at 7:00am AK time/11:00am ET on Tuesday, March 29th.
Following the ceremony, the entire program will be re-broadcast on C-SPAN at 4:00pm AK time/8:00pm ET.
03/25/2022
The following details on public services in Anchorage for the late Congressman Don Young were released:
What: Memorial service for Congressman Don Young.
When: Saturday, April 2, 2022.
Time: 11:00am AK time.
Where: Anchorage Baptist Temple.
Congressman Young’s family, friends, and staff invite you to a service in Anchorage memorializing his life and legacy. This event is open to the public and we encourage anyone who wants to honor Congressman Young’s accomplishments on behalf of Alaska to join us at Anchorage Baptist Temple on April 2nd.
Live stream details are forthcoming.
03/24/2022
Congressman Don Young, the Dean of the House and longest-serving Republican representative, will lie in state in National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
An Arrival Ceremony will be held on the East Front House Steps at 10:30 AM ET. A Congressional Tribute will be held in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol at 11:00 AM ET.
Please note that the Congressional Tribute is only open to a limited number of invited Members of Congress and Congressman Young’s family, friends, and staff.
Statuary Hall will open from 12:00 PM ET until 2:00 PM ET to guests invited by the Young family, Members of Congress, and Congressional staff to pay respects.
Live stream details will be available early next week.
Information regarding events in Alaska is forthcoming. Visit this page for the most up-to-date information.
03/20/2022
Our office is grateful to the U.S. Capitol and the White House for lowering flags to half staff following the passing of the 45th Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives. 🇺🇸
03/19/2022
It’s with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we announce Congressman Don Young (R-AK), the Dean of the House and revered champion for Alaska, passed away today while traveling home to Alaska to be with the state and people that he loved. His beloved wife Anne was by his side.
A fierce defender of Alaska since elected to Congress in 1973, nearly everything that has advanced for Alaska is a result of Don Young’s tenacious work. From the Trans-Alaska pipeline, to the Ketchikan Shipyard, to the Magnuson Stevens Act, which transformed the American fishing industry, to the numerous land exchanges he fought for, Don Young’s legacy cannot be overstated.
“Every day, I try to do something for somebody and some group,” Congressman Young once said. “And every day I try to learn something new. We all go into the ground the same way. The only thing we leave behind are our accomplishments.”
Don Young’s legacy as a fighter for the state will live on, as will his fundamental goodness and his honor. We will miss him dearly. His family, his staff, and his many friends ask Alaskans for their prayers during this difficult time.
In the coming days, we will be sharing more details about plans for a celebration of his life and his legacy.
03/18/2022
I’m grateful to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for updating their mental health policies to reflect those of the other branches of our Armed Services. Alaskans know how crucial the USCG is to keeping our waters safe and secure. These high-stress scenarios often impact servicemembers differently. Mental health is vital to the well-being of our brave men and women; nobody should fear discharge for seeing the care they need to fulfill their mission.
I worked hard to include language in Coast Guard reauthorization legislation to protect those seeking mental or behavioral health care from discharge, and I applaud the USCG for taking action to modernize their mental health policies.
03/17/2022
I'm a strong supporter of Alaska's aerospace sector, and I proudly secured $11 million in the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act to support Alaska's launch operations.
Congratulations to Astra on Tuesday's successful launch from Kodiak's Pacific Spaceport Complex.
America's Last Frontier is leading the way into the Final Frontier! 🚀
03/17/2022
Happy St. Patrick's Day, Alaska!
Today we celebrate Irish culture in our state and across the world.
Have fun and be safe!
03/17/2022
🚨BREAKING🚨
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has UPHELD the King Cove land exchange!
Today is a good day for the State of Alaska and a hard-fought victory for the people of King Cove. For years, I have stood with this community in support of the land exchange to allow a potentially life-saving road to be built. This decision in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is further proof that the land exchange is on solid legal footing.
Today’s news comes one year after the Biden Administration announced their support for the road in court, following a legal challenge to the Trump Administration's approval of the exchange.
The proposed single-lane gravel road enjoys bipartisan support across two Administrations for good reason: in the event of medical emergencies, natural disasters, or any other crisis, access to surface transportation can mean the difference between life and death for residents of King Cove.
I remain confident that this road will be fully authorized and will continue working to ensure that King Cove's families can stay connected to the rest of our state and enjoy the safety and security they deserve.
04/02/2022
03/29/2022
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03/17/2022