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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, members of the Western Caucus released statements congratulating the Dean of the House of Representatives and Western Caucus Vice-Chairman for Indian Affairs and Oceans, Congressman Don Young (AK-At Large) for officially becoming the longest-serving Republican House member in history:
Chairman Paul Gosar (AZ-04): "In 1973, when Don Young was first sworn into the House of Representatives, I was a bright-eyed, 14-year-old eighth-grader taking an American history class. Don is so old that when he was in school there was no American history class. While his youthful appearance says otherwise, 75 Members of the House weren’t even born yet when Don became a Congressman some 46 years ago. To say that Don has been around for a while and has seen a thing or two, would be the understatement of the century. If a grizzly couldn’t defeat Don Young, I don’t know why 24 straight opponents expected a different outcome. All jokes aside, there isn't a single person in Congress that better embodies the ideals of the West more than Don Young. Don is everything that a U.S. Representative should be: bold, determined, brutally honest and a hell of a legislator. He routinely has more things passed through the House and signed to law than any other Congressman I know. Don is a great friend and an even greater American. Congratulations to the Dean!"
House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Republican Rob Bishop (UT-01):
"Don Young is the only Dean of the House who has ever been put on a do-not-fly list."
"Since Don Young carries a knife on him at all times, I’m always supportive of what he wants."
"Since he just surpassed Joe Cannon for longest serving Republican in the House, I expect he’ll have a building named after him very soon."
"Don Young has forgotten more about public lands than the rest of us have ever learned."
"I try to emulate his calm and smooth demeanor."
House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Ranking Republican Frank Lucas (OK-03): "I was 13 years old when Representative Don Young became an honorable member of the United States Congress. Congressman Young’s dedication to public service has allowed him to be a witness to many of our nation’s most historic moments, including: Operation Homecoming in 1973, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the launch of NASA’s first female Space Shuttle pilot in 1995, and the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. On behalf of the people of Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District, and from one friend to another, congratulations on this monumental occasion. I look forward to serving alongside you for many more years to come."
Chief Budget Officer David Schweikert (AZ-06): "Today, we celebrate the newest and also the newly oldest serving Republican member of the House. Don Young is a friend, true fighter of freedom, and incredible sportsmen. Our country is blessed to have him serve for the past 46 years, and hopefully he will continue to serve for many more."
Chief Rules Officer Dan Newhouse (WA-04): "I don’t think I’ve met anyone in Congress as strong and fierce as my friend Don Young. As I often joke with him, I was a senior in high school when he was elected. I congratulate Don on becoming the longest-serving Republican in the House."
Rep. Tom Emmer (MN-06): "Wishing a warm congratulations to my friend Representative Don Young on becoming the longest-serving Republican member of Congress today. As a college student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1982, I had the privilege of voting for Don, and I am honored to serve alongside him now. Never has the state of Alaska seen a more passionate and dedicated advocate for their priorities. We all have a lot to learn from him, and I hope we all take that opportunity."
Rep. Ken Calvert (CA-42): "I want to congratulate my good friend Don Young on becoming the longest serving Republican in the history of Congress. I have a number of great memories and stories from my time serving in the House alongside Don, but because I don’t want to end up as another trophy on his wall, I’m not going to share them. Simply put, there’s been no better advocate for the state of Alaska than Don Young."
Rep. Aumua Amata Radewagen (American Samoa-At Large): "Remarkably, Congressman Young has served in Congress since 1973, the same year my family added my daughter Erika Leatavalavala. He’s been a good friend to us throughout the Pacific region. He shares our love of fishing, always enjoys a good laugh, and has a treasure of knowledge about the U.S. House of Representatives."
Rep. Duncan Hunter (CA-50): "Congratulations to the manliest man in Congress!"
Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón (PR-At Large): "I met Rep. Don Young years ago when I was part of the Young Republicans in Puerto Rico, and now I have the honor to serve with him representing my Island. For many years, Don Young has been a true friend of Puerto Rico, an advocate for Equality and Statehood for the Island. He has been a champion and a voice for PR. We love him."
Background:
Today, March 6, 2019, Congressman Don Young (AK-At Large) became the longest-serving Republican in the history of the House of Representatives, breaking former Speaker of the House Joe Cannon’s record of 16,800 days served. Rep. Young was sworn in on March 14, 1973. He is currently serving in his 24th term.
On December 5, 2017, Congressman Don Young also became the Dean of the United States House of Representatives. The Dean is a title given to the longest, continuously-serving, current member of the House of Representatives. He is the first Republican to hold this title since 1933.
Congressman Young has served with nine presidents, six Alaska senators and eleven Alaska governors.
From all of us at the Western Caucus, we congratulate Congressman Young on this historic accomplishment. Thank you for continuing to be a champion of our issues and for all the great work you have done as a long-time member of the Western Caucus.
Courtesy of Congressman Don Young's Office
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. Even today, he remains the only licensed mariner in Congress.
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. Mrs. 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.
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