SECTION 1. Short Title.
This Act may be cited as the “Don Young Recognition Act”.
Don Young Recognition Act
An Act
To designate Mount Young in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SEC. 2. Findings.
Congress finds that—
on June 9, 1933, Donald Edwin Young was born to James Young and Nora (Bucy) Young in Meridian, California;
Don Young earned—
an associate degree from Yuba Junior College; and
a bachelor’s degree in teaching from Chico State University;
from 1955 to 1957, Don Young began decades of service to the United States when he served in the Army as part of the 41st Tank Battalion;
in 1959, Don Young moved to Alaska and found his true home in the village of Fort Yukon, which is located 7 miles above the Arctic Circle;
Don Young met and married the first love of his life, Lula “Lu” Young, in Fort Yukon;
Don and Lu Young had—
2 wonderful daughters, Joni and Dawn (Sister); and
14 grandchildren;
Don Young—
taught fifth grade at a school run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs during the winter; and
during the warmer months, worked—
in construction, mining, fishing, and trapping; and
as a tugboat captain;
Don Young—
was elected mayor of Fort Yukon in 1964; and
served as mayor of Fort Yukon until 1967;
Don Young was elected to and served in—
the Alaska House of Representatives from 1967 to 1970; and
the Alaska State Senate from 1970 to 1973;
Don Young—
was elected to the House of Representatives in 1973 in a special election; and
served 24 additional consecutive terms in the House of Representatives;
Representative Don Young served as—
the Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001; and
the Chair of Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007;
Representative Don Young was a champion for Alaska Natives, including as Chair of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives;
Representative Don Young—
fiercely defended Alaska and Alaskans as the sole Representative for the largest State in the United States; and
devoted himself to fulfilling the immense promise of his home State;
Representative Don Young was a leader in strengthening the role of Alaska in providing for the national defense of the United States through his—
support for—
the Coast Guard;
the Alaskan Command; and
the ballistic missile defense; and
steadfast commitment to the leadership of the United States in the Arctic;
Representative Don Young—
sponsored not fewer than 85 bills that were enacted into Federal law; and
sponsored and cosponsored many more measures that were part of broader legislation;
legislative achievements by Representative Don Young span the policy spectrum, from authorizing the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System to important amendments and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);
Representative Don Young authored and advocated for generational laws, including—
the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) in 1975;
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) in 1976;
the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Public Law 105–57; 111 Stat. 1252) in 1997;
SAFETEA–LU (Public Law 109–59; 119 Stat. 1144) in 2005;
the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–132; 121 Stat. 1360) in 2007; and
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117–58; 135 Stat. 429) in 2021;
Representative Don Young—
formed strong relationships and friendships with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle; and
proudly worked with 10 different Presidents;
in 2015, Representative Don Young married his second love, Anne Garland Walton, in the United States Capitol;
on December 5, 2017, Representative Don Young became the 45th Dean of the House of Representatives, reflecting his status as the most senior Member of the House of Representatives;
Representative Don Young was the longest-serving Republican in the history of Congress; and
Representative Don Young ultimately served the 49th State with dedication and distinction for 49 years and 13 days, which is more than ¾ of the period during which Alaska has been a State.
SEC. 3. Designation of Mount Young, Alaska.
Designation.— Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board on Geographic Names shall designate the 2,598-foot volcanic peak known as “Mount Cerberus” located at 51.93569°N, 179.5848°E, on Semisopochnoi Island in the State of Alaska as “Mount Young”.
References.— Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the mountain peak described in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to “Mount Young”.
SEC. 4. Designation of Don Young Alaska Job Corps Center.
Designation.— The Job Corps center located at 800 East Lynn Martin Drive in Palmer, Alaska, shall be known and designated as the “Don Young Alaska Job Corps Center”.
References.— Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Job Corps center described in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the “Don Young Alaska Job Corps Center”.
SEC. 5. Designation of Don Young Federal Office Building.
Designation.— The Federal office building located at 101 12th Avenue in Fairbanks, Alaska, shall be known and designated as the “Don Young Federal Office Building”.
References.— Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Federal office building described in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the “Don Young Federal Office Building”.