Don Young facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Don Young
45th Dean of the United States House of Representatives
In office December 5, 2017 – March 18, 2022
Preceded by	John Conyers
Succeeded by	Hal Rogers
Chair of the House Transportation Committee
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Bud Shuster
Succeeded by	Jim Oberstar
Chair of the House Resources Committee
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by	George Miller
Succeeded by	James V. Hansen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alaska's at-large district
In office March 6, 1973 – March 18, 2022
Preceded by	Nick Begich
Succeeded by	Mary Peltola
Member of the Alaska Senate from the I district
In office January 11, 1971 – March 6, 1973
Preceded by	Paul Haggland
Succeeded by	George Silides
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 16th district
In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1971
Preceded by	Multi-member district
Succeeded by	Multi-member district
Mayor of Fort Yukon
In office 1964–1967
Preceded by	Mardo Solomon
Succeeded by	Robert Mott
Personal details
Born	Donald Edwin Young (1933-06-09)June 9, 1933 Meridian, California, U.S.
Died	March 18, 2022(2022-03-18) (aged 88) SeaTac, Washington, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Lu Fredson ​ ​ (m. 1963; died 2009)​ Anne Garland Walton ​ (m. 2015)​
Children	2
Education	Yuba College California State University, Chico (BA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1955–1957
Unit	41st Tank Battalion

Donald Edwin Young (born June 9, 1933 – died March 18, 2022) was a well-known American politician from Alaska. He was a member of the Republican Party and served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 49 years. This made him the longest-serving Republican in the history of the U.S. Congress. He represented all of Alaska from 1973 until his death in 2022.

Young was born in California and later moved to Alaska in 1959 after serving in the U.S. Army. He worked many different jobs, including sailing and teaching, in the small city of Fort Yukon. There, he was elected mayor in 1964. He then entered state politics, winning a seat in the Alaska House of Representatives in 1966 and later the Alaska Senate in 1970.

In 1972, he ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The person who held the seat, Democrat Nick Begich, disappeared in a plane crash just weeks before the election. Begich still won the election, but Young then ran in a special election in 1973 to fill the empty spot. He won and was reelected 24 more times.

In Congress, Young led important committees. He chaired the House Resources Committee from 1995 to 2001 and the House Transportation Committee from 2001 to 2007. He was known for his direct and strong personality. Because he served for so long and was Alaska's only representative in the House, people sometimes called him "Alaska's third senator." Young became the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives in December 2017.

Early Life and Career

Donald Edwin Young was born on June 9, 1933, in Meridian, Sutter County, California. He earned a degree in education from Yuba College in 1952 and another degree from Chico State College in 1958. He also served in the Army from 1955 to 1957.

In 1959, Young moved to Alaska, which had just become a state. He settled in Fort Yukon, a city near the Arctic Circle. He worked in construction, fishing, trapping, and gold mining. He also captained a tugboat and ran a barge business, delivering supplies to villages along the Yukon River. In the winters, he taught fifth grade at a local school.

Start in Politics

Young's political journey began in 1964 when he was elected mayor of Fort Yukon. He served as mayor until 1968. He then ran for the Alaska House of Representatives in 1964 but was not elected that time. However, he won a seat in the State House in 1966 and was reelected in 1968. He served in the Alaska House from 1967 to 1971.

He later ran for the Alaska Senate in 1970 and served there from 1971 to 1973. After his time in the state senate, he decided to run for the U.S. Congress in 1972.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

Elections and Long Service

Young speaking at the Juneau-Douglas High School library during the 1972–1973 school year

In 1972, Don Young ran for Congress against the person who held the seat, Democrat Nick Begich. Weeks before the election, Begich disappeared in a plane crash. Even though he was missing, Begich still won the election. He was declared legally dead in December 1972.

Young then won a special election in March 1973 to fill the empty seat. He was reelected 24 times after that. Most of the time, he won easily. He faced tougher challenges in 2008 and in the early 1990s. He won his 23rd term in 2016 and his 25th term in 2020.

Young became the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was also the last member of Congress who was first elected in the 1970s. He was a very senior Republican on the Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. He led the Natural Resources Committee from 1995 to 2001 and the Transportation Committee from 2001 to 2007.

Young was investigated by authorities in connection with some projects, but he was never charged with any wrongdoing.

Young with President Richard Nixon and Jack Coghill in 1973

Young with President Gerald Ford and U.S. Senator Ted Stevens in 1975

Young greeting President Ronald Reagan in 1981

Young greeting President George H. W. Bush in 1991

Young watches as President George W. Bush signs the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006

Young watches as President Donald Trump signs The Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018

Key Actions in Congress

Because of his many years in the House and the long service of former Senator Ted Stevens, Alaska had a lot of influence in national politics, even though it has a small population. Young was often called "Alaska's third senator." In March 2019, he became the longest-serving Republican in congressional history.

Leading Committees

After Republicans took control of the House in 1995, Young became the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources. He led this committee until 2001. Then, he became the chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure from 2001 to 2007.

Transportation Projects

In 2005, Young helped get money for many special transportation projects, including a large bridge in Anchorage. This bridge was even named "Don Young's Way."

He also supported a project for the Gravina Island Bridge in Ketchikan. Critics called this the "Bridge to Nowhere" because it was very expensive and would serve only a few people. After public criticism, the money for this bridge was sent to Alaska's transportation department instead. Another bridge project he supported, the Knik Arm Bridge, also faced questions because it might benefit land owned by his son-in-law.

Important Votes and Statements

Young was investigated for not reporting some gifts and for using campaign money for personal things. In 2014, a committee found he had not reported over $60,000 in gifts over many years. He said these omissions were accidental.

In 2013, Young used an old term that was considered offensive when talking about Latino workers. He later apologized, saying it was a "poor choice of words" and he "meant no disrespect."

In 2017, Young voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. He had previously said he would oppose it because it would negatively affect health care costs in Alaska, which already had very high premiums. Despite his earlier concerns, he voted for the repeal.

Working with Others

Young was known for working with members from both political parties. Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy ranked him among the most bipartisan members of Congress in recent years.

In 2021, Young was one of 13 House Republicans who voted with most Democrats for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a large bill to improve roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.

He was also a strong supporter of Deb Haaland, President Joe Biden's choice for Secretary of the Interior. Young, a Republican, called Haaland, a Democrat, a friend and said it was important for the U.S. to have a Native American interior secretary.

Committee Roles

Congressman Donald Young visits the installation for the F-35 community showcase at Eielson Air Force Base.

During his time in Congress, Don Young served on several important committees:

• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
  • Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States (as the Ranking Member, meaning the top Republican)
  • Subcommittee on Water, Oceans and Wildlife
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Aviation
  • Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit

Groups He Joined

Young was also part of many special groups in Congress, called caucuses. These groups focus on specific topics:

• Arthritis Caucus
• Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus
• House Biomedical Research Caucus
• House Diabetes Caucus
• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus
• Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
• Sportsmen's Caucus
• Congressional Cement Caucus
• Afterschool Caucuses
• Congressional Western Caucus

Political Views

Arctic Oil Drilling

Young strongly supported drilling for oil in the Arctic, especially in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He believed it would bring economic benefits to Alaska.

Climate Change

While Young had previously expressed doubts about human-caused climate change, he later signed a letter recognizing the need to fight climate change. He also voted for laws that identify climate change as a national security threat and called for policies to reduce carbon emissions.

COVID-19 Pandemic

In March 2020, Young initially downplayed the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it "blown out of proportion" and the "beer virus." However, as the pandemic grew, he changed his tone. By late March, he urged Americans to stay home, saying the impact of COVID-19 was "very real, growing." In November 2020, Young was diagnosed with COVID-19 himself and was admitted to the hospital. He later recovered.

Presidential Relations

Young supported President Donald Trump's policies and voted against both attempts to impeach Trump.

He was one of the first Republicans to congratulate Joe Biden on his victory in the 2020 presidential election. On January 6, 2021, he voted to confirm Biden's win.

Healthcare

Young wanted to see the Affordable Care Act (ACA) repealed. He initially said he would not vote for a new healthcare plan (the AHCA) because it would hurt Alaskans by raising healthcare costs. However, he later voted for the AHCA, even though it did not include significant changes to help Alaska.

LGBTQ+ Rights

Young's views on LGBTQ+ rights changed over time. In 2007, he voted against a law to prevent job discrimination based on sexual orientation. Later, in 2014, he said he would "probably" vote for such a law. In 2015, he was one of 60 Republicans who voted to support President Barack Obama's order protecting federal contractors from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. He also stated in 2015 that while he believed marriage should be between a man and a woman, he accepted the Supreme Court's decision that made same-sex marriage legal. In 2021, he voted for laws that expanded protections for transgender people and supported equal credit access for LGBTQ+ businesses.

Organized Labor

Young often had the support of labor unions. In 2019, he voted for the PRO Act, a bill that would make it easier for workers to form unions and protect their rights.

Post Office

In August 2020, Young was one of 26 Republicans who voted for a $25 billion aid package for the U.S. Post Office.

Migrant Detention Facilities

In 2019, Young was the only Republican to vote for a bill that set minimum standards for migrant detention facilities. This bill aimed to ensure that detained migrants received health screenings and basic needs like food and water.

Personal Life

Don Young and Ann Garland Walton on their wedding day in 2015. John Boehner was Young's best man.

In 1963, Don Young married Lula Fredson, who was from Fort Yukon. She was a member of the Gwich'in people and worked as a bookkeeper. They had two daughters and were members of the Episcopal Church. Lula passed away in 2009 at age 67.

On August 17, 2014, Young announced his engagement to Anne Garland Walton, a nurse from Fairbanks. They were married on June 9, 2015.

Death

Don Young passed away on March 18, 2022, at the age of 88. He was on a flight from Los Angeles to Seattle when he lost consciousness. He was declared dead after the plane landed. At the time of his death, he was the oldest and longest-serving member of the U.S. Congress.

Young was honored by having his body lie in state in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall on March 29, 2022. This is a special honor given to important people.

Electoral History

Images for kids

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  Young in 2006

See also

In Spanish: Don Young para niños