The Public Record
Don Young is a Republican politician who served as the U.S. Representative for Alaska's at-large congressional district from 1973 until his passing in 2022. He was the longest-serving member of Congress in Alaska's history and was known for his strong advocacy for Alaskan interests, particularly in areas such as resource development and indigenous rights. Young was a prominent figure in various legislative efforts, including those related to transportation and infrastructure in Alaska. Throughout his tenure, he was recognized for his direct and often colorful communication style, which resonated with many constituents.
We don't need any sanctuaries in this bill. We don't need some outside groups telling the fishermen, the communities, and the scientists--it is our belief--when they know little about it. I happen to have the largest coastline in the whole…
This bill is a good piece of legislation. I want to thank Mr. Mullin for bringing it up. While we are on the subject, I would like to talk about the necessity of ICWA, the Child Welfare Act of this Congress past which I was a sponsor of…
I am deeply concerned about this. I have been around here long enough to watch the CEQ work.
Only one comment, Kevin, that the Administration does not have the trust authority with Indian tribes. It is the Congress, only the Congress, not the Administration.
If you see something that is a little bit questionable, bring it to our attention.
I think it would be very possible--will the Administration sign it? That is a real question.
It is past time for Congress to reassume control of the tribal recognition process.
It, frankly, appears that this is a snub to this committee's oversight function, and it is a snub to me, personally, and I do not take that lightly.
I call for reforming the procedures, not relaxing or eliminating the criteria for extending recognition.
The proposal is fundamentally flawed, if implemented, the rule will lead to the executive branch creation of tribes, not the acknowledgment of tribes as authorized by Congress.
The highest standards for extending recognition to a single new tribe must be applied, or the integrity and the statute of every recognized tribe will be undermined and diminished.
Federal recognition is not an act of symbolism. It carries with it a number of unique benefits, rights, and immunities for Indian tribes.
He who holds Alaska holds the world. I think Alaska is the most important strategic place in the world.
I am asking this committee and the chairman, I am asking the White House to sit down and say, 'Do we want to have a system to provide the transportation capability to this Nation, or do we want to talk about it?'
If we do not do that, all these hearings are good, we will write something, but we won't accomplish that task of really building an infrastructure system in this country.
We are all like a bunch of dogs circling around a skunk right now. That skunk is how we are going to fund this program.
I sit here and I have been through this so many years and listened to talk with no goal and position.
Just an off the cuff type thing, and I am one of the few people that really lives in the Arctic, eight miles above the Arctic Circle, and my interest in this is, of course, the lack of exposure of the Arctic to the Lower 48 and where we…
At this time, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson).
I think we can solve this problem, instead of, you know, working together to get icebreaker capability in the Arctic.
If we build an icebreaker, we are going to charge the hell out of you. I can tell you that right now.
And if we don't have cooperation from the Federal--cooperation, not dictation--then we have a real challenge.
It is this ingrown 'I have got to own it' atmosphere. We have got a problem.
Politicians like Don Young
