FINDINGS.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that— (1) on June 9, 1933, Donald Edwin Young was born to James Young and Nora (Bucy) Young in Meridian, California; (2) Don Young earned— (A) an associate degree from Yuba Junior College; and (B) a bachelor’s degree in teaching from Chico State University; (3) 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; (4) 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; (5) Don Young met and married the first love of his life, Lula “Lu” Young, in Fort Yukon; (6) Don and Lu Young had— (A) 2 wonderful daughters, Joni and Dawn (Sister); and (B) 14 grandchildren; (7) Don Young— (A) taught fifth grade at a school run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs during the winter; and (B) during the warmer months, worked— (i) in construction, mining, fishing, and trapping; and (ii) as a tugboat captain; (8) Don Young— (A) was elected mayor of Fort Yukon in 1964; and (B) served as mayor of Fort Yukon until 1967; (9) Don Young was elected to and served in— (A) the Alaska House of Representatives from 1967 to 1970; and (B) the Alaska State Senate from 1970 to 1973; (10) Don Young— (A) was elected to the House of Representatives in 1973 in a special election; and (B) served 24 additional consecutive terms in the House of Representatives; (11) Representative Don Young served as— (A) the Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001; and (B) the Chair of Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007; (12) 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; (13) Representative Don Young— (A) fiercely defended Alaska and Alaskans as the sole Representative for the largest State in the United States; and (B) devoted himself to fulfilling the immense promise of his home State; (14) Representative Don Young was a leader in strengthening the role of Alaska in providing for the national defense of the United States through his— (A) support for— (i) the Coast Guard; (ii) the Alaskan Command; and (iii) the ballistic missile defense; and (B) steadfast commitment to the leadership of the United States in the Arctic; (15) Representative Don Young— (A) sponsored not fewer than 85 bills that were enacted into Federal law; and (B) sponsored and cosponsored many more measures that were part of broader legislation; (16) 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.); (17) Representative Don Young authored and advocated for generational laws, including— (A) the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) in 1975; (B) the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) in 1976; (C) the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-57; 111 Stat. 1252) in 1997; (D) SAFETEA-LU (Public Law 109-59; 119 Stat. 1144) in 2005; (E) the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-132; 121 Stat. 1360) in 2007; and (F) the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58; 135 Stat. 429) in 2021; (18) Representative Don Young— (A) formed strong relationships and friendships with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle; and (B) proudly worked with 10 different Presidents; (19) in 2015, Representative Don Young married his second love, Anne Garland Walton, in the United States Capitol; (20) 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; (21) Representative Don Young was the longest-serving Republican in the history of Congress; and (22) 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.