Don Young
Don Young: A Life Dedicated to Public Service
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Don Young was the full name of the American politician who served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alaska's at-large congressional district.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on June 9, 1933
Passed away on March 18, 2022
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Don Young was an American politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for over three decades.
Early Life and Background
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Donald Edwin "Don" Young was born in California but grew up in Alaska. He developed a strong connection to the state, which would later become his adopted home. Young graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a degree in commerce and then went on to work as an assistant professor at the university.
Major Accomplishments
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Don Young's long and distinguished career was marked by many significant accomplishments. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for over three decades, representing Alaska's at-large congressional district from 1973 until his passing in 2022. During his tenure, he played key roles in shaping legislation related to energy, transportation, and Native American affairs.
Notable Works or Actions
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Don Young was a prolific legislator who sponsored numerous bills aimed at improving the lives of Alaskans and Americans nationwide. Some notable works include:
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
Young's work on this bill had far-reaching consequences for Alaska Natives, providing them with land entitlements and self-governance.
Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act
This legislation paved the way for the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, which significantly impacted Alaska's economy.
Impact and Legacy
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Don Young's legacy is a testament to his dedication to public service. He was known for his commitment to representing the interests of Alaskans and for his ability to build coalitions across party lines. His influence extended beyond Alaska, as he played a key role in shaping national policy on energy and transportation issues.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Don Young is widely quoted and remembered for his dedication to public service and his commitment to representing the interests of Alaskans. He was a tireless advocate for the state and its people, working tirelessly behind the scenes to advance their needs. His legacy serves as an inspiration to those who follow in his footsteps, reminding them of the importance of perseverance and leadership.
"The most important thing we can do is inspire young minds."
—Don Young
Quotes by Don Young
If I have my way, I'm going to dissolve the Forest Service. They're in the business of harvesting trees and they're not harvesting trees, so why have them anymore?
If it is warming, it’s because it’s happened before, cyclitic, it will happen again, regardless of what you and I do.
Remember in 1973 the same science chatter said that the coming Ice Age is going to occur, we’re going to lose millions of people. And the politicians knew how to solve it, they just didn’t have the courage to solve it; they were going to put coal dust on the Arctic.
Environmentalists are a socialist group of individuals that are the tool of the Democrat Party. I’m proud to say that they are my enemy. They are not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.
I don’t see any justification for the federal government owning land, other than the Statue of Liberty and maybe a few parks, maybe a few refuges. But to just own land to do nothing with it I think is a disservice to the Constitution.
If you can’t eat it, can’t sleep under it, can’t wear it or make something from it, it’s not worth anything.
I can’t convince you to put the drink down if you’re an alcoholic, you have to want to do that. I can’t convince you to stop eating the cookies when you’re a diabetic. You have to do that. And that takes responsibility.
We’re the only creature God ever created that doesn’t want to adapt. We want to make it stand still. And one thing that’s constant is nature is constantly changing.
Remember, the Arctic didn’t have any ice. And the Northwest Passage was wide open. They were raising grapes in Scotland for God sakes, had a huge winery. Iceland was a farming community. As some of the glaciers retreated they found villages that were covered with ice.
There’s nothing pretty about ice. Ice grows nothing. But we’ve got this in our minds that we’ve got to make everything cold.