"Fitting tributes to a giant of a man" Bill recognizing Congressman Don Young’s legacy passes Senate.

Recently, Senate Bill 5066, a bill recognizing and honoring the late Congressman Don Young passed through the U.S. Senate.

Introduced by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, the Don Young Recognition Act honors the legacy of the late Don Young, congressman for all of Alaska and the dean of the House of Representatives, who passed away in March 2022, after serving Alaska in the House for 49 years.

The legislation recognizes Congressman Young’s lifelong contributions to Alaska by designating one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian Islands, currently known as Mount Cerberus, as Mount Young. The federal office building in Fairbanks will be renamed as the Don Young Federal Office Building. Closer to the Mat-Su Borough, the Job Corps Center in Palmer will be renamed the Don Young Alaska Job Corps Center.

“The work Congressman Don Young did for Alaska during his lifelong public service were defined by his loyalty and staunch love for Alaskans as well as his effectiveness in delivering transformative legislation. Don brought light and energy to every room he entered. He is missed every single day,” said Sen. Murkowski. “Don’s legacy will live on in many ways: His family, his landmark legislative accomplishments, and now, the most active volcano in the Aleutian Islands named after him—a fitting representation of the always-active, sometimes unpredictable Congressman for all of Alaska.”

“I can’t think of a symbol that better captures Don’s authentic, tenacious, indomitable Alaskan spirit than a rumbling Aleutian volcano,” remarked Senator Sullivan. “Mt. Young, the Don Young Alaska Job Corps Center, and the Don Young Federal Building will remind future Alaskans about this once-in-a-generation public servant and all that he accomplished for the people and state he loved so much. Senator Murkowski and I thank our Senate colleagues for helping us pass this important legislative honor for our larger-than-life congressman.”

Following Senate passage, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan spoke on the Senate floor in support of the Don Young Recognition Act and in honor of the late congressman for all Alaska, and the legacy he left behind.

“It’s always hard to figure out appropriate ways to recognize the life of a true public servant as Congressman Young truly was,” said Senator Murkowski, adding that she and Senator Sullivan reached out to find an appropriate way to recognize Congressman Young’s service.

“We want to thank our colleagues for agreeing to this tribute,” said Senator Sullivan, who acknowledged that the late Congressman’s presence is missed daily.

Senator Murkowski recognized her long working history with Congressman Young:

“I’ve known him in his softer side and certainly in his gruff and more explosive side, and as we were looking for something that might be fitting, we looked not only at mountains, but mountains that continues to blow their top to this very day,” the Senator said about the selection of a volcano on the eastern Aleutian Islands.

“Fitting tributes to a giant of a man and one that I think of every day.”