Valley students visit capital

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Five Valley students got the opportunity to meet with U.S. Rep. Don Young last week and share his vision of democracy.

The students — Heidi Erickson of Wasilla; Benjamin Harmeling of Palmer; Brian McNulty of Trapper Creek; Autumn Schumacher of Big Lake; and Kristen Wien of Wasilla — met with the Alaskan Republican in his new Transportation Committee room.

The students were there as part of an educational program called "Democracy in Action: A Congressional Seminar."

The Washington Workshops Foundation and the Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation sponsored the students.

Young shared his excitement of chairing the Transportation Committee with the students.

"Traffic congestion is the biggest problem facing our nation today, and I intend to try to do something about it. I don't know if I'll be successful, but I'm going to try," he said.

Young also told the students how he got his start in politics, and shared some of his ideas on upcoming congressional debates, such as drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

He fielded questions from the students, which ranged from airline mergers to hybrid vehicles to fuel efficiency.

At the end of the meeting, Young told the students of a great job opportunity.

"If you are interested in running for Congress someday, run for my job. It's the best job in the world," Young said.