Don Young

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Comer and Mrs. Maloney. This is a good bill. I have been working on this program for, actually, 48 years. I was here when they stopped the post office, when we used to run it, and we caused this mess. You guys are cleaning it up. I want my colleagues to know this is the right way to go for the post office. Now, you may wonder why I am so excited about this bill. Try living in Alaska when you don't have any roads. Try not having anything but the post office. Try to get your medicines and all the other things. The post office is the key to the communities in Alaska. This bill solves all the problems for the post office. I am proud of the work you have done. I want to thank the staff who worked on this legislation. It was a hard issue because there are some people who say: Oh, let them go private. Don't worry about it. You can't run something like this in the State of Alaska. Because of our distances and lack of transportation, the post office is the key to our economy in our great State. I want to thank both of you for the work you have done. God bless you.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my friend and great Alaskan, Edward Rasmuson, a philanthropist and founder of The Rasmuson Foundation. Ed passed away on January 4, 2022, at the age of 81. I offer my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as those whose lives he impacted across his lifetime who are thinking of him now. Ed Rasmuson was a man of many accomplishments. Everything Ed sought to accomplish in his lifetime he did. Throughout his life Ed gained much more than the monetary wealth from good business and financial investment; he sought to help others and influence our state. I'm proud to have worked with him closely over the years, but I am even prouder to have called him my friend. The works of Ed and his family will continue through the foundation his family created, in efforts to help Alaskans reach their full potential. This philosophy and thought of living beyond oneself and giving without an expectation of anything in return sets the precedent for living a philanthropical lifestyle. I could not be more grateful for the giving heart of this man and his family towards the people of Alaska. The Rasmuson Foundation provides funding towards combatting homelessness, improving health care, the arts, community development, ending domestic violence, preventing child abuse, and helping seniors. Although he may no longer be with us, his work and the work of the Rasmuson Foundation will continue to support and inspire future Alaskans for generations to come. Ed dedicated his life to Alaska and the people who call the Last Frontier home. We honor his legacy and mourn his loss alongside his family. Please join me in keeping the Rasmuson family in your prayers.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. It is badly needed. First, I want to thank Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and Ranking Member James Comer for their quick work. I have been trying for a long time to try to get this bill passed. I have asked everybody to put it in the CR and into the National Defense Authorization Act, but we didn't get it there. But the gentleman has brought it to the floor, so I thank both Representatives for doing that. Of course, I thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairwoman DeLauro, and Leader McCarthy. This is badly needed, as was mentioned by the previous speakers. We are now 23 days away, and a tremendous amount of money is on the table. It wasn't their fault. A lot of litigation was occurring so the money couldn't be spent. Consequently, if they don't spend it, they lose it, and they can't take care of the health problems caused by COVID. So this is a good piece of bipartisan legislation. But we are not done because we do have to continue this as it goes to the Senate. I am urging my leaders to ask the Senate to really get this bill done. It is needed, it is right, and it is justified. Let's take care of those first Americans in this legislation because of COVID. It can be done. Again, I thank both Members for the work they have done and the body of the House for voting ``yes'' on the legislation.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, this is sort of a sweetheart time. I have the ranking member and I have the chairman, Chairman Grijalva, and of course, my chairman--thank you--supporting a bill, I think, that is long overdue. I think some mentioned the fact that the demise of the buffalo was the demise of the American Indian, done deliberately. And now we are trying to restore it on Indian land. This is a bill that gives an opportunity for consumption of food that is good for the Tribe, but also economically. The buffalo is a magnificent animal. We recognized it as a mission when we had the Buffalo nickel, and it is recognized in your State and my State. It is amazing that at one time--you may not realize it--we had tremendous herds of buffalo up there, but it wasn't man that diminished them, it was climate change that actually froze them out. This is a bill that will give the opportunity to Tribes to reestablish the buffalo on Native lands, that history won't repeat itself, that no one will kill them like they did before, and will have a sustainable yield of a magnificent animal. Madam Speaker, for those in this audience and this great Chamber who haven't eaten buffalo burgers, you better try it. It is one of the better meats. I am promoting this right now. I don't have a buffalo, but it is one of the better meats. It is good for the Nation. It is good for the Tribes. It is good for the buffalo. This bill is a good bill. It is a bill that should have been, frankly, passed a long time ago. Madam Speaker, I believe what we are doing today is the right thing. I want us to recognize this act as an act that promoted my American Indian, Alaska Natives. We have three Tribes in Alaska that have buffalo already, and they are anxious for this bill to go forward. If you haven't eaten buffalo jerky, try it. It is good, too. Madam Speaker, I am suggesting respectfully that this is a good piece of legislation, bipartisan, working together for the first Americans, and I am proud to be the sponsor of it.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and appreciate the work of the chairman and ranking member. I rise in support of this legislation. It is not what I would have if I was chairman. It is not what Mr. DeFazio would have as chairman, but it is what we have got. We need infrastructure in this country now. The last big infrastructure bill we passed, Jim Oberstar and myself, was $286 billion. We darn near did that unanimously. It was the biggest one. But from that time on, we have not raised the money, nor have we put what I call the where-for-all in the hands to build roads and airports and all of the other things, all of the ports. Transportation is the economy of this great Nation, and we have fallen behind. Even in those days when I was chairman, I said we needed a trillion dollars, and people laughed at me. But the fact of the matter is, we did need it. We need this bill to make sure that we have an economic base for the future generations of this great Nation. Would I have done it this way? No. I would have said: ``Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Graves, members of the committee, let's write a bill together with the Senate.'' We don't have that chance. This is the last opportunity we have to make sure those potholes are filled, those airports are run right, the bridges are safe, and our economy can continue to grow. This is the only chance we have. To my colleagues who are voting ``no,'' I say: Think about it. What is the other alternative? I don't tie it to the big bill, the $3 trillion whatever. I don't tie it to that. Some people do. This is a working piece of legislation that will build and put people to work. Not only will it put them to work, but it is something that provides the economic basis for this great Nation. I suggest, respectfully, to my side of the aisle and to that side of the aisle, if we really want to make this Nation great again, then let's pass this legislation for the construction of the economy of this great Nation through transportation. I ask my colleagues to consider that.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. Granger for yielding, and I thank Ms. DeLauro for the work you have done, but I cannot support this bill. Before giving my short testimony, I would like to quickly congratulate Lydia Jacoby from Seward, Alaska, on winning an Olympic gold medal on the 100-meter swim. She is 17 years old. That is something to smile about. I want to thank, very frankly, the majority side. Thank you for getting me elected every time, which you do. Because every time we have an appropriations process, you add a provision in there preventing access to building roads in the Tongass National Forest. As long as you keep doing that, I am going to get reelected, so I thank you for that. In the over 60 years I have lived in Alaska, I have watched tens of thousands of jobs in the logging industry and support industries shrivel up and not be there anymore. These are working American jobs. The economy in southeast Alaska is hurting, and it is not because of a poor timber market; it is because of, very frankly, radical environmentalism. The timber industry supports great-paying, year-round jobs in southeast Alaska. Even though the environmentalists have already succeeded in locking up over 96 percent of the Tongass forest, eliminating most of these jobs, they are now after the remaining 4 percent of that land mass. Where this idea came from, other than extreme environmentalists, I don't know. This is nothing less than economic terrorism, hurting a community in Alaska, which I represent. It is not just about timber.

Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, it is about communications. I can't even build a road from one community to another community. No place else in America can that happen. So I am asking you to continue what you are doing, which you are hurting my State, but you are getting me reelected, so thank you very much.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I would like to thank Chairman Grijalva and, of course, the ranking member, Mr. Westerman, for the support of scheduling this bill for final passage. I would also like to thank my good friend, Debbie Dingell, for her work. I have been sitting and listening to these bills, these are good bills. So, thank you, I appreciate it. Mr. Speaker, I introduced this bill on the House side. I would like to thank Congressman Case and Congressman Kahele for their sponsorship and support. As has been mentioned, S. 325 gives Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children 2 more years to complete their important work and report their findings to Congress. The Commission is tasked with conducting a comprehensive study of Federal, State, local, and Tribal programs that serve Native children with the goal of developing a system that delivers wraparound service for Native youth. The Commission was put in place, as I mentioned, in 2016, but was not able to have its first meeting until 2019. Further meetings were delayed by COVID, and as we know, things weren't really going according to scale. But my good friend, Gloria O'Neill, serves as chairman of the Commission, and I am thankful for her leadership on this issue, and her commitment to ensuring the Commission has enough time to do its important work. Without this extension, the Commission would be rushing to conclude their regional meetings in order to meet Congress' deadline. When doing this work, it could have far-reaching effects on Native youth and Native communities. We need to ensure the Commission has enough time to do good work and consider the options. Also, my colleagues have noticed recently, in a lot of publications, about some of my schools concerning Native students--Native youth, and especially in Canada. Will this Commission also look at that process and see what has happened in the past, and we can avoid what is going to occur in the future? This is a needed Commission and a needed bill. I urge my colleagues to support S. 325.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I am deeply honored to express my gratitude to Major General Peter B. Andrysiak Jr. for his years of dedicated service to the United States of America, the Army, and the great state of Alaska. As the Commanding General of United States Army Alaska (USARAK.) and Deputy Commanding General of the Alaskan Command, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, he is responsible for providing trained and ready forces to support worldwide unified land operations and operations in the United States Indo-Pacific Command Area of Operations and the Arctic Region and conduct military operations in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, General Andrysiak has become a leader for the U.S. Army in the Arctic. In 1935, Brigadier General Billy Mitchell stated, ``I believe that in the future, whoever holds Alaska will hold the world. I think it is the most important strategic place in the world.'' In the over 85 years since that statement, we have seen military leaders who understood it and many who ignored it. General Andrysiak is clearly the former. His Arctic leadership was not only critical to reshaping the Army's vision of the Arctic but was also crucial in the development of the Army's Arctic Strategy and the modernization of the Army's operations in Arctic environments. Since pinning on his Second Lieutenant bars following his graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, General Andrysiak has exemplified what it means to be an American soldier. He is, however, more than the military tactical and operational expertise that he has demonstrated through his career. General Andrysiak has endeared himself to the soldiers and their families under his charge. For he has become a tireless advocate for their quality of life and wellbeing. From investments and improvements to facilities such as Child Development Centers, barracks, and gyms, to leadership engagement and mental health support, General Andrysiak understands that there is more to a soldier's readiness than squeezing a trigger and field maneuvers. There is mental, spiritual, physical, and family readiness that must be addressed as well. On February 23, 2021, the Chief of Staff of the Army, General James McConville, announced that General Andrysiak will become the Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe-Africa. While I am saddened to see him leave Alaska, I am proud that he will continue serving as a sentinel for our Nation.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I rise concerning the passing of my long- time friend and a great leader, Carlos Romero-Barcelo, former governor of Puerto Rico. Carlos passed away on May 2, 2021 at the age of 88. I offer my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as those whose lives he impacted during his tenure. Carlos Romero-Barcelo was a timeless crusader for Puerto Rico. Throughout his life, he led the fight for equal recognition of Puerto Ricans, and I was especially proud to work with him while he served as the Resident Commissioner for the island in Congress. Carlos lived a life of public service for Puerto Rico. He served as Mayor of San Juan and then as Governor before being elected to be Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico in 1992. He dedicated his life to achieve equal rights for the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico. I was truly honored to know him and call him a friend. I was proud to serve with him on the House Natural Resources Committee. There we worked together advocating for Puerto Rico, and I was proud to support his efforts to achieve equality for the U.S. Citizens of Puerto Rico. His tireless work deepened Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States, and I was proud to stand by him as a leader of the island. We honor his legacy and mourn his loss alongside his family--his wife Kathleen, and his children Carlos, Andres, Juan Carlos, and Melinda-- and our friends, the people of Puerto Rico.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I rise concerning the passing of my long- time friend and a great leader, Carlos Romero-Barcelo, former governor of Puerto Rico. Carlos passed away on May 2, 2021 at the age of 88. I offer my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as those whose lives he impacted during his tenure. Carlos Romero-Barcelo was a timeless crusader for Puerto Rico. Throughout his life, he led the fight for equal recognition of Puerto Ricans, and I was especially proud to work with him while he served as the Resident Commissioner for the island in Congress. Carlos lived a life of public service for Puerto Rico. He served as Mayor of San Juan and then as Governor before being elected to be Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico in 1992. He dedicated his life to achieve equal rights for the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico. I was truly honored to know him and call him a friend. I was proud to serve with him on the House Natural Resources Committee. There we worked together advocating for Puerto Rico, and I was proud to support his efforts to achieve equality for the U.S. Citizens of Puerto Rico. His tireless work deepened Puerto Rico's relationship with the United States, and I was proud to stand by him as a leader of the island. We honor his legacy and mourn his loss alongside his family--his wife Kathleen, and his children Carlos, Andres, Juan Carlos, and Melinda-- and our friends, the people of Puerto Rico.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I just passed a legislative bill, so I am a little bit excited. I wanted to especially thank Chairman DeFazio, Leader Hoyer, and Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Ranking Member Graves, Chairman Neal, Ranking Member Brady, and the Biden administration and all the staff for recognizing the necessity of this legislation. I especially also would like to thank my Senate colleagues, Senators Murkowski, Sullivan, and Cantwell, who have been partners in this effort. Finally, I would like to thank my chief of staff, Kevin Swanson, for his hard work on this legislation. We lost billions of dollars last year because of COVID in the tourist industry, and this bill we just passed by this House unanimously will give us an opportunity to recover not the money, but the ability to serve the people of America and the tourist industry in southeast Alaska and the rest of the State of Alaska. I am quite excited about this piece of legislation, and I do thank the House and the people who did not object to this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank everyone for being part of an effort to solve a problem for a State.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this time today to warn my fellow lawmakers that the passage of any infrastructure legislation must hold contractors and project sponsors who receive federal dollars accountable for their performance or risk another round of failed government projects, financed or bailed out at taxpayers' expense. Too often, ventures financed by the federal government have failed to be completed or simply never worked and, in the end, it's the taxpayers who are typically the big losers. I will be working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure that language is included in any infrastructure legislation that ensures that previous projects utilizing major federal assistance, that have defaulted and gone bust, cannot be eligible to reapply and do the same thing again. The now-famous Solyndra solar energy project--the first major alternative energy infrastructure project launched by the Obama Administration as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,-- cost taxpayers over $500 million, but the solar panel manufacturer went bankrupt within a few years leaving taxpayers on the hook for almost all of a $535 million loan guarantee. Later in the Obama Administration, in what can only be described as Solyndra 2.0, the Department of Energy committed $737 million to the development of the Crescent Dunes solar energy project in Nevada, also in the form of loan guarantees. That project still doesn't produce electricity and taxpayers are out as much as $234 million of the outstanding DOE loan balance if not more. This is after the project received an additional $275 million in taxpayer money under Treasury's Section 1603 program in 2017. Only in Washington, DC does this scenario make sense. It is crucial that any energy infrastructure projects funded going forward, especially now that Congress is considering a much broader definition of infrastructure, should build in the kind of oversight and accountability measures that will minimize the potential for more boondoggles. If we fail to do this, taxpayers will once again be left holding the bag and we will have failed to do our duty in terms of overseeing the programs we support while protecting taxpayers.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend Mr. Lucas for his kind compliments. It is the best I have heard all day. I thank Ms. Bonamici, the chair of this committee, for bringing this bill to the floor. I am excited about it because the oceans and our waterways are important to our lives. More than anybody recognizes, water is the next big issue. Oceans do cover 76 percent of our globe. In doing so, if they get acidified, then we lose the oceans, not only what it provides to us, but livelihoods to many fishermen in my communities, which is very, very important. I am, very frankly, very excited about this legislation. We have to do more than legislation, though, because the acidification of the ocean, what causes it, we have to address. Some say it is climate change. Let's do that. Let's look at why. I have just been reading a very serious set of articles on e-fuels, which I was unaware were created by capturing CO2 and making it into another fuel which is cleaner, especially for maritime fleets. I am a mariner, and that would be very, very important because they are one of the more pollutant factors we have, yet they transport world goods. So we have to address that. As we pass this legislation, let's really go forth and make sure not only NOAA has the authority, but make sure they do the job. That is oversight. That is your job, Madam Chairman. That is what we have to do to make sure it is done and address the problem. You talk about your lobster. It is good, but not quite as good as our salmon, but it is okay. We have to work on that to make sure that we have a continued sustainable yield that we will be working with.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, chairman, and the sponsor for this legislation. It is a strange thing. If you hang around here long enough, you keep seeing the other end of your tail. We introduced these bills, and there was never any intention to exclude these two Tribes, never. When Mo Udall and I started the gaming law, everybody thought we were nuts. It has worked. But never were these two Tribes to be excluded. In fact, this legislation rectifies that problem. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to be a sponsor of the legislation, who worked with you to try to get this done. This will be justice served to all.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the compliment. I have been called a lot of things on this floor, including dean. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. I thank my friend, Representative Gallego, for introducing it. This is a good bill. It improves a bill which I passed 30 years ago, and it is long overdue to make sure that it is running right. As has been said, it establishes a new National Indian Resource Services Center, which was created over 30 years ago. We are reauthorizing these programs, making sure they work. It is badly needed because of actions across the country with indigenous people. We hope the victims will have better service than they have in the past. I congratulate the author of the legislation. I am a sponsor of the legislation also. This is a good bill, and I urge the passage of this bill. All of my colleagues who understand, let's do the job we were told to do when we became trustees of the indigenous people of this great Nation of ours. Again, I thank the chairman, the author of the legislation, and the ranking member for all the work they have done.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, it is a unique responsibility to be the sole Congressman for Alaska in the House of Representatives. It's easy for legislators to forget that life is different in Alaska, and it is my highest priority to ensure that Alaskans are not overlooked here in Washington, D.C. One of the principal lessons I have learned in my years of service are the check and balances between the three branches of government inscribed by our Founding Fathers in our Constitution. While the President of the United States governs the Executive Branch, Congress writes our laws and that's something we too often forget here. Article I of the Constitution states: ``All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.'' That said the President can only enforce legislation that Congress has drafted and approved. The real power of this country lies within this Capitol building and we need to act like it. For over 48 years I have worked tirelessly to address the crucial infrastructure and energy needs throughout Alaska. Before being elected to public office, I saw firsthand Alaska's lack of traditional infrastructure while I was a tug and barge operator along the Yukon River. But I could also see the potential economic development that communities and rural villages could achieve if they were given the resources to put ideas into action. It is that driving knowledge that guides me as I work to support federal investment in Alaska's energy infrastructure. Unfortunately, the Biden Administration is continuing Obama-era attacks against Alaska. By reviewing federal rules that support Alaska and by placing a moratorium on energy development in ANWR, President Biden seems intent to surrender to his party's environmental extremists. I want the President to know this: Alaskans have shown for decades that energy development and environmental protection can go hand in hand. The executive actions he has taken in his first days in office serve only to hinder our state's economy, stifle energy independence, and prevent the Alaska Native community of Kaktovik from responsibly using their lands. Tomorrow I will be proudly introducing Alaska's own Mathew Rexford, at the House Natural Resources Republican Forum titled, ``Where are the Jobs?'' Mr. Rexford is the President of the Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation and a strong leader. The Alaska community of Kaktovik has long advocated for access to their lands and the opening of ANWR. Development in the 1002 Area of ANWR would create countless jobs, revenue streams, provide for infrastructure and improve the health and economic well-being of the indigenous people. While the United States should continue working to reduce emissions, doing so in a way that denies the opportunity for incremental improvements and technological innovations over time is unreasonable. Resource development in ANWR would be a major win for out nations energy independence and security for decades to come. I'm proud to stand with my friend Mathew Rexford to ensure that Kaktovik is heard on this issue. I hope that the administration will listen and engage with native leaders like Mathew Rexford and I look forward to our forum tomorrow.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I watched this debate. I have to say, we have an old saying: ``How do you eat an elephant? A bite at a time.'' We have had two bites today. Mr. Speaker, this is not about what everybody is talking about. It is about the Second Amendment and--I won't call you Democrats. A lot of you are. Some of you are socialists that believe in taking the right to protect away--the Second Amendment--from the law-abiding citizens. This is just a little step forward, the 10-day waiting period instead of the 3-day waiting period. The FBI is controlled by the President. He, in fact, can say take 6 months or 6 years for a legal purchase of a weapon. That is what you are really saying. Taking away the right to protect your home and your liberty, not just from criminals but those who would take away your rights as a government, the Second Amendment is what it is all about, to protect from the tyranny that could occur by the wrong leaders taking rights and freedoms away from you. That is why I, as a board member, support this idea of the Second Amendment and ask for a ``no'' vote on both of these bills.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a long-time friend and a great Alaskan, Chuck Sassara, who died this Fall at the age of 89, just weeks before turning 90, after living an incredible life. Chuck was born in Detroit, Michigan on Oct 19, 1930, and we lost a great friend and Alaskan spirit on September 25, 2020. Chuck was an Aviator, Husband, Father, Grandfather, State Legislator, Sailor, Advocate, Author, Businessman, Athlete, Storyteller and, an amazing Character. He is known and loved by thousands around the globe and died on a Friday afternoon while refueling his Toyota van, preparing to go . . . somewhere. Chuck loved life. He was always headed to the next adventure--whether that was driving the Alcan Highway almost 50 times, ferrying aircraft across the continent, driving across North Africa with his young family at the end of the Algerian war, or sailing across the Atlantic. He believed in the best of human nature and was never cynical about the future. He was unafraid to try new things, but he didn't always succeed. Lately, it was his repeated failures to master his ``smart phone'' with 89-year-old fingers. Born to Charles Sr. (Pappy) and Kathleen Agnes (Nana) he, along with brother Richard (Dick) Sassara, grew up between Miami, the Panama Canal Zone, and Los Angeles. Meeting his true love Ann at University HS in Los Angeles, the couple married while Chuck attended UCLA. Upon graduation they had a discussion; go back to Panama or see Alaska? In the spring of 1955, they drove north in a VW bus to build a life and help bring a new state into being. In the early 60's Chuck ran for the State House and quickly became the Majority Leader and Finance Chair. In these roles he championed such important work as the 1964 Equal Rights Amendment, Women's Rights, and the creation of University of Alaska Anchorage. His peers in the Legislature included Nick Begich, Willie Hensley, Ted Stevens and me. The group of us were often competitors, often allies, and after session ``happy-hour'' compatriots, bound together by circumstance, a common purpose and shared values. We were great friends and had great respect for one another, whether we agreed or disagreed on the politics of the day. We need more of that spirit of bipartisan friendship, not less. As an aviator Chuck flew commercial, multi engine aircraft and was an IFR rated pilot that flew 161 different types of aircraft, logging over 25,000 hours in planes as small as the Breezy to as large as the four engine Lockheed Constellation. As a sailor he crossed the Atlantic, made passages from Miami to Los Angeles, sailed solo from Seattle to Whittier Alaska, and made several dozen trips to the Bahamas and beyond, finishing with an offshore passage from Florida to the Carolina Outer Banks with son Charlie, nephew Rick and friend Michel Bourquin in 2017. As a writer, his memoir ``Propellers, Politics and People: Chuck Sassara's Alaska'' is a testament to his skill as a storyteller and the craft of putting others first, in narrative and in life. He is survived by his proudest achievement: his sons Charlie and Richard, grandchildren Tyler, Rachael, and Annalyssa, and his daughter- in-law Mary, Mimi Bourquin, his nephew Rick and his wife Amy, their daughter Katy, niece Lisa and her daughters Alexandria and Gabrielle, and his sister-in-law, Ellen. Most of all, Chuck will be survived by the raucous and wonderful stories he told to friends over coffee and beer, the lives he saved, and the spirit of Alaska he imbued in everything he touched. All of us who knew him rest comfortably knowing he's somewhere on a broad reach, steering by starlight, and reunited with his beloved Ann. We love Chuck, sail on and Godspeed.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my chief of staff, Pamela Day. Next month, after 25 years of service--17 of them in my office--Pam will begin her well-earned retirement. Pam first arrived on Capitol Hill as a college student and served in my office with my friend, the late Representative Ben Gilman of New York. She first started in my office as a legislative assistant, and her policy knowledge and genuine desire to serve my constituents quickly became apparent. Because of her hard work, determination, and positive attitude, Pam was promoted to legislative director, deputy chief of staff, and, eventually, she became my chief of staff. Her leadership in my office has been invaluable. It is no secret, as dean of the House, I have been here for a long time. As a Member of this institution for nearly 20 years, Pam stuck with me through thick and thin, and I will always be grateful for her faithful service. She is well respected by everyone, from alumni of my staff and her colleagues on Capitol Hill, to leaders in the State of Alaska and advocates far and wide. You simply do not achieve this level of respect unless you set the gold standard for what a congressional staffer should be. Pam has gone above and beyond at every turn. Mr. Speaker, a chief of staff doesn't just assist the Member; they have an entire team of employees who, at any given time, are working on countless issues. My staff would agree, Pam is admired, respected, and will be deeply missed. Pam's tenure has seen many of the victories I am proud of. She served in my office while I served as chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and passed our landmark highway bill, SAFETEA-LU. She also helped pass reauthorization of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery and Conservation Management Act. And her commitment to constituents has helped secure millions of dollars for organizations that serve Alaskans and Americans from all walks of life. Aside from legislative victories, Pam understood the importance of the relationships in Congress. She made sure that my office was always in good spirits. And as many will attest, she ensured that our annual office Christmas parties were the best on the Hill. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of Pam, and I am saddened to see her go. She served me, our State, and our Nation with professionalism, commitment, and a sincere love of country. She has always been committed to the next generation of congressional staff and has been a respected mentor to many of the staffers, both in my office and around Capitol Hill. Her leadership in my office was invaluable, and she will be missed by her colleagues as well as myself. Mr. Speaker, it has been my great honor to call her my chief of staff and an even greater honor to call her my friend. Pam, I wish you the best in your retirement. You have certainly earned it. God bless you, Pam, and thank you for your service.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1240, the Young Fishermen's Development Act. I would like to start off by thanking Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Dan Sullivan, along with Congresswoman Radewagen, Congressman Moulton, and everyone else who was involved in this legislation. Their hard work and dedication to the next generation of commercial fishermen is commendable. Currently, there is no single federal program dedicated to training, educating, and assisting the next generation of commercial fishermen. However, the need for such a program is very real. Daunting challenges, including the high cost of entry, financial risks, and limited entry-level opportunities, have made it harder than ever for young men and women to start a career in commercial fishing. That is why we have introduced H.R. 1240, the Young Fishermen's Development Act, which is modeled after the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program. Our legislation seeks to support our nation's aspiring commercial fishermen by creating a competitive grant program at NOAA to support local training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives. The bill would provide funding to entities that offer instruction in seamanship, navigation, electronics, safety, vessel maintenance, entrepreneurship, sustainable fishing, and other efforts related to the commercial fishing business. The heritage and economies of America's coastal communities are directly linked to our fisheries. Help us ensure that the next generation of commercial fishermen is well prepared to sustainably harvest America's seafood by breaking down the many barriers facing young fishermen, I strongly support this bipartisan legislation and encourage all my colleagues to join me.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 906, the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act. I would like to start out by thanking Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Dianne Feinstein, and Shelley Capito, along with Congressman Ted Lieu, and everyone who was involved in this legislation. Their passion for our fisheries is truly admirable. This bill includes a Recreational Quota Entity (RQE) provision that is crucial to the charter fishing industry. Under the provision, an RQE would be allowed to purchase and hold a limited amount of halibut quota shares to augment the amount of halibut available to charters. For years, charter anglers have faced stringent restrictions as catch limits have been reduced and this provision would allow fishing charters to compete on a larger scale. Charter fishing in Alaska is world renown and is a driving force for tourism in many towns. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend a day in Seward this past summer meeting with halibut charters and hearing directly from the people in the industry. I'd also note we had a great time catching some Alaska fish. While this bill may not be perfect, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan legislation because of the importance of the RQE provision to my home state of Alaska. This is a self-funding solution that will have a positive impact for the charter fishing industry.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. It is a fitting tribute to the years of dedication and work that Congressman Thornberry has done in this body and, in particular, on national security issues. In particular, this legislation contains Section 3510 that addresses and corrects a regulatory mismatch of the manner in which a small passenger vessel that operates in Southeast Alaska is measured. Specifically, the M/V Liseron (United States official number 971339), a converted minesweeper that conducts overnight passenger cruises in the eco-tourism trade in Southeast Alaska, should be classified as having the same regulatory tonnage for licensing its crew as is used for its safety inspection category (i.e., 100 gross tons), and the other vessels in the same trade. For construction and safety, the vessel meets all Coast Guard standards. This section in essence aligns and makes licensing requirements consistent with all the other safety and inspection regulations that apply to the M/V Liseron as a small passenger vessel by deeming the M/V Liseron to be less than 100 gross tons for the purposes of licensing and credentialing subject to some conditions. Operationally, the M/V Liseron has ten staterooms and is limited to about 20 passengers. More critically, the vessel is currently inspected by the Coast Guard as a small passenger vessel in the 100 gross regulatory tonnage category. Notwithstanding that, the vessel has a larger tonnage entered on its certificate of inspection due to the arcane nature of the U.S. vessel admeasurement laws, rules that govern the volumetric size of vessels. Larger competitor vessels can be nearly 100 feet longer and carry 5 times the number of passengers, yet they are considered to be in the smaller 100 GT small passenger vessel category for both licensing and inspection purposes. Needless to say, the M/V Liseron suffers from the inequitable situation as the vessel must compete with similar or larger vessels in the eco-tourism trade that carry five times the number of passengers. While the vessel is inspected and regulated for all safety purposes in a lower tonnage category (i.e., 100 GT), due to the higher tonnage rating entered on its certificate of inspection, the M/V Liseron must source crew from seafarers with deep water credentials (i.e., 500 GT) rather than for the shallower and protected waters of Southeast Alaska. The inequity is underscored by the fact that the M/V Liseron physically can fit within the volumetric profile of its competitors, yet the rules say it should be assigned a measurement of being larger. This is a classic example of the matryoshka principle. Further, the vessel carries far fewer passengers than its competitors. This legislation prohibits the M/V Liseron from undergoing any alteration of its size. It also limits the operation while carrying passenger to inland waters of the United States so it will not go on deep sea oceangoing cruises. Further the section permits 100 GT licensed crew members operate the vessel while allowing the Coast Guard to add additional credentials in a justifiable case if the experience and training of the individual warrant it. This does not mean additional credentials must be required or are warranted in every instance. My understanding is that the Coast Guard already has authority to do this in existing regulation so no rulemaking is required that would delay the implementation of this provision. If the master and first mate can hold 100 GT licenses it should result in less turnover and more appropriately experienced personnel that will ultimately contribute to even safer and more consistent operation of the vessel. Only two positions are affected by this legislation. During the cruising season in Southeast Alaska this vessel brings significant job opportunities and needed economic activity in local businesses by the company and its customers. The vessel enables tourists from around the world to come and enjoy the fishing and unparalleled scenic and natural beauty that Alaska has to offer. This year the vessel suffered the economic impact of the cancellations due to the COVID-19. As a result, the M/V Liseron has lost an entire season of revenue due to cancellations. Continuing an artificial barrier such as having to hire crew in a mismatched licensing category will only add to the vessel's difficulties to recover from this economic loss when they are able to resume operations. In summary, I urge all of my colleagues to join me to enact this legislation. By adjusting the tonnage rating for licensing the M/V Liseron's crew to be consistent with its safety inspection category, the M/V Liseron would be able to hire and retain more appropriate experienced crew familiar with Southeast Alaskan waterways and small passenger vessel operations.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding. I am going to miss Mr. Bishop, his work, his being a gentleman and a good friend as the years have gone by. I have been through 3,452 Members of Congress, and he is one of the good ones. I thank Congressman Case and Senator Dan Sullivan for this legislation. I know there is some opposition to it, but in Alaska, NOAA plays a very important role. They do navigation, all types of flood control. I can name all the things they do. They monitor fish stocks. They manage the tsunami warnings. We have some really good earthquakes in Alaska and some pretty good waves. They give us a warning system that makes it work, and it works very well. They work on the Sea Grant program, provides highly qualified fellows who are very important. In fact, I think I have hired four in my career and they have worked in my office. They are outstanding young people. This is a piece of legislation that is bipartisan. It is badly needed. There will be some people who say we don't need it. And I will give NOAA notice right now that sometimes they better wake up. They use an excuse of the flu for not monitoring our fish stocks. In that case, then, they should have gone out and gotten private people to do it for them, because we need that constant flow of information to make sure we don't overfish or underfish the stocks. So, NOAA, wake up a little bit.

Mr. YOUNG

Mr. YOUNG. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good chairwoman for yielding the time and my good friend on the other side from Hawaii, one of my brother States, for this piece of legislation; Congresswoman Bonamici for a very bipartisan bill with Senator Roger Wicker, Dan Sullivan, involved in this legislation. It has been hard work, dedication to our coasts, our oceans, and the Great Lakes. Mr. Speaker, we sometimes forget, we hear a lot about climate change, et cetera, but one of the biggest challenges we have is the condition of our oceans and how we can clean it up, but only keep that in your mind so maybe we can go forth in the future to really solve some of these problems, especially with the plastics. This bill, which includes technical changes implemented by the Senate, would reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act through the fiscal year of 2024. The 11 regional association networks of the Integrated Ocean Observing System work with regional partners to develop, operate, and maintain more than 300 observing assets that collect oceanographic and coastal data, including information about rising sea levels, coastal flooding, and harmful algal blooms. This program is a simple system with multiple uses. I will say that a cost-effective approach of fulfilling this Nation's need for coastal data is very important. The data from these systems enables the Coast Guard to reduce the size of their search areas by two-thirds. The data is also used for tracking oil spills, providing mariners with sea state conditions, and for ship detection. During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, IOOS regions responded by deploying high-frequency radars and underwater gliders to the region to assist with monitoring the spill. IOOS data standards enabled the Federal command center to use non-Federal sources of data for the first time. NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration now routinely uses this data in their oil spill response. It also provides core observations for water level, waves, winds, et cetera, and it helps to protect against flooding and surges of the sea. Mr. Speaker, this is a good, bipartisan piece of legislation. I hope it will save lives. We just had an instance in Haines, Alaska, where huge waves and rain destroyed a lot of our coastal areas. That just happened yesterday. This will help us try to make sure that we would have known that ahead of time. It will save us money. I would really like to congratulate everybody here on a bipartisan piece of legislation. It is long overdue. We will get the problems solved with oceans. This is a good piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.