Happy Easter Alaska!
Across Alaska, as families gather to take part in the many traditions and customs surrounding the Easter holiday – decorating and hunting Easter eggs, enjoying good food and even better company – let’s remember the true meaning of this special celebration, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you believe in Jesus Christ and the good lord, this is a significant day for you and your family. New clothes and Easter egg hunts are well and good, and bring us together as families through tradition and fun, but I want to remind you not to get overly hung up on the little things. Just remember, no matter your circumstance, no matter how many miles you may be from those most important to you, today we celebrate the rebirth of Jesus Christ and the many blessing he has given us. God Bless you all.
Congressman Young 2014 Easter Greeting (Click above to watch)
Congressman Young Blasts Secretary Sally Jewell for Answers on King Cove Emergency Medical Access
Earlier this month, I questioned Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on her Department’s unwillingness to work on legitimate solutions to provide emergency medical access to King Cove, a commitment she made following her denial of the emergency access road from King Cove to Cold Bay.
During a hearing on the Interior’s budget, I asked Secretary Jewell to identify where she felt the costs associated with emergency medical evacuations by the United States Coast Guard from King Cove should come from, but failed to receive an answer. Secretary Jewell says she is committed to finding alternative relief to the residents of King Cove, which includes a plan to establish a full-time USCG presence. What she fails to address is the financial obligation associated with her proposed alternative, which the USCG estimates at upwards of $160 million initially for establishing a fulltime presence and $12 million annually to maintain.
Congressman Young Questioning Secretary Jewell on the costs of recent USCG emergency medical evacuations from King Cove (Click above to watch)
The people of King Cove deserve a real commitment to solving these concerns and I don’t believe this Administration is willing to put the concerns of Alaskans above those of environmentalists. Alaskans have battled treacherous conditions, including perilous boat rides and flights, when seeking emergency medical care for years; a reality we face in Alaska that much of the Lower 48 takes for granted. But, it doesn’t have to be this way for the community of King Cove and the Secretary of Interior has the ability to save lives by granting reliable access to Cold Bay’s airport. The fact that this agency has not included a single dime of its $12 billion proposed budget for providing alternative access to King Cove for weather related emergency medical evacuations, tells me this Secretary is simply paying Alaskans lip-service and hopes this issue will simply go away.
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Congressman Young making a plea with Secretary Jewell to imagine her own family in the shoes of King Cove residents (Click above to watch a clip, click here to watch the full questioning).
Open Door Policy
My office policy, in DC and across Alaska, has always been “open door.” This is part of my commitment to you as I work to represent your interests in Congress. While we may disagree on certain issues and not always see eye to eye, I believe all Alaskans deserve to be heard and have access to the assistance my office may provide you when dealing with the federal government.
From time to time, my open door policy means a visit from non-Alaskans wishing to discuss their interest in our state’s many resources and opportunities; and as many of you saw earlier this month, I was visited by a less than usual guest in my Washington, D.C. office.
That unusual guest was Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, who happened to be walking by my office and decided to stop after catching a glimpse of the 1300lbs Alaska Brown Bear hanging on the wall of my front office. I happened to be just finishing a meeting with a group of nursing professionals visiting from Alaska and welcomed Steven in to see the office. We shared a few stories and both went on our way, a phone interview with KSRM-Kenai Radio for me and down the halls of Congress for him.
In between a phone interview with KSRM-Kenai and a meeting with nursing professionals from Alaska, Steven Tyler popped into Congressman Young’s office to admire the 1300 lbs Alaska Brown Bear hanging on his wall.
In Case You Missed It: Congressman Young on Social Media
This month Congressman Young shared a number of images, videos, and statements on social media that saw a large response from Alaskans.
Congressman Young shared this photo from the 1960’s. “The greatest discovery a gold miner could ever ask for, my lovely Lu.”
On the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 Earthquake, Congressman Don Young shared a firsthand account of the Good Friday earthquake (Click here to watch).
Congressman Young recognizing the 147th anniversary of the Alaska purchase and Seward’s Day.
ALASKANS IN DC
Students from Cordova High School, Unalaska High School, Bethel High School, and East High School asking Congressman Young questions during a recent visit to Washington, D.C.
Olympian Holly Brooks visited Congressman Young to share progress on some of the initiatives she working on in Alaska. Congressman Young said he was really impressed by the two-time Olympian, not only the accomplishments she’s made on skis but by the type of role model she has become for Alaskan youth. Click here to read about Holly’s visit to Washington, D.C.
Two Alaskan students posing for a photo with Congressman Young following a meeting with the Alaska Congressional Delegation on the steps of the United States Capitol.
Congressman Young meeting with a group of Alaska students visiting during their “Close Up” to Washington, D.C.
Congressman Young and his Washington, D.C. staff took part in their own Choose Respect rally, along with the more than 150 communities across the state, to stand up against domestic violence and sexual assault.
IN THE NEWS
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