The United States House of Representatives currently has 20 standing committees and one select committee. These committees consider bills and issues, in addition to providing oversight for federal agencies, programs, and other areas within their jurisdictions.
Congressman Don Young currently serves as the most senior member of the House Natural Resources Committee and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
- Young chaired the House Natural Resources Committee from 1995 to 2001.
- Young served as the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee from 2001 to 2007.
- From 2011 to 2017, Congressman Young served as the Chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs, a committee responsible for directly overseeing legislation that impacts more than 100,000 Alaska residents.
* In 1994, Republicans in the House and Senate self-imposed 6-year term limits for House Committee Chairs and leadership positions.
Congressman Don Young in an oversight hearing held by the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands
Congressman Young continues to use his expertise, knowledge, and relationships to advance the interests of Alaskans and deliver for the 49th state.
House Natural Resources Committee – Chairman Emeritus
After fulfilling a successful 6-year term as Chairman of the Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee, Congressman Young was named Chairman Emeritus of the full House Committee on Natural Resources. This new role, as the Committee’s second most senior member, allows Young to bring his years of experience and knowledge to all five of the panel’s Subcommittees:
The appointment furthers Young’s ability to take lead on a number of vital Natural Resources related priorities, including the reauthorization of national fisheries legislation – the Magnuson-Stevens Act – and efforts to develop our nation’s many natural resources, particularly in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and the Arctic.
“As we move forward with an aggressive agenda to unleash our nation’s energy potential and begin streamlining a growing patchwork of federal policies, I look forward to my new role as Chairman Emeritus of the House Natural Resources Committee,” said Congressman Don Young. “Although I’ve reached my 6-year term limit as Chairman of the IIANA Subcommittee, I am confident this new role will give Alaskans an even stronger voice in Congress by allowing me a to shape policy on all five of our subcommittees. With willing partners in the White House and a unified Congress, I’m extremely optimistic about the progress we’ll make during the 115th Congress.”
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Congressman Young was once again selected to serve upon the House’s largest Congressional panel, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As a former Chairman and the Committee’s most senior member, Young has consistently worked to provide Alaskans with robust investments to develop critical infrastructure and transportation systems. Young was named the following three subcommittees:
“As we continue to fight for greater investments in the Arctic and throughout Alaska, I look forward to once again serving on these three subcommittees,” said Congressman Young. “Each subcommittee is critically important to Alaska, particularly as we move forward with efforts to rebuild our nation’s ice breaking fleet, update our nation’s aviation systems, and begin working on a robust infrastructure package. As a mariner, and a passionate advocate for the Arctic and infrastructure development, I look forward playing a powerful role in crafting new legislation to bring our nation’s roads, rails, bridges and maritime infrastructure into the 21st century.”
House Republican Policy Committee
In addition, Congressman Young was appointed by House Leadership to serve upon the Republican Policy Committee as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee designee. This longstanding Committee serves as an advisory council to the House Republican Conference and serves as a forum to discuss important policy initiatives before the House. The RPC meets on a bi-weekly basis when the House is in session and on an ad-hoc basis, as appropriate, to discuss legislation before the House.
Congressman Young served as the Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee from January 2001 – January 2007; as the Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee from January 1995 – January 2001, and Ranking Member from 2007-2008. Young served as the Chairman of the Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Committee from January 2011 – January 2017.