THE Senate on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution requesting that the Saipan mayor rename East Coast Highway, Route 36 to “Don Young Highway,” after the late U.S. congressman of Alaska.
Senate Resolution 22-21, introduced by Sens. Edith Deleon Guerrero and Paul Manglona, states that in 2005, “despite numerous challenges,” Young successfully secured a total of $18 million in federal highway funds under Alaska’s highway projects specifically for the CNMI.
Of these funds, $12 million was allocated for the Talofofo Road Project and East Coast Highway, Route 36 for planning, design, and construction, the resolution stated.
It added that during the tenure of former Gov. Juan N. Babauta, a request for assistance in funding the reconstruction of the Talofofo Road was submitted by Young.
The road project was designed to connect the existing roadway from the north end of the Kingfisher Golf Resort to the south end roadway adjacent to the Bird Island Lookout.
The resolution also noted that Young “expressed gratitude and compassion for the Commonwealth and its economic success when he supported and defended the Covenant” which established the CNMI in political union with the U.S.
“Young acted in a selfless manner when addressing the alleged violations of U.S. labor laws by the local garment industry in the Commonwealth,” the resolution added.
In addition, Young expressed support for legislation that established a non-voting delegate seat for the CNMI in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Young served as chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources from 1995 to 2001, and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure from 2001 to 2007.
He was the longest-serving Republican in congressional history, having been the U.S. representative for Alaska’s at-large congressional district for 49 years, from 1973 until his death in March 2022 at the age of 88.
Don Young
