Don 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.

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.

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.