Washington, D.C. – Alaskan Congressman Don Young Friday applauded the bill signing of H.R. 3110, the Huna Tlingit Traditional Gull Egg Use Act, legislation he introduced to resolve a longstanding concern for the Huna Tlingit people and once again allow members of the Hoonah Indian Association to harvest gull eggs in Glacier Bay National Park.
“Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve been very fortunate to gather support behind a number of bipartisan efforts to protect the rights of Alaskans and Americans and ensure that our federal government does not stand in the way of our social and economic well-being,” said Congressman Don Young. “I must commend the Huna Tlingit people and Senator Lisa Murkowski for their years of persistence and dedication to support this bill through the difficult legislative process, and once and for all correct this wrong made more than 50 years ago.”
“As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs, I introduced and passed H.R. 3110 in the House in order to protect the traditional way of life for Alaska’s First People,” Congressman Young said. “For the Huna Tlingit people, this traditional gull egg harvest is a significant part of their culture that took place well before the establishment of the Glacier Bay National Park and it’s truly unfortunate that it took this long to allow the practice to resume. While I don’t often agree with this Administration and its policies, I must thank President Obama for doing the right thing by making the Huna Tlingit Traditional Gull Egg Use Act law.”
H.R. 3110 is the third piece of Young legislation signed into law by President Obama during the 113th Congress, among only 142 total bills signed. The two additional bills are:
- H.R. 623, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act (PL 113-68), a bill that directed the Indian Health Service to transfer a 2.79 acre parcel of federal land located in Anchorage to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) to be used to strengthen critical healthcare delivery for Alaska Natives by constructing a patient housing facility on the parcel.
- H.R. 588, the Vietnam Veterans Donors Acknowledgement Act of 2013 (PL 113-21), a bill that would assist in the construction of the Education Center at the Wall of the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial by allowing for the acknowledgement of donor contributions.
The longest serving House Republican, Congressman Young has had more bills enacted into law than any other member of the House of Representatives, and is currently tied for the most bills enacted into law during the 113th Congress.
