March 21, 2021 – Alaska Rep. Don Young (R) died last Friday while returning home from Capitol Hill. He led the House Transportation Committee from 2001 to 2007 and famously named a $286 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill, SAFETEA-LU, after his late wife, Lu Young. He is also famous for making the phrase “bridge to nowhere” popular after his use of earmarks – which Congress subsequently banned – became a euphemism for high priced, unnecessary projects that benefit a politician’s jurisdiction. He was 88 years old.
RIP, Don Young
