Sen. Jeff Bingaman today celebrated the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day by introducing legislation to name the U.S. Department of the Interior building after the late Stewart Udall. 

 

Stewart Udall, the father of U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, was the Interior Secretary from 1961 to 1969, serving in the cabinets of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.  Stewart Udall died last month. 

 

Bingaman’s bill would name the building that houses the Interior Department in Washington, D.C. the “Stewart Lee Udall Department of the Interior Building.”  Cosponsors in the Senate are John McCain (R-AZ), Harry Reid (D-NV) and Mark Udall (D-CO). 

 

“Stewart Udall was instrumental in the passage of virtually all of our nation’s landmark environmental laws.  In the 161-year history of the Department of the Interior, there have been many exceptional individuals who have served as Secretary of the Interior.  Stewart Udall certainly ranks among the best of them.  In recognition of his lifetime of work pursuing the common good and protecting our nation’s public lands and waters, and in particular his achievements as Secretary of the Interior, I am proud to have introduced this legislation in the Senate,” said Bingaman, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.