LEGISLATION PASSED TO ENHANCE THE

UDALL FOUNDATION AND ADD STEWART

UDALL INTO THE FOUNDATION

On November 3, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law S. 1818, to enhance the Udall Foundation and simultaneously honor one of the great public servants and foremost environmental visionaries of the era, Stewart L. Udall. The law renames the agency the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation, in recognition of the historic Interior Secretary's contributions to this country.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Raul Grijalva in the U.S. House of Representatives and cosponsored by Rep. Nick J. Rahall, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Reps. Ed Pastor, Gabrielle Giffords, Harry Mitchell, and Ann Kirkpatrick. Senator Jeff Bingaman introduced the bill in the U.S. Senate, and Senator John McCain cosponsored the legislation.

The Udall Foundation was created initially to honor the legacy of the late Morris Udall, who represented Southern Arizona in the U.S. House of Representatives for 30 years. Stewart Udall, who also represented Southern Arizona in Congress from 1955 to 1961, is Morris Udall's older brother. The two worked together on many environmental and Native American initiatives while Stewart Udall was Secretary of the Interior and Morris Udall a member of Congress. Congress recognized that the Udall legacy is really a shared legacy and paid tribute to the joint legacy by recognizing Stewart Udall's vision and leadership and honoring him along with his brother Morris by including his name in the title of the Udall Foundation.

Stewart L. Udall was Secretary of the Interior under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, where his accomplishments earned him a special place among all those ever to serve in that post and have made him an icon in the environmental and conservation communities. Stewart’s remarkable career in public service has left an indelible mark on the nation's environmental and cultural heritage. Stewart Udall currently resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and will turn 90 years old in January 2010. He is the father of Senator Tom Udall from New Mexico and the uncle of Senator Mark Udall from Colorado. Mark Udall is the son of the late Morris K. Udall.

Comments about the historic legislation:

"Many have contributed to this moment, but I want to extend a special thanks to Congressman Grijalva who fathered the legislation and provided the energy to make this day possible," said Terry Bracy, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Udall Foundation. "I also want to express our deepest appreciation to Senator Bingaman and Senator McCain who skillfully guided this legislation through the Senate. It is one of many efforts Senator McCain has made on behalf of the Foundation."

"I am honored to have sponsored this legislation to help expand one of the finest federal agencies while also honoring Secretary Udall, who helped awareness in the country about the importance of protecting and preserving our environment," said Congressman Grijalva.

"I want to thank everyone who made this honor for my father, Stewart Udall, a reality," said Senator Tom Udall. "No one admires him more than his children and we are so proud that both his and Mo's legacies are now joined to continue making an impact through the Udall Foundation. Their vision and commitment to conservation and environmental and cultural preservation will live eternally in the special places of our nation and the unique faces of its people."

"My Uncle Stewart has been like a father to me to me, particularly after the death of my own dad 11 years ago. His advice has always been clear: do what's right -- not what's most expedient. He's a proud Westerner in the best tradition of the West, which is all about working together, honoring the Native peoples who came before us, and respecting Mother Nature. He often references what his friend, the great writer, Wallace Stegner, said about the West -- that our challenge is to create a society that is as majestic as our surroundings. That encapsulates the mission of the Udall Foundation, and Stewart's addition into the Foundation masthead will give us further inspiration to meet that challenge. I want to thank everyone who helped make this legislation possible." -- U.S. Sen. Mark Udall

"Mo and Stewart Udall were statesmen brothers known for their dedication to conservation and excellence in government. I'm pleased Congress agreed to honor Stewart by adding his name to this accomplished Foundation," said Senator John McCain of Arizona. "May the Udall legacy remain as timeless as the majestic mountains and roaring rivers he helped to protect."

"New Mexicans know the important role Stewart Udall has played over his lifetime to protect our environment and public lands. For that reason, I believe he should be recognized alongside his brother Morris. I am very glad we have won support of this legislation in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and that the bill can now be signed by the President," said Senator Jeff Bingaman from New Mexico, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

For additional information, contact Libby Washburn at 651.343.4660 or washburn@udall.gov.