Jeff Bingaman: “last month our country lost a great American with the passing of Stewart Udall, who, among his many achievements, is…”

“last month our country lost a great American with the passing of Stewart Udall, who, among his many achievements, is probably best remembered for his accomplishments as Secretary of the Interior during the Presidencies of President Kennedy and President Johnson. His lifetime of work to protect our public lands and his efforts to improve the quality of our environment are unequaled. Stewart Udall was instrumental in the passage of virtually all of our Nation's landmark environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act of 1963, the Wilderness Act of 1964, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1965, the Endangered Species Act of 1966, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Trails System Act of 1968, and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. Nearly half a century later, these laws remain the key protections for our Nation's land, air, and water. In addition, he oversaw significant additions to the National Park System and the National Wildlife Refuge System. Many years after he left office, he was a driving force behind the enactment of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act of 1990.”