Political Quotes

“Madam President, I want to take some time to thank and commend my colleagues who are departing the Senate. All of these Members have devoted themselves to serving the Nation and serving their States. We are all better off for their service. Let me begin with my friend and colleague Tom Udall. Tom inherited a family tradition of fighting for the American West and its citizens. His time in the Senate only added to the Udall legacy. Tom has been one of our Chamber's leaders on conservation and the environment. He championed the creation of monuments and worked to block the Trump administration's harmful environmental policies. And, this year, he helped secure permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was pioneered by Tom's father, Stewart Udall. Tom's commitment to the health of our Nation's environment has always been evident, and I was proud to hand off my role as the Democratic leader of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee to Tom in 2015. During his tenure, funding for the Interior appropriations bill grew by 25 percent, and more than 100 anti-environmental riders were blocked. These victories would have been impossible without Tom's ability to connect with his fellow Members and get things done. They are also a testament to Tom's deep knowledge of America's lands and resources. Of course, Tom's successes go beyond his environmental work.…”