WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation to name the Interior Department building in Washington, D.C., for the late Stewart Udall, who once headed the agency.
Udall, who was Interior secretary under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, died in March at age 90.
New Mexico Democratic Rep. Martin Heinrich - who introduced the measure to honor Udall on Earth Day last month - says Udall's defense of the nation's environment remains immeasurable.
The legislation's 41 cosponsors include New Mexico Democrats Harry Teague and Ben Ray Lujan.
The measure now goes to the Senate.
Udall, who served in Congress from 1955 to 1961, is the father of New Mexico Democratic U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and uncle of Colorado Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Udall.
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