Tribute to Tom Udall
Floor Speech
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Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I had the privilege of knowing Tom Udall's uncle when I served in the House of Representatives. He was not only a great leader, but he was a funny man. I have repeated some of his lines and jokes so often. I don't even give him credit anymore. I hope his family and his memory will forgive me.
I have often repeated his prognosis for politicians. Morris Udall said: Once you get politics in your bloodstream, only embalming fluid will replace it. I have often thought of what drives us, the men and women of the Senate and the House, to continue to engage in this life's work of politics, with all the cost that it incurs in our lives. Clearly, we are driven by something more than just comfort.
To my friend, Tom Udall, let me say I am glad you proved your uncle wrong. As much as I wish you were staying with us for a while longer, I know that you are not leaving public service. You never will. You are just leaving this chapter.
In the Udall family, public service is a noble tradition. Your uncle always served with honor in the House for three decades. Your cousins-- Mark Udall, Mike Lee, and Gordon Smith--have all served in the Senate. Your father, Stewart Udall, answered President Kennedy's call for the best and brightest and served as President Kennedy's Secretary of the Interior.
I want to mention one footnote that should never be forgotten, particularly at this moment in history. When we watch the NFL and their dedication to the notion of Black Lives Matter, they should remember that over 50 years ago, it was your father, as Secretary of the Interior, who said to the NFL football team that was using RFK Stadium that they had to integrate and bring in their first Black player or he wasn't going to renew their Federal lease on that premises. He changed, overnight, the fate of that Washington football franchise when it came to the issue of race. That shows the kind of leadership which 50 years later looked so visionary.
But when it comes to preserving America's national treasures in the 20th century, the Udall name ranks right up there with Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt was a giant of conservation. He believed that we have a moral obligation to preserve our planet and the treasures of it for future generations.
I have no doubt that your father and your mother would be proud of your service in the Senate. You have carried on this legacy with such perfection by preserving America's irreplaceable national treasures. I have vivid memories of two majestic national monuments that are in Utah--Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. President Obama showed real leadership in creating those monuments, and you have led the fight to preserve them through the current administration.
The passion with which you spoke about the history and importance of these treasures is something I will never forget. I was proud to cosponsor your proposal, the ANTIQUITIES Act, to make clear that only Congress can alter the list of protected national monuments. Thank goodness we have public servants like Tom Udall, who is willing to fight to preserve a piece of this world so that future generations can see it as God created it. Your ``30 by 30 Resolution,'' which you cosponsored with Senator Bennet of Colorado, is another example of creative, innovative Udall ``conservationism.''
Your efforts to preserve America's most sacred treasures do not end with open spaces and a healthy environment. You have also been a brave and tireless champion of the need to preserve the fundamentals of our democracy. Along with your efforts to protect national monuments, you also led to preserve the delicate balance of powers envisioned by our Founders. You were the lead sponsor in this Chamber in the For the People Act to protect voting rights, strengthening government ethics, and changing the way congressional campaigns are funded--a bill that I have built on myself to try to protect our body politic
Our goals were always the same: to break the grip of special interests on our politics and government while making it more affordable for men and women with good ideas but without massive wealth to run for Congress. These last years have shown us how fragile our democracy can be and how much work we have to do to restore people's faith in government.
I want to point out one particular bill--TSCA. Tom, I will never forget what you did with that. I don't know how many months--maybe even years--that you weathered on despite opposition, not only from the other side of the aisle but sometimes from our side of the aisle, to get this issue into perspective. There were chemicals that were being put into things as basic as furniture that American families had no idea would be dangerous.
I have never forgotten this image. You told this story on the floor. To think that that cushion on your couch is treated with some chemical that could be harmful to individuals and that every time you, as a father, sat down on that couch and pulled that baby close to you, you could have been spraying chemicals in that baby's face. I thought about that ever since you gave that speech and how much work you did to make sure that we remedy that wrong and that we gave notification and clearance before these chemicals were being used in products that American families didn't even know about. I gave you my word that I would push hard with you on that. I was just one of the soldiers in the back of the ranks, but I was proud of every moment of it.
I wish you and your wife Jill a special happiness in the next chapter. Jill, of course, is originally a native of St. Louis, and I grew up across the river. We had many fun times talking about her youth and reminiscing about mutual friends. She is just an exceptional person herself, and you know it and I do too. To your daughter Amanda, I wish an equally happy and healthy future. As our friend John Lewis might say, may you continue to find ways to get into good trouble.
In this Senate, you have been the voice for so many people who had no voice. You have chosen to be an advocate for Native Americans. And if there is ever a cause which every single Member of the Senate and the House should take as their own, it is to bring justice to this group of people who were here before us and were not treated well by this government.
I will close now with a thought from one of their great leaders, Sitting Bull. In negotiations with the Federal Government, Sitting Bull advised: Let us put our minds together and see what future we can make for our children.
This is the spirit which Tom Udall has brought to the U.S. Senate in every aspect of public service. It has been an honor to work with you, Tom. I wish you all the best because you are the best.
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