Stewart Udall’s name added to Morris K. Udall Foundation
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today voted to honor two Arizonans who were among the nation’s environmental pioneers and led the expansion of our national parks system.
The House today voted to change the name of the Morris K. Udall Foundation to the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona’s 7th Congressional District. The congresswoman is an original co-sponsor.
“This is a fitting tribute to two brothers who left a lasting legacy on Arizona and the nation,” she said. “Their combined contributions are like the rugged and wild lands they dedicated their lives to preserving – they will endure through the ages.”
Terry Bracy, chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, praised today’s vote.
“The Udall legacy is really a shared legacy, rooted in the work of the Udall brothers that dominated environmental reform for three decades,” he said. “The board of trustees at the Udall Foundation is pleased that Congress has decided to pay tribute to this joint legacy, 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. This is an appropriate acknowledgement by Congress of Stewart’s contributions to the United States.”
The foundation, which is headquartered in downtown Tucson, was established in 1992 to honor Morris Udall’s 30 years of service representing Southern Arizona in the U.S. House of Representatives. Although congressional district boundaries have changed since Udall took office in 1961, much of the region he represented is now in Giffords’ 8th Congressional District.
Morris Udall’s love of the environment resulted in numerous pieces of legislation. His major accomplishment was the Alaska Lands Act of 1980, which doubled the size of the national park system and tripled the size of the national wilderness system. Ken Burns’ recent series, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” cited Morris Udall’s work in protecting and expanding national parks.
Morris Udall also championed the rights of Native Americans and Alaska Natives. He used his leadership in Congress to strengthen tribal self-governance.
Morris Udall was appointed to the House when his older brother, Stewart, was named secretary of the interior by President John F. Kennedy. Stewart Udall’s environmental résumé is no less impressive than his brother’s. In 1963, Stewart Udall authored the landmark environmental book, “The Quiet Crisis,” in which he told of those who fought tirelessly against the industrial fouling of air, water and land, the widespread destruction of beauty and the encroachment on open space.
During his eight years as head of the Department of Interior, Stewart Udall oversaw the creation of four national parks, six national monuments, eight national seashores and lakeshores, nine recreation areas, 20 historic sites and 56 wildlife refuges.
Morris Udall died in 1998. Stewart Udall is 89 and lives in New Mexico.
The Udall Foundation has numerous programs. It annually awards about 80 scholarships of up to $5,000 to college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy or Native American health care.
It also funds 12 Native Americans or Alaska Natives each summer for a 10-week internship in Washington, D.C. and, in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson, takes 12 middle school students every summer to explore Arizona’s natural wonders.
The foundation also includes the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution that provides mediation and other services and training to help parties resolve environmental conflicts.