By KRWG News
New Mexico – President Barack Obama has signed legislation that honors former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall by naming the Interior Department's building in Washington, D.C., for him.
The measure was sent to Obama for his signature last month after passing the House and Senate. The president signed the bill Tuesday.
Udall was secretary under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.
As secretary, Udall sowed the seeds of the modern environmental movement. He later became a crusader for victims of radiation exposure from the government's Cold War nuclear programs.
He died in March at his Santa Fe home at age 90.
Udall, an Arizona congressman 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.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.