After decades in public office, Tom Udall is bidding farewell to the U.S. Senate, where has served since 2009. Prior to that he served in the U.S. House of Representatives and New Mexico Attorney General. Recently he sat down with New Mexico PBS correspondent Laura Paskus to discuss two issues he has focused on for much of his career: climate change and the environment. See the whole interview here.
Udall says the Trump Administration has rolled back significant environmental protections over the last four years and that will continue to have ramifications for New Mexico and the country.
UDALL: After the Paris agreement in the Obama administration, we really had stepped up to the plate. We had some great goals. We withdrew from that agreement under President Trump. We had a very strong administrative clean power plan out of the Environmental Protection Agency that has been dismantled. There was a really strong, wonderful agreement on CAFE standards. Those are the automobile mileage standards. It was up to 54 miles a gallon. They were going for the auto companies and we're going to do even better.So imagine the Trump administration, the secretary of interior, the EPA director, taking a wrecking ball to all of that.
PASKUS: The one of the things that I think people are a little bit concerned about is there will be legal challenges to lots of these actions by the Trump administration. But the courts are so full of Trump era judges and nominees. Are you concerned about that at all? How will how will the courts hold up against these challenges?
UDALL: Yeah, I, I am concerned about that. But in the climate area, there has already been a court ruling. The crucial finding, the absolute crucial finding here is that carbon pollution is a threat to public health, and that is a ruling under the Clean Air Act. This was done by judges who were in all sorts of Democrat and Republican administrations. So that sets the groundwork to move forward under the Clean Air Act and to really move us to tackling climate change and global warming.
PASKUS: So there's lots of speculation about the Biden administration. And your name has come up repeatedly as a possible secretary of the interior. Can you address those rumors at all?
UDALL: Oh, sure. I've known Joe Biden. I've known his family for a long time. I campaigned for him in 1972. I worked in his office before I went to law school in 1973. I've stayed in touch with him ever since. He's been a real mentor to me. And so I just want to do what's right by Joe and by Kamala. If they need my help, I'm happy to weigh in and be a part of their administration.
PASKUS: So I'm curious if you have any advice for soon to be Senator Ben Ray Luján especially in thinking about protecting New Mexico's land and waters?
UDALL: Yeah, well, as you know, Ben Ray Luján, first of all, he ran a great race and he, I think, is going to represent the state very well. He's been in the House of Representatives for 12 years. Before that, he was on the Public Regulation Commission and he's been dealing with these conservation, renewable energy, broad issues to deal with parks and public lands and wild and scenic rivers for a long time. So I think I think he's going to be great on the conservation front.
But, you know, the first big task that this incoming administration and the new Senate is going to face is getting the economy back in shape and getting the pandemic under control. And we need to do the economy part safely and Ben Ray’s dedication is to work on economic development, on making sure we have a strong economy, putting people back to work and keeping this pandemic under control.
PASKUS: Senator, thank you so much for your time and for your service to New Mexico. We're all very interested to see what you do next.
UDALL: Thank you so much. I'm looking forward to the next chapter.
