On Monday afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill pushed by Con- gressman Bob Turner (R-Queens) to rename The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in honor of Senator James L. Buckley.
Buckley served as a U.S. senator from New York in the 1970s and had a hand in creating the Gateway National Recreation Area—a 26,000 acre area which includes the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.
The visitor center at the Jamaica Bay refuge will now bear Buckley’s name.
“I am thrilled that my colleagues in the House have joined me in honoring a true American public servant. Senator Buckley has served at the highest levels in all three branches of govern- ment, as well as in the Navy during World War II. This is a fitting tribute to a man who worked tirelessly on behalf of New York and the United States,” Turner said in a statement.
Turner had taken some fire over the proposal while he was still in the running to try to replace New York’s U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
She had called Turner’s push a political stunt.
Now, after Turner failed to make it out of the Republican primary—losing to Manhattan at- torney Wendy Long—the proposal passed with little pushback.
Turner said it was a fitting honor.
“Senator Buckley has a strong environmental record. He co-sponsored the 1972 Clean Water Act, the seminal law governing water pollution and contamination. He also cosponsored The Grand Canyon National Park Enlargement Act,” Turner said.
“James L. Buckley served to protect his state, his country, and the environment,” he contin- ued. “This is a fitting tribute to a man who spent most of his life sharing his intellect and his talent in an effort to serve others.”
