Udall's father was the late Morris Udall, a 30-year Congressman and a presidential candidate in 1976. Mark Udall hails from a family famed for generations of strong support for environmental issues.
Udall is an accomplished mountain climber and outdoorsman. His wife, Maggie L. Fox, worked for 20 years as an executive of the Sierra Club.
Rep. Mark Udall's voting record is rated 100% on environmental issues by the League of Conservation Voters, and 100% on energy independence issues by the Campaign for America's Future.Udall writes at his campaign website, "... we have a moral obligation to be good stewards of our natural environment and conserve it for future generations."
He worked passionately and successfully to prevent oil drilling in Colorado's pristine Roan Plateau, and tirelessly promotes wind, solar and biomass sources of energy.
Rep. Mark Udall consistently supports civil rights protections, and believes in minimal government intrusion in Americans' personal lives, including abortion, gay marriage and other gay rights, legalization of marijuana, and even internet gambling.Udall is rated as having a 100% pro-peace record by the Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE).
Udall is an avid supporter of public education, and of the need for affordable, accessible health care for all Americans. He's voted for most, but not all, U.S. free trade agreements, although he also voted to assist workers who lose jobs due to globalization.
On Congressional Earmarks
"I will not be requesting any spending earmarks. It has become increasingly clear that the earmark process lacks the oversight, transparency and accountability to prevent abuses and to win the confidence of the American people."
--- On March 7, 2008 as Udall became only the second House member to swear-off funding earmarks, per The Hill.com
On Preventing Oil Drilling in Unique, Pristine Places
"... there are areas in Colorado that are too sacred, too important to the way we look at ourselves as Coloradans, too important to our economy to be drilling there like the Roan Plateau.
"Congressman Salazar and I led on the energy bill on putting provision in the bill that would prevent drilling in these really unique, pristine places on the Roan Plateau.
"We're not going to let Colorado be turned into a national sacrifice."
--- MyDD interview on December 4, 2007
On His Record in Congress
"I'm proud of my record. I've worked to promote wind and solar and biomass energy sources in this state. I've worked with Senator [Wayne] Allard to clean up Rocky Flats and turn it into a wildlife refuge.
"My service on the Armed Services Committee has included expanding the size of veterans' benefits as well as working to increase the size of the army by eight divisions - 80,000 soldiers - so our National Guard and reserve forces can be utilized here at home."
--- April 7, 2008 interview with PolitickerCO.com
On the "Live and Let Live" Sensibilities of the West
"... the live and let live sensibilities of Rocky Mountain Westerners have resurfaced on the social issue front. We respect people's privacy. Your decisions and the way you live your life are yours alone, as long as they don't interfere with what I'm doing. And that applies to frankly who you sleep with, whether you own a gun or not, where you worship, what sorts of reproductive choices are important to your family.
"That tolerance and acceptance I think has reemerged, particularly as the right wing has gone way overboard in the West trying to manage people's personal lives."
--- MyDD interview on December 4, 2007
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