Momentum Builds Behind Pitch To Rename Russell Senate Office Building After McCain

on July 20, 2017 in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 20: US Senator John McCain's (R-AZ), name plaque hangs at the entrance to his office inside of the Russell Senate Office Building, on July 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Yesterday it was announced ... WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 20: US Senator John McCain's (R-AZ), name plaque hangs at the entrance to his office inside of the Russell Senate Office Building, on July 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Yesterday it was announced that the longtime Senator from Arizona was diagnosed with brain cancer. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Momentum is beginning to build behind a proposal to rename the Russell Senate Office Building after the late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).

“Nothing will overcome the loss of Senator McCain, but so that generations remember him I will be introducing a resolution to rename the Russell building after him,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement following McCain’s death Saturday night.

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) supported the effort on CBS’ “Face the Nation” the next day.

“I want to be the first Republican co-sponsor for that resolution,” he said, adding: “John McCain had his office just right near mine in the Russell building. That’s where he was his entire time. I think that that’s a fitting tribute.”

And House minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) supported Schumer’s proposal in an interview on ABC’s “This Week.”

“I think it would be a great tribute, because then, for decades to come, everyone who came to Washington would know the very special place that John McCain has held, and will continue to hold, in our country,” she said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) hasn’t weighed in on the proposal, but it would be up to the Senate itself — without any input from the President, who made the late Arizona senator one of his more prominent foils — to decide on a re-naming.

Both McCain’s office and the offices of the Senate Armed Services Committee, of which he served as chairman since 2015, are housed in the building, Roll Call noted.

Completed in 1909, the building was named after Sen. Richard Russell (D-GA) in 1972, a year after Russell’s death. The Georgia Democrat, a segregationist, served in the Senate for 38 years.

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  1. I think that McConnell is in a real pickle over this. I be guessing, but I bet that Mcturtle did not care for McCain very much or his brand of politics. McCain was a sore thumb in Mitch’s eye more than once. But the vote is already at least 50-49 if it ever gets to the floor. It will be interesting to see who else with an R after their name jump’s on board.

  2. Avatar for quickq quickq says:

    here, here

  3. Avatar for hoppy hoppy says:

    Finally a real non-partisan,bi-partisan issue that everyone should support. Unless a big majority of the Repubs supports it McConnell won’t even let it be voted on, and you just know that the president guy will oppose it.

  4. Gee, they get to name something other than a post office. Pretty soon they might do actual work. And if they do it probably won’t be anything good.
    edit to add…
    Dang
    The more I think on this the more it occurs that Kelli Ward will not be happy about McCain stealing her headlines even after he’s dead … people like her just should not be elected to anything.

  5. Avatar for erik_t erik_t says:

    My enthusiasm for naming stuff after John McCain is… highly bounded… but I am 100% down for stripping naming rights from segregationists.

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