Senators push to rename DC’s Union Station

Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) are pushing legislation to rename Washington, D.C.’s Union Station after former President Harry Truman.

The bipartisan pair of Missouri lawmakers said the Amtrak and commuter rail hub in the nation’s capital should be named after the 33rd U.S. president in honor of the 130th anniversary of his birth Thursday.

“It would be a fitting tribute to have the train station just a short walk from the Capitol, that played such an important role in his presidency, bear the name of this great leader,” McCaskill said in a statement announcing the bill. “A gutsy straight-talker, ‘Missouri’s Favorite Son,’ and one of America’s most well-respected presidents, Harry Truman deserves a memorial in Washington that can carry the weight of his heavy accomplishments and can remind future generations of his great legacy that inspired a nation.”

{mosads}Blunt agreed, saying Truman’s presidency deserved to be commemorated in Washington.

“As the only Missourian to become president, Harry Truman’s tenacity, self-education, and courage to do difficult things are appreciated by people in our state and nationwide,” Blunt said. “I’m honored to share Harry Truman’s Senate offices, and I’m pleased to co-sponsor this bill, which would appropriately recognize his leadership on behalf of all Americans.”

Union Station is the home to trains that are operated by Amtrak, the Maryland Area Regional Commuter and Virginia Regional Express commuter railways and the Washington Metrorail subway system.

The station, which also includes shopping facilities, is visited by 32 million people per year.

McCaskill and Blunt said Congress has the authority to rename D.C.’s Union Station because the facility is owned by the federal government.