In recognition of the only Missourian to serve as president and his many accomplishments, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3) has signed on as one of the original House co-sponsors of a bill to rename Washington, D.C.’s iconic Union Station the “Harry S. Truman Union Station.”

The House legislation, a similar version of which has been introduced in the Senate by Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill, is being co-sponsored by all eight members of the Missouri congressional delegation.

“President Truman has always served as in inspiration for his no nonsense leadership style and his ability to show that Americans, and particularly Missourians, prefer a workhorse to a show horse in Washington, D.C.,” Luetkemeyer said. “President Truman faced some of the toughest decisions of any modern president and he did so with a humility and common sense we don’t see often in Washington.”

Washington’s Union Station holds a particular significance for Truman because it was home to U.S. Car No. 1, the presidential rail car Truman used extensively to travel the country and make personal contact with the American people.  When Truman left Washington for his whistle-stop campaign tour, his journey began and ended at Union Station.

Truman forced the Japanese surrender in 1945 through the use of atomic bombs; issued the Truman Doctrine to contain communism; supported and recognized the state of Israel when it declared itself a nation; oversaw the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and the creation of NATO in 1949; and guided the American economy through a post-war recession and started the racial integration of the military.