Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake intends to join the effort to rename the Russell Senate Office Building for his late colleague, John McCain.

Shortly after McCain died Saturday night, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said he intended to offer such a resolution, putting the Arizona Republican’s name on the building currently named for the late Georgia Democratic Sen. Richard B. Russell.

There has been increasing debate lately about renaming the building due to Russell’s pro-segregationist views. 

“I want to be the first Republican co-sponsor for that resolution. I think that that would be a fitting tribute. There are many other things that we need to do, but that’s a good one. John McCain had his office just right near mine in the Russell Building, that’s where he was his entire time,” Flake said in an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation,” adding, “I think that that’s a fitting tribute.”

Designations of Senate facilities are fully within the jurisdiction of the Senate itself, meaning there would be no need for a presidential signature from Donald Trump. That is not the case with other federal buildings and facilities such as post offices and United States courthouses.

The Russell Building has long housed McCain’s office and the offices of the Armed Services Committee that he chaired. 

“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,” Schumer said Saturday night.

More on the Life and Times of Sen. John McCain, 1936-2018