Deb Haaland: Senate to confirm candidate for Biden’s interior secretary in historic vote

Deb Haaland: Senate to confirm candidate for Biden’s interior secretary in historic vote

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It must be confirmed, despite the fact that some Republicans have expressed concern about his nomination and described their views on the use of public lands and fossil fuels as extreme.
It will not be the first time that Haaland has made history. In 2018, she was elected one of the first two Native American women in Congress. His appointment to lead the Interior Department was a victory for an alliance of progressives and indigenous leaders who campaigned to elevate one of them to a powerful federal chair that oversees natural resources, public lands and indigenous affairs. Once confirmed, Haaland will be part of Biden’s plan to tackle the climate crisis and reduce carbon emissions.
During the confirmation hearings, Haaland highlighted his landmark appointment, saying, “The historical nature of my confirmation has not gone unnoticed, but I will say that it is not about me. Instead, I hope this appointment will be an inspiration for Americans – moving forward together as a nation and creating opportunities for all of us. “

Discussing her motivation to take on the job, she said: “It is difficult not to feel obligated to protect this land and I feel that all the indigenous people in this country understand this”, adding: “We want to protect this country, and what it means to protect it from all the manners. “

During a procedural vote on Thursday, four Republicans, Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, and Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined all Democrats who voted to advance their nomination.

Republicans who oppose Haaland’s nomination highlighted previous comments she made on fossil fuels and the responses she deemed insufficient at her confirmation hearing. Senator John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming and a senior member of the Republican Party on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, spoke out in opposition to the nomination in a plenary speech on Thursday.

“Representative Haaland’s political views and lack of substantive responses during her confirmation hearing, in my opinion, disqualify her for this job,” said Barrasso, referring to previous comments she made, including during a 2019 interview with The Guardian, where she stated that “” is wholeheartedly opposed to fracking and drilling on public lands.
“In my opinion and in the opinion of my constituents, these opinions are extreme,” he said, adding that her views are “supported by legislation that she co-sponsored” and noting that she co-sponsored the Green New Deal resolution in the House.

During his confirmation hearings, Haaland tried to strike a delicate balance in energy and environmental policy, saying, “There is no doubt that fossil energy plays and will continue to play an important role in America for years to come.” But, she added, “Our climate challenge must be faced”, and she said that “the Department has a role in harnessing the clean energy potential of our public lands to create jobs and new economic opportunities”.

On several occasions, Haaland refused to give his personal opinions in the face of questions from Republican senators, indicating that, instead, she would work for Biden to fulfill his government’s agenda.

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Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana asked Haaland at one point: “Do you support the fracturing ban and no new pipelines?” She replied, “President Biden does not support the fracturing ban, as I understand it.” Daines pressed again on the issue, and Haaland said, “If I am confirmed as secretary, I will be serving the president’s will and it would be his agenda that I would advance.”

Despite Republican opposition, Democrats praised and praised Haaland as qualified for the job.

Senator Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from New Mexico, spoke in support of her nomination in a Senate plenary address, saying: “I am confident that she is the leader we need in the Interior to take on the important work of restoring our landscapes, opening new opportunities for outdoor recreation for all Americans and putting our public lands to work in facing the climate crisis. ”

Repressing criticism from the Republican Party, Heinrich said that Haaland’s political views “fit well into the mainstream and fairly represent many of its constituents, I would say the vast majority of its constituents”

“I look forward to the Senate finally accepting confirmation from Congresswoman Haaland so that she can work to protect our natural heritage for future generations,” he said.

CNN’s Gregory Krieg contributed this report.

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