Alaskan Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski voted on Thursday for the nominee for President Biden’s interior secretary, Rep. Deb Haaland, DN.M., sending her nomination to the full Senate.
The Energy and Natural Resources panel voted 11-9 to approve Haaland’s nomination.
Another Republican, Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, has signaled that she will vote to confirm Haaland, establishing a likely confirmation of success by 52-48.
“I will place my trust in Rep. Haaland and his team, despite some very real doubts,” Murkowski said before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday.
She said she heard two differing feelings from Alaskans about Haaland’s appointment to lead the Department of the Interior. On the one hand, they were “extremely proud” of having a Native American nominated for the place. “They believe that the issues of Alaskan natives can be raised to the highest level of government,” she said. Haaland would be the first Native American cabinet secretary in a position that oversees the nation’s tribes.
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At the same time, Murkowski said Alaskans are concerned about Haaland’s opposition to the development of public land resources.
“We have more federal land, we have more mineral resources, we have more natural risks than any other state,” she said, noting that the Department of the Interior plays a “disproportionate role” in Alaska.
Biden issued an executive order in January instructing the Department of the Interior to place a temporary moratorium on oil and gas leasing activities at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, along with all other federal lands.
“On top of all of this is my experience of the Obama administration, when I voted for a secretary who promised to be a good partner for Alaska, but proved to be anything but,” added Murkowski, in what appeared to be a blow to the former Secretary of the United States. Interior Richard Jewell. Murkowski voted for Jewell in 2013 after a few arm twists, but later condemned him for allowing an “unprecedented attack on our ability to bring these resources to market responsibly”.
She added at the time, in 2015, Obama “removed another 22 million acres of Alaska from energy production in just the past few weeks, and this has occurred in addition to many other restrictions and regulations being imposed on us.”
During a confirmation hearing last month, Murkowski pressed Haaland on the request.
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“So, if you are confirmed for this very significant position, what will be your approach to oil, gas and mineral resource development in a state like Alaska?” said the Alaskan senator.
“I know that President Biden does not want to paralyze any states,” replied Haaland, adding that he wanted to work with Murkowski to help Alaskans get the opportunities “they need”.
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The nominee continued: “He has suspended new locations to review the program. I want you to know that, if confirmed, I will rely heavily on our relationship in the future. I want to work with you. I want to make sure I understand the unique issues in Alaska. and make sure that we are doing everything we can to ensure that its constituents have the opportunities they need. “