Interior nominee will make conservation a priority, deserves quick Senate approval

Media reports say President-elect Joe Biden will announce Rep. Deb Haaland to be his nominee to lead the Department of Interior. The nomination will require the approval of the U.S. Senate early next year.  

Jamie Williams, president of The Wilderness Society, said:

“This nomination is the vital first step toward correcting some of the worst conservation attacks of the Trump regime while building new, lasting and equitable achievements. As the nation focuses on rebuilding our economy and managing the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration must also tackle the existential threat of the climate and extinction crisis. We welcome the President-elect’s nomination of Rep. Haaland to lead Interior and urge the Senate to quickly approve her. With Rep. Haaland, the Biden-Harris Administration can quickly begin to fulfill the promise of our public lands and the vital role they should play in protecting our climate, land, air and water for future generations.

“Too often in our nation’s history, the Interior Department has been unjust to recognized tribes and Indigenous communities in the United States, and Rep. Haaland’s stewardship will make history and could begin to heal these deep wounds. In addition, Rep. Haaland is a passionate advocate for climate action, stewarding public lands and conserving them for our children and grandchildren. TWS wholeheartedly supports rapid confirmation of this highly qualified nominee.

“As one of the first Native American women ever elected to Congress, Rep. Haaland has courageously brought long overdue Indigenous representation to the House. As vice chair of the House Natural Resources Committee and chairwoman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands she has helped advance protections for cultural resources and sacred sites in places like Bears Ears, Chaco Canyon and the Arctic Refuge.”

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For more information, press may contact Tony Iallonardo at 202-429-2699.