Several press releases arrived yesterday, commenting on the appointment of Deb Haaland to President Biden’s cabinet as Interior Secretary — the first Indigenous person to serve as a cabinet secretary. She has been representing New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District since 2019; from 2015 to 2017 she was chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. Along with Sharice Davids, she is one of the first two Native American women elected to the US Congress.
From US Senator Michael Bennet:
Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement after the historic U.S. Senate confirmation of Deb Haaland as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior:
“Congratulations to Secretary Haaland for her historic confirmation. Secretary Haaland brings an important and unique perspective to the position, understands what public lands mean to our economy, and will be a key partner as we work to finally pass the CORE Act into law. I am also encouraged by her commitment to visit Colorado and develop a plan for a fully functional Bureau of Land Management headquarters in Grand Junction. I look forward to working with Secretary Haaland as the Department of the Interior tackles climate change and restores balance to our public lands in the years ahead.”
From US Senator John Hickenlooper:
U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper today celebrated Congresswoman Deb Haaland’s bipartisan confirmation to lead the Department of the Interior, praising her historic nomination and commitment to protecting public lands.
“Congresswoman Haaland loves public lands, and she’ll make sure that vulnerable communities are heard in Washington,” said Hickenlooper. “We will work together on growing our outdoor recreation economy, tackling climate change, and finding a path to maintaining a BLM headquarters out West.”
During her confirmation hearing, Hickenlooper — a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources — secured Haaland’s support for the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act which would protect 400,000 acres of Colorado public lands. Haaland also committed to maintaining an open dialogue about the future of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) headquarters in Grand Junction.
From the Colorado GOP Press Office:
“It is disappointing to see that both Bennet and Hickenlooper have once again chosen to side with Chuck Schumer and far-left interest groups over the jobs and livelihoods of everyday Coloradans.
“Let’s be clear, the vote to confirm Deb Haaland by Bennet and Hickenlooper was a vote against keeping the Bureau of Land Management HQ in Colorado, a vote against Colorado’s energy workers, and a vote against Colorado’s future.”
From Aaron Weiss, at the Center for Western Priorities:
On a 51-40 vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed Rep. Deb Haaland as President Biden’s Secretary of the Interior. The Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Executive Director Jennifer Rokala:
“Deb Haaland just made history as America’s first Indigenous cabinet secretary — a landmark that’s more than 200 years overdue. Charged with overseeing more than 400 million acres of American land, Haaland is the right person to lead America’s transition to a renewable energy future. The tasks ahead are enormous, but Deb Haaland knows the role America’s lands must play in stopping climate change, addressing the biodiversity crisis, and preparing communities for the next 200 years.”
From Ernest House, Jr., member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Conservation Colorado board member.
Secretary Haaland’s confirmation symbolizes a new opportunity for a partnership between the federal government and Tribes who were once excluded from the halls of power. With Haaland as a federal leader, we see an inclusive future where ancestral and sacred lands will be managed and honored through an Indigenous lens. The national effort of protecting 30 percent of our land and water by 2030 is achievable through Tribal and Indigenous partnership.