Proud to introduce Deb Haaland

Dear Friend,

This morning, it was an honor to introduce my U.S. Representative from New Mexico and Department of the Interior Secretary nominee Deb Haaland during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich introduces Congresswoman Deb Haaland in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, February 23, 2021.

Congresswoman Haaland is member the Pueblo of Laguna. She is a 35th-generation New Mexican. As many have noted, she will make history as the first-ever Native American Cabinet secretary, something that frankly should have happened a long, long time ago. Congresswoman Haaland knows firsthand how the decisions made at the Interior Department affect communities across the country, especially in rural, Western states and in Indian Country.

During her hearing, I asked Congresswoman Haaland about the steps Interior can take to implement the Great American Outdoors Act so we can create thousands of jobs maintaining and repairing infrastructure on our public lands. We can put people to work immediately replacing roofs on visitor centers, repairing trails, and improving campgrounds. We also discussed why we need to prioritize replacing Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools that are creating dangerous learning environments and repatriating sacred Tribal items that have been stolen to their rightful owners.

VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich asks questions during Congresswoman Deb Haaland's confirmation hearing in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, February 23, 2021.

I have no doubt that Congresswoman Haaland's bipartisan experience and her leadership will help us restore our nation-to-nation relationship to Indian Country, and make conservation and outdoor recreation a key part of our national economic recovery. I am confident Congresswoman Haaland will use the best available science to restore our landscapes, open up new outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone, put our public lands to work in confronting the climate crisis, and help Indian Country recover and rebuild from Covid-19.

I am eager to support Congresswoman Haaland's confirmation so she can get to work protecting our natural heritage for future generations.

Sincerely,

MARTIN HEINRICH

United States Senator