VIDEO: Confirming Deb Haaland

Dear Friend,

The Senate voted today to move forward with the confirmation of President Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Interior, Congresswoman Deb Haaland. The final vote to confirm her nomination will be next week. I was proud to speak today on the Senate Floor about why I am supporting Congresswoman Haaland's nomination. I hope you can take a moment to watch and share my remarks.

The Secretary of Interior will play a leading role in implementing President Biden's American Rescue Plan in Indian Country. That historic rescue package--which President Biden signed into law today--includes the single greatest investment in Tribal communities in American history. That includes $20 billion in emergency funds for Tribal governments and substantial federal investments to expand access to health care, education, transportation, housing, and essentials that many of us take for granted like broadband internet, electricity, and clean water.

VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich speaks on the Senate Floor in support of the confirmation of Congresswoman Deb Haaland to lead the Department of Interior, March 11, 2021.

Congresswoman Haaland has lived experience--as a single mother, as a small business owner, and as a Tribal administrator--that will serve her well and bring real representation to President Biden's Cabinet. As many have noted, Congresswoman Haaland will also make history as the first-ever Native American Cabinet secretary, something that frankly should have happened a long, long time ago. Deb is uniquely qualified to restore the Department of Interior's nation-to-nation relationship to Tribal Nations and to help Indian Country recover and rebuild from COVID-19.

Congresswoman Haaland is also the leader we need at Interior to take on the important work of restoring our landscapes, opening up new outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone, supporting rural economic development, and putting our public lands to work in confronting the climate crisis. She knows firsthand how the decisions that we make here in Washington--particularly in the Department of Interior--affect communities across the country, especially in Tribal communities and in rural Western states.

I am eager for the Senate to finally confirm Congresswoman Haaland so she can get to work protecting our natural heritage for future generations.