Heinrich Statement On Selection Of Deb Haaland To Be Interior Secretary

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement on reports that President-Elect Joe Biden will nominate U.S. Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior:

“I am pleased that President-Elect Biden will nominate fellow New Mexican Congresswoman Deb Haaland to serve as his Interior Secretary. I have no doubt that Congresswoman Haaland's experience and leadership will help us restore our nation-to-nation relationship to Indian Country, and recommit to protecting wildlife, landscapes, and watersheds.

"I will sleep better at night knowing that the strong relationship I have with Congresswoman Haaland and our shared vision for public land management and trust obligations to our First Nations will allow us to undo the damage caused by the Trump administration and accomplish so much for New Mexico and the entire country. Given the desire of Americans for outdoor recreation, environmental justice, climate solutions, preservation of wildlife, clean water and rural economic development, I'm optimistic she will reorient the Department of the Interior towards those forward-thinking objectives.

"I am confident Congresswoman Haaland will use the best 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 the Covid-19 pandemic. I am eager to support her confirmation so she can get to work protecting our natural heritage for future generations.”