WASHINGTON, D.C. — At her confirmation hearing to become Secretary of the Interior, Rep. Deb Haaland said she would serve on behalf of all Americans who rely on our nation’s public lands for their livelihood, for clean air and water, cultural traditions, and outdoor recreation. In her opening remarks before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Haaland committed to working for “families of fossil fuel workers who help build our country, ranchers and farmers who care deeply for their lands, communities with legacies of toxic pollution, people of color whose stories deserve to be heard, and those who want jobs of the future.”

“Deb Haaland made it clear that she plans to manage our public lands with inclusivity, fairness and balance in order to ensure that our public lands and wildlife — and the communities that depend on them — will thrive for generations to come,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “She also acknowledged how our public lands must be part of the solution in addressing both the wildlife crisis and economic crisis facing our nation, by pledging to support President Biden’s call for restoring our lands through a 21st century Civilian Conservation Corps.”

If confirmed, Haaland will become the first Native American ever to serve as a cabinet secretary. In Congress, she was a champion of legislation designed to protect wildlife habitat, expand outdoor recreation, and make public lands more accessible for all Americans. 

Last month, the National Wildlife Federation and 45 affiliates from around the country sent a letter to the U.S. Senate asking for a swift confirmation process.