Haaland being vetted by Biden team for Interior secretary
By: Rebecca Beitsch and Scott Wong (MSN)
Very interesting.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The Biden transition team is in the process of vetting Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) for the Interior secretary post, sources told The Hill on Tuesday.
© Bonnie Cash Haaland being vetted by Biden team for Interior secretary
The development came after Haaland dropped out of the three-way leadership race for House Democratic Caucus vice chairwoman.
If Haaland is tapped by President-elect Joe Biden, her nomination would be historic, making her the first Native American Cabinet secretary, where she would oversee an agency with vast responsibility over tribal issues and public lands. In 2018, she became one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress, alongside Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.).
More than half of the president-elect's transition team is comprised of women, and nearly half of its members are people of color; Biden has also vowed that his new Cabinet and administration will be very diverse and "look like America."
Haaland, the former chairwoman of the New Mexico Democratic Party who just won reelection to the House, did not respond directly when asked why she suddenly dropped out of this week's leadership race.
"We have an opportunity to unify our caucus, plan for the future, and support working families while we're facing the challenges that have come from an administration who didn't take this pandemic seriously," Haaland said in a statement.
"I've deeply appreciated this process - discussing priorities, getting to better know my colleagues, and their districts and issues, and also answering questions about Indian Country. I look forward to continuing these conversations with a united caucus, laser-focused on healing and rebuilding our country," she added.
Haaland, 59, has previously expressed interest in the role. In an interview with HuffPost last week, Haaland said "of course" she was interested in leading the Interior Department.
The Biden transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and it is not clear if it is also vetting other candidates. Other names being considered to lead the Interior Department include retiring Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), whose father was Interior secretary in the 1960s, and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).
Udall's office suggested he is still being weighed for the role but did not say whether he is also being vetted.
"Deb Haaland is a close personal friend and I've been proud to work with her in Congress and long before that. Senator Heinrich has been an incredible partner and friend in the Senate for the past eight years. Like so many New Mexicans, I'm excited about the vision of the incoming Biden-Harris administration and I am honored to be considered for an opportunity to continue my public service," Udall said in a statement to The Hill.
Haaland, who chairs the House Natural Resources subcommittee that oversees national parks, forests, and public lands, got a nod Monday from full committee Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who had been endorsed for the Interior role by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). Grijalva, a progressive leader, backed Haaland while asking fellow CHC members to do the same.
"It is well past time that an Indigenous person brings history full circle at the Department of Interior. As her colleague on the Natural Resources Committee, I have seen first-hand the passion and dedication she puts into these issues at the forefront of the Interior Department from tackling the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women to crafting thoughtful solutions to combating the climate crisis using America's public lands," Grijalva wrote in the letter obtained by The Hill.
"It should go without saying, Rep. Haaland is absolutely qualified to do the job," he added.
Biden this week began naming top staffers who will serve in the White House, including chief of staff Ron Klain and Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), the Biden campaign's national co-chairman, who will serve as a senior adviser to the 46th president and the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
Biden has yet to name any Cabinet members, though he could make some of those picks before Thanksgiving.
Updated: 5:51 p.m. EST
Article is LOCKED by moderator [Split Personality]
Can I get an Amen brothers and sisters?
Trump is off topic
it would be nice to have someone that was actually concerned with our public lands in that office for once.
AMEN!!!! That would be soooo wonderful. Not only to have a true Native American serving in the Dept of Interior, but, wonderful to have a real Native American in that capacity for a change. One who knows more about the needs and problems of the Native Americans who will work hard to to improve the Dept.
It would be just awesome to have Ms Haaland representing the Native American Tribes across America.
AMEN!!!
AMEN!
Amen! A moment to be proud of our sister!
Amen!
... for so many reasons...
I would sure hope that with her background, the agency she might head would finally take care of issues that have seemed to be ignored by the agency for a great many years.
As an example, we are in the the 21st century in what is easily the richest country in the world. So why is it that on the Navajo Nation that 30% of the homes do not have electric and almost 40% do not have running water? On the Phoenix local news the other night where while the nation is again locking down due to an explosion in Covid cases, work crews are feverishly working to expand electric and water services with money from the Cares Act. Why does it take this long for money to finally be appropriated when this should have been handled years ago. As for electric, I rented a beach house years ago down in Mexico. They had solar panels on the roof with batteries and an inverter in a small room and provided electricity to the entire house, enough for even air conditioning. Why can't something like this have been set up for those households years back? (and this is not to say that there are not other reservations that don't also have their issues, but the news story about the Navajo Nation was just on the news so it's fresh in my mind)
So yes, I can support a Native American for this post in the hopes that she does a better job than so many of her predecessors have done.
I think I saw the same news presentation.
On the other hand we have a relative in the desert around Tucson who is "not enslaved" by electricity.
( He's nuts but a gifted painter )
It is intriguing to see who Biden is considering. I believe a Republican Senate Depending on the GA run off) would endorse Haaland. That would be an easy one.
Rep. Haaland would be a GREAT appointment.
Deb would be a great pick. Tom Udall who she is great friends with is a strong contender for the position. Tom Udall's father is Mo Udall an NM icon. Mr. Heinrich is also a strong contender.
The Interior Department oversees the following departments:
The U.S. Department of the Interior is a Cabinet-level agency that manages America's vast natural and cultural resources. Our department employs some 70,000 people, including expert scientists and resource-management professionals, in nine technical bureaus:
It would be great to have a person in charge that respects our public lands and would not use them to the advantage of corporations.
These lands belong to all Americans, not special interests.
Currently, a very experienced team, headed by Kevin Washburn is reviewing the Interior Department and I'm sure will make many recommendations regarding the department.
I truly hope so. There is so much that really needs to be reviewed and corrected. Hopefully, it will come to pass soon.
Very good!
BRILLIANT CHOICE!!!
Indeed! I can't think of anyone better to head that dept for the Native Americans.
For the Native Americans and for anyone else who cares about the environment.
Native Americans are the true protectors of Mother Earth, and always have been. The earth does not belong to Man, Man belongs to the earth.
Plus....
Mother Earth is not meant to make us rich, it is to help us survive.
Now, is it at all possible to stop the leasing of pristine Alaska lands to oil drilling and mining interests?
It sure is, Buzz.
Yes, it would be perfect !
She seems to be an excellent choice for the position.