LAGUNA PUEBLO, N.M., and WASHINGTON D.C. - Laguna native and US Congresswoman Debra Haaland (D - New Mexico) was chosen by President Joe Biden to lead the United States Department of the Interior. Haaland’s nomination had a rocky forecast, as US Senators spoke about their fears that Haaland’s views might be too environmentally liberal.
Haaland was able to quell some fears about her nomination, and on March 4 was advanced through the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources by a vote of 11-9 after one Republican Senator, Lisa Murkowski (R - Alaska), broke party ranks and joined Democrats to advance Haaland.
Only one hurdle faces Haaland now, a full vote before the United States Senate. The Senate is comprised of 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats. (The vice president is responsible for casting a ballot to break tie votes.)
There is virtually no opposition to Haaland’s appointment in the Democratic camp, but the Republicans expressed concern about the future of oil industry in the United States. For Senator John Barasso (R Wyoming), Haaland’s endorsement of the Green New Deal and her outspoken activism against fracking are a primary issue.
Barasso, the top Republican in the Energy and Natural Resource Committee, said, “If she’s allowed to pursue her Green New Deal-inspired policies at the Department of Interior, she will run Wyoming and other states’ economies into the ditch.”
The Wyoming senator concluded, “Representative Haaland’s extreme policy views and lack of substantive answers during the Hearing, to me, disqualify her.”
In response to the tough questions from Republican senators, Senator Maria Cantwell (D - Washington) told Haaland during the hearing, “I almost feel like your nomination is this proxy fight about the future of fossil fuels, and you’ve already stated very clearly here [that] you are going to carry out President Biden’s agenda, and so we very much appreciate the fact that you’re doing that, and that’s what I think a President deserves with his nominee.”
After her advancement from this committee, New Mexico’s Senior Senator Martin Heinrich (D) said, “I am pleased that Congresswoman Haaland’s confirmation is advancing, and I am eager for the full Senate to take up her nomination so she can get to work protecting our natural heritage for future generations.”
He continued, “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 the COVID-19 pandemic. She will be a true partner for Western states like New Mexico as we diversify our economy, invest in our communities, and remain a global leader in producing and exporting energy.
“I sincerely hope the other members of the Senate will join me in supporting her historic nomination.”
What is the Interior Department?
The US Department of the Interior is one of only four federal agencies that manages public lands. The DOI manages around 640 million acres of public land and is responsible for administrating those lands; this includes approving or denying oil and gas drilling permits.
Given her endorsement of the Green New Deal, the fossil-fuel industry adamantly opposed her nomination.
Haaland cautioned against not using fossil fuels, telling senators that oil and gas will still be important in the US for “years to come.”
The DOI is also responsible for national parks and wildlife refuges. A large chunk of their responsibilities come in upholding trusts and agreements with Native Alaskan tribes and Indigenous tribes across the United States. Senator Heinrich called Haaland’s nomination, “historic,” because, if approved, Haaland would be the first Native American to lead the department.
How does the approval process work?
A president cannot manage the United State’s by themselves, as such the United States Congress, Article II has a clause called the Appointments Clause which allows the President to nominate a person to a Cabinet position. To ensure that the President does not have complete power over the government, the clause ensures that Congress confirms the Cabinet officials.
In the history of the United States Senate only three nominees have ever been rejected for a Cabinet position. The last time a nominee was rejected came with former President George H.W. Bush choice for a defense secretary in 1989; another failure came in 1959 with former President Dwight Eisenhower’s choice for commerce secretary. The first-ever rejection from the Senate came with former President Calvin Coolidge’s failed appointment of an attorney general in 1925.
Haaland is expecting to be confirmed to the DOI after already winning over enough Republicans to advance to this fmal stage of the process. Typically positions like this have already been confirmed through the United States Senate, usually before the president even takes office, but this was not the case in 2020. After the election, the transition of power was slow to begin and did not pick up much traction until after Biden’s inauguration. Haaland is currently awaiting a date for the fmal vote on her nomination.
President Biden’s team said in a statement, “[Haaland] is a barrier-breaking public servant who has spent her career fighting for families, including in Tribal Nations, rural communities, and communities of color. Currently serving as Vice Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Haaland will be ready on day one to protect our environment and fight for a clean energy future.”
What happens to New Mexico if Haaland is approved?
If approved, Haaland would leave a hole in New Mexico’s Congressional delegation. In 2020 New Mexico became the first state to send all women of color to the House of Representatives, but that historic situation might change because Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will have to call a special election to fill the seat vacated by Haaland.
The special election will be held, and New Mexico’s First Congressional District will have a new representative. This will not directly affect Cibola County since Yvette Herren (R) represents the county.