Carper Statement on the Historic Nomination of Deb Haaland to Lead the Department of the Interior

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement regarding President-elect Biden’s nomination of U.S. Representative Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

“In choosing Congresswoman Haaland to be his Interior Secretary nominee, President-elect Biden is fulfilling his commitment to assembling a cabinet that truly embodies the best of our country. Congresswoman Haaland’s lived experience—as a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and member of the House Natural Resources Committee—makes her an excellent fit to lead the Department of Interior.

“From White Sands to the Brandywine, our public lands are national treasures. They are sanctuaries that we share with the natural world. They are places we can safely escape to for outdoor recreation during a deadly pandemic. And they deserve to be maintained for future generations. After four years of attacks by the Trump Administration and the ever-present threat of climate change, the American people need someone leading Interior who will fiercely protect our public lands and our wildlife. They have that leader in Congresswoman Haaland.

“Delaware may not boast thousands of miles of wide-open spaces or sprawling mountain ranges, but we are home to natural wonders of our own. Our state’s wetlands, waterways, and other natural spaces are ecologically important, and teeming with diverse wildlife, including threatened and endangered species. Our National Park tells the story of the earliest days of our democracy while our National Wildlife Refuges provide safe harbors for migratory birds. These spaces draw hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, as eco-tourism and outdoor recreation play a big role in our small state’s economy. The Secretary of Interior plays a critically important role for our state, and I look forward to hearing Congresswoman Haaland’s ideas about the ways we can protect our natural resources and support conservation in Delaware.

“In addition to protecting public lands and preserving our natural resources, I have no doubt that Congresswoman Haaland will put environmental justice front and center in Interior’s important work. I congratulate her on this historic nomination and look forward to working with her on safeguarding the natural world around us.”

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