Candidate for Congresswoman and Home Secretary Deb Haaland remained calm on Tuesday, reiterating her stance on ensuring bipartisan collaboration and finding a balance between power generation, a clean energy future and science-based environmental protection decisions.
Perhaps not the answers green travel advocates were looking for, but Haaland’s political prowess showed on the first day of her hearing before the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
A second round of questions will take place and determine on Wednesday whether she will become the first Native American Secretary of the Interior in the United States. U.S. outdoor recreation and conservation groups will have to wait longer for a final vote on one of the Biden government’s most important and promising recommendations for the future of Native Americans, climate action, and outdoor tourism.
“It’s not about me – I hope that this nomination is an inspiration for Americans who move together as a nation and create opportunities for all of us,” Haaland said in her nomination speech, emphasizing her love for collaboration and conversation at the beginning and listen to all members of Congress. But she also recognized that fossil fuel energy will continue to play an important role in America in the years to come.
Her nomination had won over many in the tourism sector, largely because of her strong views as conservationists.
Haaland showed off her bipartisan communication skills as she continued to remind Republican senators, some of whom had previously disapproved of their nominations for their anti-oil and gas stance, that if they were selected, she would listen to her and her constituents’ concerns .
“I know how important oil and gas revenues are for critical services, but we also need to recognize that the energy industry is innovative and our climate challenge needs to be addressed,” said Haaland. “I am determined to work with everyone involved, and the entire Congress will strike the right balance going forward.”
As expected, the Republican members of the committee emphasized the importance of running the Home Office and its wide-ranging responsibilities, particularly its role in overseeing the management of fossil fuel energy generation and the billions of dollars generated by the energy industry.
In quick yes or no questions asked, Wyoming Senator John Barrasso asked about Haaland’s position as to whether the federal government should allow oil and gas drilling, coal mines, and copper, lithium and other hard rock mines, adding no other Land oil bans production due to climate change like Saudi Arabia, Iran and China.
“Coal mines were not part of President Biden’s executive order,” Haaland said. “When we do these things responsibly and protect the health and safety of workers, we see ourselves moving forward. The earth is here to take care of us and I believe it is, ”Haaland said, declining direct questions that should lead her to reaffirm her stance on fossil fuels as a potential future Home Secretary. Regarding gas or oil pipelines, Haaland replied that she would obey the law on all of these matters.
This was followed by repeated questions from Montana Senator Steve Daines, among other members of the Republican Committee, on Haaland’s past opposition to oil and gas development, fracking and pipelines. When pressured, she adds that she has been unemployed in the past and made every effort to find solutions for every American.
Amid the controversial voices of Republicans defending oil and gas interests came supportive statements from members who have known Haaland’s record-breaking two-party negotiations since joining Congress.
Oregon Senator Wyden described Haaland as “a leader in bringing people together” to find bipartisan solutions “and recognized the economic multiplier effect and rural job promise that will result from Haaland’s efforts to restore the Civilian Conservation Corps.
“I think we can do anything. I think we can work together, I think we can protect our public land, I think we can create jobs, “Haaland said, noting that having different views and thinking differently was not a bad thing and remembering that Committee made sure that she was the highest ranked in the 116th Congress as a freshman for non-partisanship.
As an example of their ability to unite the two sides of the aisle, Haaland’s successes in the protection of the outdoor area, which allowed access for recreation and billions of restoration funds, were brought to the fore.
Senator Don Young, who also introduced Haaland, noted that he met Haaland while she was chairing the land committee and vouched for her listening and bipartisan negotiating skills. “As a member of this administration, she will do a good job. She’ll work for us and come across the aisle, ”said Senator Young. “I have a lot at stake here, I’m an oil producing state too, we lost a lot of jobs, not because of Deb, we lost them because the president signed an executive order[.]”
After Senator Maria Cantwell found that Haaland’s nomination had become a proxy for the future of fossil fuels, she referred to the Great American Outdoors Act, which Haaland passed with mutual support, and asked if science and technology were the basis for it Haaland’s approach to protecting areas such as the Arctic Wildlife Refuge and dealing with forest fires in the Pacific Northwest. S.
The president’s influence on national monument designations was also evident. “In Utah, national monuments have become a form of political football,” said Senator Lee. with reference to the “rebound” of Grand Staircase-Escalante between the last two administrations. “I’m a little jealous that you’re from Utah because you have so much beautiful land and a lot of history there. I realize that it takes a lot of space,” said Haaland tactfully, to which Senator Lee said broad terms ” the churches constitute “impoverished,” and that was his concern.
Haaland’s aspirations, which she repeated during the hearing, include support for President Biden’s “Better Back Down” plan and the civilian climate corps to create clean jobs for youth.
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Photo Credit: Home Secretary Deb Haaland appears before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Tuesday. Shift / C-SPAN
