Biden names Native American to head Interior Department

WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden made a historic Cabinet selection Thursday nominating the first Native American, Rep. Deb Haaland, to head the Interior Department, which oversees public land and resources in Nevada and other Western states.

The nomination of Haaland, D-N.M., was hailed by environmental groups and progressive lawmakers who see the selection as another step in Biden’s pledge to address climate initiatives.

It also marks an historic first. Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna Tribe, would be the first Native American to hold a Cabinet position if confirmed by the Senate.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., praised the pick of Haaland as historic. Pelosi said Haaland was well-qualified for the position.

“Indigenous people in America have been excluded from nearly every conversation regarding our ancestral lands and its governance,” said Taylor Patterson, executive director of Native Voters Alliance of Nevada.

“We think that this appointment is a step in the right direction in correcting that history,” Patterson said.

Domingo Garcia, executive director with the League of United Latin American Citizens, said Haaland would honor the preservation of natural resources and sacred lands.

On Twitter, former Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said, “Nominating @RepDebHaaland as Interior Secretary is a historic choice and I know she will protect the heritage of our great public lands. I’m grateful that President-elect@JoeBiden is choosing an outstanding cabinet that reflects our value.”

Republican senators such as John Barrasso of Wyoming, a member of GOP Senate leadership, said they would review Haaland and her policy background.

Haaland’s nomination would go through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., is a member of the committee and will be reviewing Haaland’s background and record, a congressional aide said.

The senator looks forward to meeting the nominee, the aide said.

The Biden transition team is expected to publicly introduce Haaland and other Cabinet and administration nominees during an event Saturday in Wilmington, Delaware.

A statement from the transition said Haaland is one of several nominees “to advance the president-elect’s agenda and lead the world to confront the climate crisis — creating good-paying union jobs, building resilient communities, and making historic investments in environmental justice.

Haaland, a first-term congresswoman who serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, would take the reins of a department with 70,000 employees who oversee public lands throughout the country.

Nevada has the most federal land at nearly 85 percent of the state, with the largest amount of that overseen by the Bureau of Land Management.

The state also includes Gold Butte National Monument, Great Basin National Park and the Desert National Wildlife Refuge north of Las Vegas.

If confirmed, Haaland would replace Secretary David Bernhardt of Colorado, embraced by conservatives for rolling back regulations and expanded commercial use of public lands.

Environmentalists applauded Biden for selecting Haaland.

“America’s public lands are integral in the fight against climate change, and under Representative Haaland’s leadership, they are poised to be part of the solution, instead of part of the problem,” said Jennifer Rokala, executive director for the Center for Western Priorities.

“Her nomination is a major step towards moving America to a clean energy future,” Rokala said.

Contact Gary Martin at gmartin@reviewjournal.com or 202-662-7390. Follow @garymartindc on Twitter.