Response to Deb Haaland’s historic confirmation as Secretary of the Interior
Secretary Haaland’s confirmation sets a historic precedent for Indigenous communities and leaders across Turtle Island, and we look forward to working with the Secretary to introduce additional policies that protect our nation’s waters, lands, and communities from the dirty influence of the fossil fuel industry during her time in this critical role.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2021
CONTACT:
David Turnbull, david@priceofoil.org
Collin Rees, collin@priceofoil.org
Oil Change International Response to Deb Haaland’s historic confirmation as Secretary of the Interior
WASHINGTON, DC — This evening, Deb Haaland is expected to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Secretary of the Interior, becoming the first Native American cabinet secretary in U.S. history. In response, David Turnbull, Strategic Communications Director at Oil Change International, released the following statement:
“The confirmation of Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior is a tremendous win for Indigenous communities, the waters, parks, and lands across our country, and the climate. Deb Haaland is a proven climate champion, and will usher in a new era of climate leadership in the Department of the Interior, reversing the tide of the last four years of dirty energy policies enacted by the Trump administration.
“We look forward to working with Secretary Haaland and her team as the Department of the Interior continues reviewing the nation’s federal leasing policy of oil and gas permits on public lands. There can be only one conclusion from such a review: the Department must extend its current moratorium on federal leases on public lands into a permanent ban, following through on Joe Biden’s campaign promise to end all federal leasing on public lands.
“It’s clear that Big Oil was afraid of her confirmation — and for good reason. The nine senators that voted against her confirmation on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee have on average accepted nearly $900,000 from Big Oil, Coal, and Gas over the course of their careers. Secretary Haaland’s confirmation is yet another signal that the era of Big Oil throwing its weight and cash around to get what it wants in DC is coming to an end.
“Secretary Haaland’s confirmation sets a historic precedent for Indigenous communities and leaders across Turtle Island, and we look forward to working with the Secretary to introduce additional policies that protect our nation’s waters, lands, and communities from the dirty influence of the fossil fuel industry during her time in this critical role.”
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