[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 13, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5397-S5398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NOMINATION OF DAVID HAYES

  Mr. REID. Senators with good intentions can disagree on issues. They 
can disagree with our Nation's leaders. But we should all be able to 
agree that the President and his Cabinet deserve a complete lineup when 
that team takes the field on the most important issues we face. The 
American people deserve the leaders they asked for in November when 
they demanded we clean up the mess the last administration left behind.
  One of those key players is a man by the name of David Hayes, the man 
President Obama has nominated to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior. 
Mr. Hayes served successfully in this same position during the Clinton 
administration and understands better than probably anyone else what it 
takes to effectively run a department of about 70,000 people; that is, 
the Department of Interior. As Deputy Secretary of Interior, Hayes 
would work closely with our former colleague, Secretary Ken Salazar, on 
important decisions about many issues.
  No two States understand the importance of the Secretary of Interior 
more than Alaska and Nevada. Eighty-seven percent of the State of 
Nevada is owned by the Federal Government. Alaska is second. Other 
States have large amounts of land controlled by the Federal Government 
and the Secretary of Interior, and consequently his deputy would have 
some say over it. Secretary Salazar must make important decisions about 
developing renewable energy resources that will create jobs, protecting 
our wildlife, preserving our public lands for future generations, and 
keeping our water clean and accessible. David Hayes will play a central 
role in correcting the mistakes of the past and making important 
decisions for the future.
  The past 8 years of the Interior Department were marked by 
mismanagement and scandal. Secretary Salazar's Department has inherited 
the unenviable task of getting the American people to once again trust 
an agency that manages one-fifth of the Nation's landmass and 1.7 
billion acres off our coasts.
  The Department is also moving us forward in critical ways. Secretary 
Salazar has made it clear that he will

[[Page S5398]]

take dramatic strides to move our country toward energy independence. 
With David Hayes' help, he will ensure that our country is harnessing 
the wind, the Sun, and the geothermal potential that will set us free 
from our dangerous dependence on foreign oil. Secretary Salazar 
deserves the opportunity to have the best and most knowledgable people 
around him to make this energy revolution happen.
  On Secretary Salazar's list, the first is David Hayes. He is a 
graduate of Notre Dame University, Stanford Law School. He is 
experienced, pragmatic, and creative. For 30 years, he has worked in 
natural resources and environmental law. He has written dozens of 
articles and book chapters about water supply issues, clean energy, and 
land conservation, among other important topics. He has a long and 
impressive track record of negotiating the kinds of difficult issues 
the Department of Interior deals with every day. But he can't get this 
work done until this body confirms him.
  In a repeat of a scene we have unfortunately become far too familiar 
with lately, Republicans are standing in the way. I know those holding 
up Mr. Hayes' nomination feel passionately about their priorities, but 
I also know that Secretary Salazar and Mr. Hayes believe just as 
strongly about finding common ground that serves all of our interests.
  The real issue is the fact that in the last minutes of the Bush 
administration, the waning minutes, Secretary Kempthorne issued 77 oil 
and gas leases. These leases are next door to national parks. It was a 
concern of the National Park Service when it was done. The 
environmental community is up in arms. The people of Utah don't like 
it. No one else would. We have one national park in Nevada, Great Basin 
National Park. I know how the people of Nevada would feel if they had 
started bringing in oil rigs next to Great Basin National Bark. They 
wouldn't like it. Ken Salazar, when he became Secretary of the 
Interior, withdrew those regulations. He didn't terminate them, he 
withdrew them for further study, further review. We have here an issue 
of the people of the State of Utah versus oil companies. For far too 
long, the oil companies have always won. Let's make it so that the 
people win for a change.
  Every State has unique challenges. Mr. Hayes is prepared to travel 
across the West to confront them head-on, not so he can tell States 
what to do but, rather, so he can work with them to address each issue 
thoughtfully and respectfully. Working together toward such solutions 
is the answer. Robbing a Cabinet Secretary of his right-hand man is 
not.
  Secretary Salazar knows the Senate, and his door is open to every 
Member of this body. Could you find a nicer person in the world than 
Ken Salazar? I don't think so. Mr. Hayes has his backing and his 
background. Mr. Hayes will continue doing what Secretary Salazar 
directs him to do. Now is the time to move forward, not to drag our 
feet or posture or to try to score political points. Ask anyone who 
knows him. They will tell you that among the many skills he has is the 
ability to work cooperatively and in a bipartisan fashion on the most 
complex issues. I wish our Republican colleagues would show the same 
spirit on at least confirming such a clearly qualified candidate for 
such a political job. No one questions his qualifications. He is a man 
of high moral standards. He has an excellent academic background. No 
one questions his capabilities. The real issue is these oil and gas 
leases. He is a good and honest man. He is bright, successful, and a 
proven leader. Our country is fortunate that he has one again answered 
the call to serve.
  I understand at their meeting yesterday there was a plea: We have to 
stop Democrats from confirming this man. I say to my friends: David 
Hayes will be confirmed. If I have to wait until Al Franken comes, he 
is going to be confirmed. We are going to confirm David Hayes. Everyone 
should understand that. If we happen to lose this today, I will just 
move to reconsider until we have the votes. Ken Salazar is going to 
have David Hayes working with him. Everyone should understand that. 
Secretary Salazar has bent over backward to answer the questions of 
Senators who are questioning these oil and gas leases and a few other 
things. Salazar is a man who is known for his ability to compromise. He 
is a consensus builder. I hope people will allow this nomination to go 
forward. If there were some question about Mr. Hayes having written a 
law review article where he is calling for something that is outlandish 
or if he had done something in the past that was out of line--I have 
never heard a single word about his qualifications. He is a man who is 
qualified for this job. The President has nominated him.
  In fairness, I ask unanimous consent that my time be charged against 
the majority time, whatever time I used.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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