[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 98 (Wednesday, July 10, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5616-S5618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO DAVID J. HAYES

  Mr. HEINRICH. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize David J. 
Hayes, who stepped down on June 28, 2013, from his position as Deputy 
Secretary of the Department of the Interior, and I ask consent that the 
following remarks about him and his service be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

    Selected Remarks on the Work of Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes


               elected officials and cabinet secretaries

       President of the United States Barack Obama: ``David's 
     leadership at the Department of the Interior has played an 
     important role in my Administration's efforts to expand 
     domestic energy production, including renewable energy as 
     well as America's oil and natural gas resources. His 
     expertise has helped shape our approach to conservation and 
     our efforts to combat climate change, and as the Chair of the 
     interagency working group on energy development in Alaska he 
     has ensured that decisions we make regarding the Arctic are 
     based on the best science. I am also grateful for David's 
     work to help usher in important water rights and legal 
     settlements that will help restore trust and strengthen our 
     relationship with Indian Country.''
       Sally Jewell, Secretary of Interior: ``David has been a key 
     architect for nearly every significant initiative undertaken 
     at Interior over the last four years,'' said Secretary of the 
     Interior Sally Jewell. ``From his work on expanding renewable 
     energy production on public lands and waters, to coordinating 
     federal family energy activities in Alaska, to developing a 
     landscape-scale approach to conservation and climate change, 
     David has left an indelible mark.''
       Ken Salazar, Former Secretary of Interior: ``Over the last 
     4 years, you have distinguished yourself as a key leader in 
     implementing the President's agenda at the Department of the 
     Interior. Your historic work on energy and climate change, 
     conservation, Native Americans and water challenges have been 
     at the heart of an Obama legacy and will last forever.''
       ``On the energy front, you have been one of the key players 
     in the Administration, implementing the President's all-of-
     the-above energy strategy . . . You have played a key role in 
     helping create a conservation legacy for the President. Your 
     work has included helping define the future for the Atlantic 
     and Arctic Circle, new urban parks, Gulf Coast Restoration, 
     and the creation of a National Blueway System for America's 
     rivers. The conservation community holds you in the highest 
     regard.''
       ``As the Chief Operating Officer of the Department, you 
     have led historic reforms in the organization of Interior 
     including overhauling the agencies that oversee oil and gas 
     production on public lands and implementing the numerous 
     efficiency measures necessary for these tough fiscal times . 
     . . ''
       ``Your results oriented approach to solving problems makes 
     me very proud of you. In contributing to a lasting 
     Presidential legacy, you have helped create a better world 
     for humanity through your dedication, loyalty, and 
     indefatigable energy.''
       Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK): ``I note with deep regret the 
     decision of Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes to 
     retire from public life,'' said Cole. ``David Hayes has been 
     one of the most gifted and accomplished public servants of 
     his generation. He served the Administration and, more 
     importantly, the country with skill, integrity, vision and 
     leadership.
       ``Among his many accomplishments, the most noteworthy is 
     surely his settlement of the so-called Cobell lawsuit on 
     terms that were not only beneficial to the government but 
     fair to hundreds of thousands of Native Americans and to 
     tribal governments. It was David who recognized a problem and 
     turned it into a solution, not only in terms of just 
     compensation to Indians for years of mismanagement of their 
     trust accounts but for tribal governments as well. His 
     proposal to use part of the settlement to purchase 
     fractionated lands and return them to productive use will 
     benefit individual Indians and tribal governments in 
     perpetuity. Moreover, the addition of a scholarship fund for 
     needy American Indian students, as a component of the 
     settlement, will benefit generations to come.
       ``On countless issues, including the complex Oklahoma water 
     issue, efforts to partner with Indian tribes for the 
     management of federal properties and initiatives to foster 
     and speed up the development of resources in Indian Country, 
     David led with skill, finesse and innovation. Moreover, he 
     did so in ways that were inclusive, bipartisan and 
     transparent.
       ``I wish David every success in private life. However, I 
     certainly hope at some time in the future, he returns to 
     public service. He is simply too gifted and capable to remain 
     on the sidelines as the great public issues of the day are 
     discussed, debated and solved.''
       U.S. Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska): ``David Hayes has been a 
     good partner to Alaska. Together, we made significant 
     progress on streamlining OCS permitting, and Alaska saw the 
     first offshore wells drilled in decades. I know that without 
     his commitment to the Alaska Interagency Working Group, we 
     would not have seen that progress.''
       Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.): ``I have long known 
     David to be an ingenious problem solver who has demonstrated 
     time and again that he can close the deal on solutions for 
     the West's great battles over natural resources.''
       ``I will never forget David Hayes and Secretary Ken Salazar 
     coming to my home in Washington on a Sunday morning to work 
     on a solution that would dramatically improve the [water] 
     allocation. David rolled up his sleeves and worked diligently 
     until we had a workable solution.''
       U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska): ``I appreciate David's 
     willingness to engage on difficult issues important to 
     Alaskans, including contentious land management policies and 
     offshore oil and gas development. The Alaska Interagency 
     Working Group, which he headed, was central to improving the 
     permitting process for offshore exploration. We did not 
     always see eye to eye on what was best for Alaska, but David 
     was effective and fair, and always brought honesty and 
     integrity to what were sometimes tough discussions. I am 
     sorry to see him leave.''
       President Ben Shelly, Navajo Nation: ``Mr. Hayes has . . . 
     tackled difficult topics with aplomb, including water rights 
     settlements, energy development negotiations, and the non-
     renewable energy dependence of the Navajo Nation. He's 
     demonstrated so with the utmost professionalism and 
     understanding of the difficulty of the Navajo Nation . . .''


                      Stakeholders and colleagues

       Laura Crane, The Nature Conservancy: ``The Nature 
     Conservancy commends David Hayes for his commitment to find 
     workable solutions that support renewable energy goals and 
     protect the needs of people and nature. The approach 
     developed for solar development on federal land under Mr. 
     Hayes' leadership represents an important step forward in how 
     energy can be smartly developed on our public lands and 
     should serve as a model for how the Bureau of Land Management 
     addresses all forms of energy development.''
       Helen O'Shea, NRDC: ``David Hayes has been a major leader 
     of the Interior Department during the Obama Administration 
     just as he was during the Clinton Administration. He has left 
     a tremendous legacy, particularly in connection with the 
     development of the Department's new program for managing 
     solar resources of the public lands.''
       Chris Wood, Trout Unlimited: ``David Hayes defines all that 
     is good about public service . . . He understands the 
     imperative of protecting special places such as Bristol Bay, 
     Alaska--the world's most important salmon fishery--from 
     industrial mining. Yet, in a demonstration of his balance, he 
     also led Interior's push to expand renewable energy 
     development on public lands while protecting fish, wildlife 
     and water resources.''
       ``David is smart, hard-working and very responsive to 
     constituents, regardless of what side of the aisle they sit. 
     He is a strong advocate of using collaboration to resolve 
     vexing natural resource problems such as on the Klamath and 
     Penobscot rivers where dam removal will open hundreds of 
     miles for migrating salmon and other ocean-going fish. He 
     will be missed.''

[[Page S5617]]

       John Podesta, Center for American Progress: ``Serving two 
     presidents with honor and distinction, David Hayes has helped 
     solve some of the nation's most complicated natural-resources 
     challenges over the past two decades. He has brokered 
     everything from water deals in California to the settlements 
     of longstanding injustices in Indian country. He has been a 
     leader in helping us prepare for the impacts of climate 
     change on America's lands while ushering in a new era of 
     smartly planned renewable-energy development in the Southwest 
     and off our coasts. He has rightly earned a reputation as an 
     honest broker, a tireless worker, a dedicated public servant, 
     and an MVP when it comes to preserving America's great 
     spaces.''
       Greg Pensabene, America's Natural Gas Alliance: ``During a 
     time when technological advances associated with natural gas 
     production have created new opportunities for our country, 
     David has emphasized the need for safe and responsible 
     development, while recognizing the important role that this 
     abundant, American fuel plays in improving national security, 
     cleaning the air, and jumpstarting our economy.''
       Jim Lanard, Offshore Wind Development Coalition: ``Since 
     May 2009, when he was confirmed Deputy Secretary by a 
     unanimous vote of the U.S. Senate, David Hayes has been a 
     leader for offshore wind in the United States. While the 
     industry is more than 20 years old in Europe, it is brand new 
     here. Deputy Secretary Hayes understood this and impressively 
     led his team to bring U.S. regulations into the 21st century. 
     Under `Smart from the Start,' he prepared federal and state 
     governments to build a future for offshore wind energy.''
       National Congress of American Indians: ``Deputy Secretary 
     David Hayes will depart the Department of Interior having 
     left an indelible mark on the federal trust relationship 
     between the federal government and tribal nations. He has 
     been a consistent presence in Indian Country working 
     tirelessly to uphold our nation-to-nation relationship. As a 
     key member of Secretary Salazar's team during the first term 
     of the Obama Administration, David will be part of a legacy 
     that has launched a new era in federal-tribal relations and 
     set a new baseline for the Department of the Interior's 
     engagement with tribal nations.''
       Jamie Williams, The Wilderness Society: ``David leaves 
     behind a tremendous conservation legacy at the Department of 
     Interior, and we are deeply grateful for his work over the 
     last four years.''
       McKie Campbell, Senate Energy and Natural Resources 
     Committee: ``I think whether you're agreeing with him or 
     disagreeing with him on issues, David has established a good 
     reputation as a square shooter . . . He listens, he 
     communicates with people well, he's fair.''
       Randall Luthi, National Ocean Industries Association: 
     ``David Hayes was an experienced and often calm head through 
     some very trying times both at the Department of the Interior 
     and for the offshore oil and gas industry. He also made the 
     effort to meet with industry officials, from large to small 
     companies, to understand their concerns. Certainly decisions 
     were made that may not have been industry's first choice, but 
     he listened.''
       Dean Elizabeth Magill, Stanford Law School: ``David has 
     proven himself to be a visionary, effective, and wise policy 
     maker.''
       Paul Bledsoe, former Clinton Administration official: 
     ``(A)mong the top three or four most important Democrats on 
     natural resources issues in the last 20 years . . . Hayes has 
     ridden point with Secretary Salazar on many critical issues, 
     including offshore Alaska leases, siting of renewable energy 
     on public lands and fracking regulations that allow for 
     responsible shale development . . . It's hard to imagine 
     anyone more expert in balancing the demands of resource 
     protection, energy development and public uses of our 
     national lands.''
       Marilyn Heiman, Pew Center for the Environment: ``Few 
     policymakers have the knowledge and the strategic capacity to 
     navigate complex and challenging natural resource issues and 
     reach successful outcomes as David.''
       ``I don't agree with all the decisions that have been made 
     by the Department of Interior on offshore drilling, but I 
     think they have been really well vetted and really thoroughly 
     reviewed, and I have to say that I hadn't seen that kind of 
     work in the past.''
       ``This is a complicated area with a lot of different 
     constituencies. He has immersed himself in the nuts and 
     bolts.''
       Phil Taylor, E&E reporter: ``Hayes' work as a diplomat on 
     Capitol Hill has been seen as an asset for the Obama 
     administration as it tackles controversial land management 
     challenges ranging from hydraulic fracturing to the 
     management of sage grouse, wolves, wind power and national 
     monuments on public lands.''
       ``Hayes, who also served as counselor and deputy secretary 
     during the Clinton administration, had a hand in nearly every 
     significant Interior policy over the past four . . . years He 
     is credited with leading efforts to respond to and prepare 
     for climate change at a landscape scale.''
       ``Under President Clinton, Hayes is credited with 
     conserving old-growth redwoods in Northern California, 
     pushing for the restoration of California's bay-delta 
     ecosystem, and settling long-standing American Indian water 
     rights disputes.''
       ``Hayes drew praise among conservation leaders and 
     sportsmen's groups, which credited him with expanding 
     renewable energy production on public lands while protecting 
     valued habitats.''
       ``Described by some as a policy wonk, Hayes is known for 
     his attention to detail and has been seen poring over stacks 
     of binders in the Interior library. Sources say he reads many 
     of the department's environmental impact statements, fat 
     books that weigh the potential environmental outcomes of 
     agency decisions.''


             Excerpts from emails to Deputy Secretary Hayes

                 From current and former DOI employees

       ``Please know that your work never went unnoticed in the 
     field, and we are very grateful to you for your support 
     throughout the years.''
       ``I am simply writing to say thank you. Thank you from the 
     bottom of my heart, and with the utmost sincerity, for 
     placing the arctic on the national agenda. We are an arctic 
     nation, and thank you so much for all of the tireless hours 
     you have dedicated to the north, its people, and associated 
     issues and concerns . . . I have developed a deep respect for 
     you from a considerable lateral and vertical distance, and I 
     want you to know that all of your hard work has meant a lot 
     to at least one person in this wonderful state of Alaska.''
       ``I have appreciated your intelligence, your wit, and your 
     thoughtful approach to managing the myriad of complicated 
     issues here at the Department, and your work ethic has been 
     nothing short of inspiring.''
       ``Your keen interest in Alaska and our multi-faceted (i.e. 
     gnarly) issues has been particularly helpful to our work 
     here. Your knowledge of all things big and small never ceased 
     to amaze me. I hope that the many things that you started and 
     shepherded will continue to their good end that you 
     envisioned.''
       ``David, you've been such a mentor to me, and I credit a 
     lot of my personal successes to your guidance and support. As 
     for your time at the Interior Department, you always were the 
     smartest person in the room, and an inspiring leader. And of 
     course, and you've helped make history in overseeing DOI's 
     incredible conservation and renewable energy work.''
       ``I know I speak for everyone who's had the chance to work 
     closely with you over the past four years when I say that you 
     will be very dearly missed here. I find it hard to imagine 
     the Deputy Secretary's office, the Department and countless 
     individual initiatives without your leadership and vision.''
       ``I learned much in my time at DOI and from you. One 
     particular lesson was the importance of having a Deputy 
     Secretary that understands DC and is willing to take the hits 
     for the Secretary again and again. I know this was invaluable 
     for the Secretary's agenda and for Interior.''
       I want you to know that from my perspective as a career 
     employee of almost 25 years, I can say honestly, and without 
     any ulterior motives, that your legacy in Indian Country is 
     one to be proud of and I think pretty darned unsurpassed. 
     There are few thank yous in this business and I know that is 
     not what motivates you. But I for one think you have done a 
     great job and everyone is going to see how good it was once 
     you are gone. I know that there are many others, tribal 
     leaders included, who share my opinion.


                           From stakeholders

       ``Selfishly, we are sad you are leaving the Department. It 
     has been great working with you. As all the press reports 
     say--you brought a very high standard to the Department and 
     this will not be easy for the Secretary to replace . . . It 
     has been a full term of work and so many challenges. We have 
     appreciated your strong interest in Alaska and the Arctic, 
     your dedication and hard work, your trust very much.''
       ``As you know, I'd feared this decision was coming for some 
     time . . . Wanted you to know that I feel indebted to you for 
     the continuing time, attention, expertise and consistent 
     commitment that you've always made to elevate and address 
     California-related conservation issues. You have made a real 
     difference in your work at the Department--and beyond--over 
     now two different Administrations.''
       ``I can't begin to fathom all the pressures and demands 
     that have been placed upon you. Nevertheless, you were always 
     willing to engage on issues of conservation concern, you were 
     unfailingly gracious, you led the effort to bring appropriate 
     attention to Arctic issues, and I am confident that you had a 
     central role in securing the gains that have been made, in 
     particular the balanced approach to management of the NPR-A, 
     for which I am especially grateful.''
       ``I can't always agree with where we end up but the fact is 
     you've been the highest ranking US official in 30 years to 
     constantly give this Arctic part of the world attention, and 
     that's worthy of recognition and gratitude.''
       ``No one has contributed more to the spirit of conservation 
     and the wise use of our nation's resources than you have over 
     the past 20 years.''
       ``I had the pleasure of working for over 30 years as a 
     Federal employee and worked with many outstanding leaders. In 
     my estimation your contributions elevate you to the top tier 
     of leadership. I have always been impressed with your 
     outstanding ability to listen, to remain positive, to be 
     accessible and maybe most of all in these challenging times 
     to be honest in your assessment and discussions about your 
     views.''


                               Colleagues

       ``We could not have made it without your support, your 
     intervention at all the right

[[Page S5618]]

     times, and your full participation . . . We owe you a debt of 
     gratitude; and for me, personally, it has helped remind me 
     yet again of what true public service looks like.''
       ``You are going to be sorely missed in the Department. Your 
     record over the years is incredibly impressive. I hope that 
     you will be able to look back in the years ahead and see how 
     your work lives on in so many ways and for so many millions 
     of people. I am proud to know you and to call you a friend 
     and colleague.''
       ``This is a huge loss for our community . . . From the 
     fiery speech you delivered at the Great Outdoors America 
     reception in 2011 to your focus on regional energy issues in 
     Alaska, it was refreshing to have such a strong friend of 
     conservation at DOI.''
       ``I am sad for the public lands and great places in America 
     that you are leaving the Department of the Interior . . . You 
     have been the best possible advocate for everything that is 
     most important to me.''
       ``It is a big loss for us today in the Obama 
     Administration. We are all so sad to see you go . . . You 
     have a big fan club and will be so sorely missed!''
       ``You have been a steady, smart, and fun ally and friend 
     throughout. I appreciate you and will miss you during the 
     rest of my time in the Obama Administration.''

                          ____________________