[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 63 (Thursday, April 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2413-S2415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of David Bernhardt

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, I am pleased to be here today to 
speak in strong support of David Bernhardt's nomination to be Secretary 
of the Interior, and I thank all of my colleagues on the Energy and 
Natural Resources Committee. We worked pretty hard together to report 
Mr. Bernhardt's nomination last week. We moved it out with good 
bipartisan support. I also thank the majority leader for filing cloture 
this week so that we can confirm him before we depart for this 2-week 
work period.
  I have several reasons--I have a whole host of different reasons to 
outline as to why I support Mr. Bernhardt's nomination. I outlined them

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before the committee, but I would like to take a couple of minutes here 
this afternoon to reiterate them on the Senate floor.
  First, really, is his background. He understands and is in touch with 
our public lands. Mr. Bernhardt is from the West where, of course, the 
vast majority of our public lands are located. He grew up in Rifle, 
which is a small town in Western Colorado. He spent a lot of his 
summers in Wyoming. He, to this day, remains an avid sportsman and 
outdoorsman. He likes hunting and fishing. He is a guy who appreciates 
the outdoors.
  He is really almost unparalleled in terms of the experience that he 
brings to the job. He has worked at the Department of the Interior now 
for about 10 years, including two Senate-confirmed posts. Back in 2006, 
we confirmed him as Solicitor by voice vote, and then in 2017, we 
confirmed him to be the Deputy Secretary. Again, that vote was a good 
bipartisan vote. He has now served as Acting Secretary since January of 
2019, so we have a situation where, simply put, he has more experience 
at the Department than any other previous nominee for Secretary, except 
one. That is a pretty good credential there.
  Of equal importance, Mr. Bernhardt has the right perspective to be 
the Secretary of the Interior. He understands how Federal land 
management decisions affect our local communities. He has seen how 
Federal policies impact people's access to and use of public land, and 
he also recognizes the need to balance conservation and opportunities 
for economic development.
  I think David Bernhardt has really proved his ability to lead the 
Department. He is well qualified. He is highly competent. He has built 
strong working relationships with those who are affected by the 
Department's decisions. I really think there is no question that he is 
ready for the job. He can handle everything it entails.
  I have been asked by several of the reporters who are out there: What 
do you think David Bernhardt really brings to the table? What I have 
shared with them is that as I have gotten to know David Bernhardt in 
his various capacities at Interior, he is a guy who understands and 
enjoys the policy of these issues. He likes to get down into the fine 
details. He knows the background. He is not just being given something 
by staff to read. He is the one who is really engaged in understanding 
at a level of detail that is greatly appreciated.
  When I think about the importance of this position of Secretary of 
the Interior, I come at it from the perspective of an Alaskan coming 
from a State that has more Federal acres than any other State. The 
Department of the Interior controls most of those. We often refer to 
the Department, and the Secretary specifically, as our landlord. That 
is not necessarily a title we like. We like to consider ourselves a 
partner, but I think we truly recognize we need leadership to 
understand and appreciate the impact their decisions within the 
Department of the Interior can have on us. I know David Bernhardt 
understands that. He has been a good partner for Alaskans, but he has 
also been a good partner for individuals, groups, and States all across 
the country, and that is why his nomination is supported by a wide 
range of stakeholder groups from the Alaska Federation of Natives to 
Ducks Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the Association 
of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
  I think it is also important to note that Mr. Bernhardt moved through 
our committee process in pretty good order. He answered all of our 
questions. Again, he demonstrated the depth of his understanding of the 
issues and his expertise. He really exceeded expectations, which led to 
a very strong bipartisan vote of 14 to 6 at the business meeting last 
week.
  Now the full Senate has the opportunity to confirm Mr. Bernhardt. 
Some will continue to make allegations over ethics, but the fact is, as 
we have reviewed those charges, we have found nothing that should hold 
him back. I know this has been a subject of discussion on the Senate 
floor, so I want to lay it out very clearly. There are some news 
stories that are being printed and have been printed that are filled 
with old information that has already been reviewed by our committee 
staff. New stories, old facts--they don't contain anything new or 
anything disqualifying. There is nothing amiss here, and there is no 
valid reason to delay this process.
  The Office of Government Ethics has certified that Mr. Bernhardt is 
in good standing; so has Interior's Designated Agency Ethics Official. 
My committee staff has contacted Interior's Inspector General. It has 
been confirmed that there are no open investigations into Mr. 
Bernhardt. I would tell folks that what needs to happen here is that we 
need to move forward. We need to reject the last-minute rhetoric that 
is designed to delay. We need to confirm a well-qualified candidate to 
be our next Secretary of the Interior.
  We have a lot to do. Interior has a lot to do to make sure that we 
are protecting our lands, increasing our energy security, as well as 
fulfilling all of the missions of the Department, and the sooner we are 
able to confirm a Secretary to focus on them, the better.
  Mr. Bernhardt is very well qualified to be the Secretary of the 
Interior. He has the right background, the right experience, and the 
right perspective for the job. He is ready to lead on a permanent 
basis, and I am glad that very shortly here we are going to be 
considering his nomination. I strongly encourage every Member in this 
Chamber to support his confirmation.
  Madam President, I come to the floor to speak to the robust support 
that David Bernhardt has received for his nomination to be Secretary of 
the Interior.
  Last week, those of us on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee 
reported Mr. Bernhardt on a strong, bipartisan vote of 14 to 6. He has 
actually added support from the last time that he was considered in 
committee, in 2017, and I hope we will see that again when we vote on 
his nomination later today.
  Mr. Bernhardt's support is not limited to the Senate. For example, 
the Congressional Western Caucus is solidly behind Mr. Bernhardt, with 
many of its members on record in support of his nomination.
  Bear in mind, these are members from Western States, where the vast 
majority of our public lands are located, whose districts are most 
impacted by the Department of the Interior. It is a very good sign that 
Mr. Bernhardt has drawn their strong support.
  We have also kept a list of individuals and groups who have submitted 
letters of support for Mr. Bernhardt. It spans the spectrum of 
stakeholders, from the Public Lands Council and the Colorado Farm 
Bureau to the American Exploration and Mining Association and the Corps 
Network.
  Multiple recreation groups have written in urging the Senate to 
confirm Mr. Bernhardt. The motorized recreation groups, like the 
American Council of Snowmobile Associations and the Off-Road Business 
Association, wrote that, ``At a time when many of the senior posts at 
the agency lack Senate confirmed executives, a person of Mr. 
Bernhardt's experience is sorely need . . . having [him] at the helm of 
the Interior Department will strengthen the agency's resolve to make 
the lands it manages accessible to the recreating public.''
  Officials at all levels of government are voicing their support for 
Mr. Bernhardt's nomination. The Governor of Wyoming, Mark Gordon, 
offered this statement: [Mr. Bernhardt's] recognition of expertise in 
the States is refreshing . . . I wish [him] a speedy and easy 
confirmation process.''
  The Mesa County Commissioners in Colorado wrote that ``Mr. 
Bernhardt's extensive knowledge of public lands and energy issues makes 
him an avid leader with skill to see issues from multiple perspectives 
to maintain and improve partnerships among federal, state, and local 
governments.''
  The Harney County Court in Oregon has highlighted Mr. Bernhardt's 
commitment to balancing the multiple use of public land, writing that, 
``[He] has proved himself in the past by exhibiting understanding 
between the balance that is needed from an ecological standpoint, but 
also, what is needed from the economic and social aspect of public land 
use. He will work towards a balanced approach by trying to assess and 
distinguish between the multiple issues that we are facing with the 
[bureaus].''

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  Tribal groups and entities are also supportive of his nomination. In 
my home State, the Alaska Federation of Natives noted that, ``Mr. 
Bernhardt has demonstrated a thorough understanding of the legal 
frameworks of the major laws covering Alaska Native subsistence 
customary and traditional rights and protections . . . he listens well, 
is articulate in his responses, and draws reasonable conclusions.''
  The Chairman of the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council wrote in that, 
``the [Tribe] has worked with [Mr. Bernhardt] previously and firmly 
believes that his knowledge and experience make him a very good fit for 
the Department . . . we also believe he is committed to building strong 
working relationships that rely on good faith and respect among all 
interests at the table.''
  We have truly heard from a very wide range of organizations in 
support of this nomination. The Archery Trade Association wrote to us 
that ``[Mr. Bernhardt] has demonstrated tremendous commitment to 
conserving and protecting our nation's natural, historic and cultural 
resources . . . [his] experience with the Department of the Interior 
coupled [with his] exemplary history of collaboration, non-partisan 
views, highly respected demeanor and deeply held passion for 
conservation and historic preservation make him uniquely qualified for 
this position.''
  One of the reasons that such a diverse group of stakeholders support 
Mr. Bernhardt's nomination is that they have worked with him during his 
nearly ten years at Interior, including most recently as Deputy 
Secretary and then Acting Secretary. He has proven that he can work 
with groups, he has formed strong relationships with them, and they 
respect and support him.
  For example, the Gila River Indian Community wrote that, ``based on 
our experience in negotiating and working on complex issues with Mr. 
Bernhardt we support his position as Secretary of the Department of the 
Interior. We believe he has an understanding of Tribal sovereignty and 
the United States' trust responsibility to Tribal nations.''
  The Corps Network wrote that ``Mr. Bernhardt has been accessible and 
responsive to our inquiries, visited several Corps in the field, and 
joined the Corps Network's Day of Service last summer.''
  These groups are reiterating what we already know--that Mr. 
Bernhardt's experience at Interior and in the West; his willingness to 
listen, build relationships, be responsive; and his ability to earn 
people's trust make him more than qualified to lead the Department of 
the Interior.
  I want to wrap up by reading an excerpt from a letter that we 
received from the Beaver County Commission in Utah: ``In our 
interactions with Mr. Bernhardt we have found him to act with 
integrity, be open minded to all points of view, and have a contagious 
passion for the health of our Nation's lands and people. These 
qualities, combined with many others, make Mr. Bernhardt an ideal 
candidate to serve the county by leading the Department of the 
Interior.''
  I couldn't say it any better. Mr. Bernhardt knows the Department and 
the laws that govern it inside and out. He appreciates and respects the 
Department's mission. He is the right person for the job--the best 
person to lead Interior--and I look forward to his confirmation.