[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 63 (Thursday, April 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of David Bernhardt

  Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the nomination of Mr. David 
Bernhardt to be the Secretary of the Interior. The Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources voted to report David Bernhardt's nomination to 
be the Secretary of the Interior last week by a vote 14 to 6. Members 
on both sides held and continue to hold strong feelings on Mr. 
Bernhardt's nomination. Both sides have scrutinized his record 
carefully, as we should, considering the enormous responsibility 
entrusted to the Secretary of the Interior.
  Whether it be payments for miners for their healthcare benefits, 
processing permits for the privilege of energy production on Federal 
lands, or ensuring the U.S. Geological Survey can conduct its critical 
work of collecting and analyzing data on our changing climate, the 
Department of the Interior has a huge amount of responsibility and 
diverse jurisdiction. Furthermore, the Secretary of the Interior is the 
guardian of our Nation's greatest natural resources.
  The Department of the Interior manages nearly half a billion acres of 
Federal land, or about 20 percent of the Nation's land. One of every 5 
acres in the United States is under their control. These lands include 
some of our most special places--our national parks, trails, seashores, 
and historic sites. In addition, the Department manages another 1.7 
billion acres of submerged land on the Outer Continental Shelf.
  The Department of the Interior is also the largest supplier of water 
in the 17 Western States. It manages nearly 500 dams and over 300 
reservoirs that supply water to over 31 million people and irrigate 10 
million acres of farmland.
  Furthermore, nearly 20 percent of energy we use is produced on lands 
managed by the Secretary. These include not just coal and oil and 
natural gas but also hydropower, geothermal, solar, and wind energy. In 
addition, the Secretary of the Interior manages our trust obligations 
to nearly 600 federally recognized Indian Tribes and provides services 
to nearly 2 million Native Americans.
  By any measure, the job of Secretary of the Interior is an enormous 
and special responsibility.
  As a former Governor, I have always believed that an executive is 
entitled to deference when selecting his or her team, as long as the 
candidates are qualified and ethical. I have carefully reviewed Mr. 
Bernhardt's experience and his qualifications. I met with him twice 
before his hearing and spoke with him again by phone afterwards. I 
questioned him extensively about his willingness to be a good steward 
of our Nation's greatest natural treasures--our national parks, 
monuments, and historical sites. I questioned him about his 
responsibility to balance our resource needs with environmental 
protection and fairness to the owners of our public lands, which are 
all of us, the American people. I spoke to him about the need to make 
sure that those who are granted the privilege of using our public lands 
leave them in better condition than they found them.
  Based on my extensive discussion with him and my review of his 
record, I believe Mr. Bernhardt is clearly qualified to serve as 
Secretary. He held senior positions in the Department for 8 years 
during the Bush administration, including over 2 years as the 
Solicitor, which is the third highest office in the Department. He has 
served as the Deputy Secretary for the past 2 years and as Acting 
Secretary since January. He knows the Interior Department inside and 
out, and he is well-versed on all of the issues that come before it. He 
clearly has the knowledge and experience to serve as Secretary.
  Now, the opposition to Mr. Bernhardt's nomination comes not from any 
lack of knowledge or experience but from questions about appearances of 
conflicts of interest arising from his law practice prior to being 
confirmed as Deputy Secretary. I had extensive conversations with Mr. 
Bernhardt about these potential conflicts of interest and his 
compliance with ethics laws and regulations. I reminded him that he 
takes the same oath I take--public service, not self-service. We also 
spoke about the importance of ensuring a culture at the Department of 
the Interior that reflects the highest level of ethical compliance and 
integrity.
  Based on my extensive discussion with Mr. Bernhardt and the 
assurances he gave me, I voted for him in the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources last week, and I will support his nomination when we 
vote on the floor to confirm him.
  But I said before the vote in the Energy and Natural Resources 
Committee--and I will say it again--that I expect him and the 
Department to hold itself to the highest ethical standards because I 
assured him I will. Mr. Bernhardt must work to ensure the commitment to 
ethical and scientific integrity, and I intend to work with him and his 
staff persistently to ensure this is the case.
  Our parks and public lands, our scenic beauty, and our fish and 
wildlife resources are important to everybody and especially to the 
people of West Virginia, which I represent, and to the people of all of 
our States and to the Nation's outdoor recreation economy. West 
Virginians count on the Secretary of the Interior as the guardian of 
our public lands, as I know you do, Mr. President, in Louisiana.
  The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which I am privileged 
to serve on as ranking member, has a lot of work to do. We have to 
address the park maintenance backlog. We have to fully fund the Land 
and Water Conservation Fund, ensure that companies granted the 
privilege of developing public energy and mineral resources pay the 
royalties they owe the taxpayers and nothing less, and see that our 
public lands and resources are wisely managed and protected.
  I intend to work with Mr. Bernhardt on these important issues. I have 
made it clear to him that I expect him to put his extensive experience 
and knowledge of these issues to work for all the American people and 
to execute his responsibilities in a manner that ensures that our 
public lands are not just being maintained but improved for the benefit 
of generations to come.
  For that reason, I will vote to confirm him to this important 
position, and I ask your consideration for the same.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.