[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 46 (Thursday, March 11, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of Debra Anne Haaland

  Ms. ROSEN. Madam President, I rise today to speak in support of the 
historic nomination of Congresswoman Deb Haaland to serve as our 
Nation's next Secretary of the Interior.
  This Cabinet position is of great importance to our Nation and 
especially to Western States like mine--like ours, Madam President, and 
I can't think of anyone more qualified to fill this position than 
Congresswoman Deb Haaland, one of the first Native American Members of 
Congress and a proven leader.
  Let me start by telling you why this Cabinet position means so much 
to Nevada. In the Silver State, over 50 million acres of land is 
managed by the Interior Department. That is over 70 percent of our 
entire State.
  People come to Nevada from all over the world to experience our 
pristine and our majestic public lands and monuments. These lands, 
well, they are not just a source of beauty; they are also a source of 
economic opportunity for Nevada.
  In previous administrations, we have seen efforts to put those public 
lands on the chopping blocks. But that won't happen under Deb Haaland's 
leadership.
  I have had the chance to speak with Congresswoman Haaland one-on-one, 
hear directly from her, and get to know her.
  She has spent her entire career fighting to protect public lands, 
waters, monuments, cultural sites and natural beauties around our 
Nation and, of course, in our great State of Nevada.
  And I know, if confirmed, she will work with me and Senator Cortez 
Masto to strike the right balance between critical protections for our 
public lands, environment, and wildlife, and the needed economic 
development across Nevada.
  Deb Haaland, well, she has been committed to conservation as a Member 
of Congress, and she will be just as committed to conservation as our 
next Interior Secretary.
  Congresswoman Haaland, she will take the bold steps needed to 
confront climate change. And if this historic confirmation succeeds, 
she will bring new and needed perspective to the Presidential Cabinet--
one that has been missing since the President's Cabinet was formed all 
the way back in 1789.
  As Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland will be the first--the 
first--Native American Cabinet member, and she will give a voice to 
Tribal communities in Nevada and across our country.
  She will take steps to restore and respect Tribal sovereignty. She 
will continue to be an advocate and an ally to Native communities, and 
she will help to right the many historic wrongs and injustices that 
have been committed against Native Americans and Tribal communities.
  Deb Haaland is exceptionally qualified to lead this Agency. She 
brings a breadth of experience and diversity to the table. She will be 
a positive force for good. She will guide our Nation forward.
  I urge my colleagues to vote yes on Deb Haaland's nomination.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.