[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S501-S502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Nomination of Douglas Burgum

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota 
will soon be our next Secretary of the Department of the Interior. I am 
going to support that nomination.
  I think he will be confirmed, but until that happens, we always say 
``if confirmed.''
  If confirmed, Mr. Burgum will play a critical role in balancing the 
importance of conserving our wildlife and natural resources, while also 
assisting in the enhancement of domestic energy production.
  Now, we must remember, over the last 4 years--in other words, under 
the Biden administration--many of our Nation's Federal lands were off 
limits for any type of use, and the excuse was for the sake of 
conservation. Though that is a broad stroke--the word 
``conservation''--it wasn't made very clear what was meant.
  Many know that I have been a longtime advocate for transparency in 
the public's business because transparency brings accountability. Mr. 
Burgum will be expected to be transparent and forthcoming when leading 
the Department, and I expect that he will be, but especially when 
responding to letters from Members of Congress.
  If confirmed, Mr. Burgum will oversee several Bureaus and Agencies 
that all work together supporting the Interior Department's mission of 
protecting, of managing, and of honoring our Nation's natural resources 
and lands.
  On the topic of our country's resources, the United States has ample 
resources for energy production and generation, and President Trump 
winning the election has made clear that that is a top priority for 
him. And the President has created a special council on energy, and Mr. 
Burgum will be chairing that council.
  Now, I happen to be a believer, as I am sure Mr. Burgum is, in what 
you call an ``all of the above'' strategy on energy. An ``all of the 
above'' strategy really means just that, in other words, an emphasis 
upon what we have got energy from--fossil fuels--and that is declining 
in use, but it is still going to be around for a long, long time. It 
means

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all the energy--alternative energy--that we can create. It means 
conservation, and not necessarily conservation promoted by government 
but individual conservation. And, of course, nuclear, and nuclear 
brings to our attention a whole new generation of ways to produce 
nuclear energy. That is ``all of the above.''
  And, of course, we ought to, in order to accomplish that, cut back on 
Biden-era regulations. These regulations seem to be very opaque. And, 
consequently, we would forge a fiscally sound path forward in regard to 
everything that less regulation would bring us.
  I believe that Mr. Burgum understands the need to support an ``all of 
the above'' approach to energy policy, given his leadership on that 
issue as Governor of the State of North Dakota.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.