New Mexico Democratic Rep. Deb Haaland won the support of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in her bid by the Biden administration to become the new Interior Secretary. It is still not known how one of Oklahoma’s two U.S. Senators will vote when it goes to the full senate.
The vote was 11-9 with Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford casting a vote against her. He had previously announced his opposition to Haaland’s nomination.
“All of us want clean air, water, and land that we would be proud to pass on to the next generation. But Rep. Haaland’s legislative record and testimony demonstrate her commitment to an unrealistic energy reality. I cannot support her nomination to serve as the Secretary of the Interior.”
His fellow Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted for Haaland’s nomination, who would be the first Native American Interior Secretary if she is confirmed when the full Senate takes a vote.
In announcing her decision, Sen.Murkowski admitted she had struggled with the vote, especially since Haaland has protested pipeline development.
“I am going to place my trust in Representative Haaland and her team despite some very real misgivings,” Murkowski said.
“Know that I intend to work with you because I want you to be successful and quite honestly we need you to be successful, but I am also going to hold you to your commitments to ensure that Alaska is allowed to prosper,” she added.
Committee chairman, Sen. Joe Manchin sided with the nomination.
“While I may not personally agree with some of Representative Deb Haaland’s past statements and policy positions, as Secretary, she will be carrying out President Biden’s agenda. And, as a former Governor, I understand the importance of having one’s own team in place,” he told the committee.
The nomination heads to the full Senate for a vote but no date has been set.
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe still has not indicated publicly if he will support Rep. Haaland.