You can call Doug Burgum “Mister Secretary”

 

Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum won confirmation from the U.S. Senate Thursday to become the nation’s next Secretary of the U.S. Interior Department.

Labeled a “good friend” by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, Burgum was confirmed in a 79-18 vote as most Senate Democrats joined every Republican in the chamber.

The confirmation vote came after the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, in a nearly unanimous vote last week, recommended his approval. Only Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) voted against the nomination.

Governor Burgum’s confirmation today is a win for our public lands and a win for American energy,” said Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, who is chairman of the Energy Committee.

“He has spent his career bringing people together to solve problems and earned the trust of tribes, businesses, conservationists, and working families alike. He understands that we cannot regulate our way into prosperity.”

American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Mike Sommers supported the confirmation, saying Burgum has long been a champion for American energy leadership.

“We look forward to working with him to implement a pro-American energy approach to federal leasing, starting with removing barriers to development on federal lands and waters and developing a new five-year offshore program.”