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Interior nominee Kempthorne pressed on BIA vacancy
Friday, May 5, 2006
Prominent Republicans and Democrats used the confirmation hearing of
Interior Secretary nominee Dirk Kempthorne on Thursday to press for
a new leader of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Sen. Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico), the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural
Resources Committee, said it was "shameful" that the BIA's top position has
been vacant for more than a year. He hoped Kempthorne's confirmation as head of the Interior
Department would prompt the White House to nominate someone as the assistant
secretary for Indian affairs.
"We have to find someone," Domenici said, "and this may be the catalyst to get this done.
It's very important that we find somebody."
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico), the ranking member on the committee, also called
attention to the lack of a BIA nominee. He said the vacancy was symptomatic of a much
larger leadership problem facing Kempthorne upon confirmation.
"In fact, as I read the organization chart of the Department of the Interior,
nearly half of the senior policy positions are vacant,
or have acting people in those positions," Bingaman said.
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), the vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee,
said it was crucial to appoint a Native American to run the BIA. The agency's top
two positions are currently held by non-Indians who had little experience with
tribal matters prior to joining the Bush administration.
"I hope we can move quickly," Dorgan told Kempthorne. "There are just so many pressing
issues -- a crisis in health care, housing and education on Indian reservations."
Kempthorne, now serving as governor of Idaho, told members of the committee that he was eager to build his leadership
team once he is confirmed. He said President Bush wants him to play a strong role in selecting
the new head of the BIA, as well as other top positions.
"I know that is important to the president ... and has indicated that he wishes to have
my active comments with regards to those personnel," Kempthorne testified.
"We're going to make it a priority so we can bring those people on."
The last head of the BIA was Dave Anderson, who resigned amid controversy in
February 2005. Since then, the White House has interviewed more than 20
potential replacements, according to Jim Cason, the associate Interior
deputy secretary who has been assigned all of the BIA's duties.
Domenici made the BIA post one of his top priorities when he advanced the
candidacy of John Gonzales, a Pueblo leader from New Mexico and a former
president of the National Congress of American Indians, within days of
Anderson's departure.
But the White House has kept quiet about its plans for more than 14 months.
"I think it's shameful," Domenici said yesterday.
In addition to raising the leadership issue, various members of the committee
pressed Kempthorne to settle the Cobell trust fund lawsuit,
resolve long-running tribal water rights disputes,
address the needs of Alaska Natives and extend the policy of
self-determination to Native Hawaiians.
Kempthorne didn't offer any specific proposals on those issues, but he
indicated a willingness to listen and work with others as head of the
Interior Department. His spirit of cooperation earned the endorsement of
the Coeur d'Alene Tribe of Idaho, whose chairman, Chief J. Allan,
attended the hearing yesterday to show support.
Committee members on both sides of the aisle a welcomed the chance to work with
Kempthorne. Several of them, including Dorgan and fellow Democrat Daniel
Akaka of Hawaii, said they were going to support his nomination.
The warm reception stood in contrast to the one received by Gale Norton,
who resigned as Interior Secretary at the end of March.
Her confirmation battle back in January 2001
was the most bitter in the history of the department as
she struggled to win over Democrats.
Kempthorne, on the other hand, is assured a quick and speedy
confirmation, largely due to his record as a compromise-builder
but also to his political connections. He served in the
Senate for one term in the 1990s, and he maintains close
friendships with many in the chamber, Democrats and
Republicans alike.
Domenici pledged to call a committee vote next Wednesday
and to bring the nomination to the Senate floor as soon
as possible.
That would help speed along the possible selection of
a BIA nominee, although the White House might act to fill
other positions at the department first.
White House Announcement:
President
Bush Nominates Dirk Kempthorne as Interior Secretary (March 16, 2006)
Relevant Links:
Coeur d'Alene Tribe - http://www.cdatribe.com
Nez
Perce Tribe - http://www.nezperce.org
Shoshone-Bannock
Tribes - http://www.shoshonebannocktribes.com
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne - http://gov.idaho.gov
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