{"id":9188,"date":"2021-03-19T14:25:20","date_gmt":"2021-03-19T18:25:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=9188"},"modified":"2021-03-19T14:31:09","modified_gmt":"2021-03-19T18:31:09","slug":"cronkite-news-deb-haaland-takes-helm-at-department-of-the-interior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/03\/19\/cronkite-news-deb-haaland-takes-helm-at-department-of-the-interior\/","title":{"rendered":"Cronkite News: Deb Haaland takes helm at Department of the Interior"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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Indianz.Com Video: ‘History is being made, yet again’: Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n
Senate makes history with vote confirming Haaland as Interior secretary<\/div>\r\n
Friday, March 19, 2021<\/div>\r\n
Cronkite News<\/DIV>\r\n
cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A><\/DIV>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nWASHINGTON – The Senate Monday confirmed New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as the next Interior secretary, a historic vote that makes her the first Native American to head a Cabinet agency.

<\/p>\r\nThe confirmation came over the objection of Senate Republicans, particularly those representing Western states dependent on fossil fuels, who have called Haaland an environmental extremist.

<\/p>\r\n\r\nBut Democrats – and four Republicans who voted to confirm the nomination – pointed to Haaland’s reputation as a bipartisan House member as well as the historic nature of her nomination.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\r\n“The confirmation of Deb Haaland is amazing,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after the \r\n51-40 confirmation<\/a>\r\nvote. “It creates a government that more embodies the full richness and diversity of this country.”\r\n

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Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, with hand raised, takes part in a ceremonial swearing-in at the White House complex on March 18, 2021. The oath of office was administered by Vice President Kamala Harris, far right, with daughter Somah Haaland holding the Bible. Next to Haaland is Lloyd Keith “Skip” Sayre, her partner. Her sisters, Zoe Antoinette Magee and \u00a0Denise Kirksey, are seen on the far left. Photos: U.S. Department of the Interior<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nCritics for weeks had been attacking Haaland’s record in the House, where she was a member of the Natural Resources Committee and took stands in support of the Green New Deal and against the Keystone XL Pipeline.

<\/p>\r\n\r\nDuring a \r\nconfirmation hearing<\/a>\r\nlast month, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., one of the most vocal opponents of Haaland’s nomination, questioned her on her views on fossil fuels and their impact on state economies.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n“We should not undermine America\u2019s energy production, and we should not hurt our own economy,\u201d Barrasso said then.

<\/p>\r\nOther GOP senators also criticized what they called Haaland’s “radical” views that they said are “squarely at odds with the mission of the Department of the Interior and outside of the mainstream.” When they tried to pin her down on issues, Haaland repeatedly said she would merely carry out White House policy, leading some senators to charge that the two-term Democrat is unprepared to head Interior.

<\/p>\r\nOpponents were largely silent Monday, but their previous criticism drew a sharp rebuke from Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., who accused critics of employing a double standard for white, male nominees as opposed to women and nominees of color.

<\/p>\r\n“We have got to come to grips with the reality that time after time, strong women, and especially women of color, are attacked when white men with the same views are welcome to walk right through that door, unopposed,” Smith said.

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