Two Senate Republicans have put a hold on President Joe Biden’s pick to be Interior Secretary, Democratic New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland, forcing a debate on the nominee Tuesday.
Montana Sen. Steve Daines and Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis both decided to force a debate on Haaland’s nomination, which will last 30 hours. Both have been outspoken critics of Haaland’s nomination. Haaland is expected to still receive the support needed to be confirmed, as she needs just a simple Senate majority.
“I will be forcing debate on Rep. Haaland’s nomination to (Interior). Her record is clear: she opposes pipelines & fossil fuels, ignores science when it comes to wildlife management & wants to ban trapping on public lands,” Daines said in a tweet.
“Haaland’s views will hurt the Montana way of life and kill Montana jobs. We must consider the impact she will have on the West and our entire country,” he added.
Haaland’s views will hurt the Montana way of life and kill Montana jobs. We must consider the impact she will have on the West and our entire country.
— Steve Daines (@SteveDaines) March 9, 2021
Lummis said Haaland’s nomination would severely harm her state of Wyoming by costing almost $13 billion in tax revenue.
“According to a University of Wyoming analysis, the Biden ban could cost my state nearly $13 billion in tax revenue, which would devastate Wyoming’s investments in education, healthcare and infrastructure. Congresswoman Deb Haaland will be a champion of this and even more radical policies, and I am committed to doing anything I can to fight the Biden and Haaland job-killing agenda,” Lummis said in a statement. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Gov. Kristi Noem Sends Letters To Members Of Congress Urging Against Canceling Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebrations)
“For Wyoming’s energy workers and producers who will bear the loss of jobs, and for our medical professionals and children who will bear the loss of revenue, I’m putting a hold on Deb Haaland’s nomination to serve as Secretary of the Interior,” Lummis continued. (RELATED: Biden’s Anti-Drilling Interior Nominee Once Led Company That Profited From Fossil Fuels)
Haaland would be the first American Indian interior secretary since the department was established in 1849.