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Haaland was chosen, in part, because she is someone who “has spent her career fighting for all Americans, including tribal nations, rural communities and communities of color,” according to a familiar person. with the decision.
The department conserves and manages the country’s natural resources and cultural heritage, and oversees the federal government’s relations with Native American tribes.
A transitional source familiar with the Home Secretary’s choice deliberations pointed to Haaland’s current position as deputy chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources as showing her knowledge and commitment to protection environment and clean energy. The source also tells CNN that they expect Haaland to bring perspective on other issues such as land and water conservation, renewable energy, public lands and federal parks.
While the Democratic majority in the House is remarkably thin, President Nancy Pelosi has blessed Haaland’s selection. She released a statement Wednesday, whereby an aide told CNN she intended to send a green light to Biden’s transition and beyond, she supported his nomination.
“Congresswoman Haaland knows the territory,” Pelosi said, “and if she is the president-elect’s choice for the post of Home Secretary, then he will have made an excellent choice.”
With Biden choosing Haaland for Home Secretary, Pelosi will only have a three-seat voting margin before the 117th Congress in a Biden administration. It comes after Democrats lost incumbents across the country and failed to topple a single House Republican in the November election.
Biden chose two other House Democrats – Reps Marcia Fudge of Ohio and Cedric Richmond of Louisiana – to serve in his administration. Although all three members come from secure democratic districts, it will take time for them to be replaced.
A source close to the will to nominate Haaland said Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who was endorsed by the MP in the presidential primary, offered her support for Haaland privately to Biden.
If confirmed, Haaland would be part of Biden’s plan to tackle the climate crisis and reduce carbon emissions. Biden has proposed an ambitious climate program that aims to end carbon emissions from power plants by 2035 and offers broader public investment in green infrastructure, including $ 2 trillion for clean energy projects.
Haaland represents the 1st Congressional District of New Mexico, which covers most of Albuquerque. She replaced Michelle Lujan Grisham, who left her seat in Congress to run for governor.
The vice president of policy and strategy of the progressive think tank Data for Progress, Julian Brave NoiseCat, hailed the choice of president-elect.
“We see our moms, aunts and ourselves in Deb – and now we as a people put our greatest hopes in her direction. The next Home Secretary will be a woman from Laguna Pueblo who went to Standing Rock in 2016 and cooked for the people, ”NoiseCat, a progressive indigenous activist, said in a statement.
In 2016, Haaland traveled to North Dakota to take part in protests against plans to build a pipeline under a key water source for the Standing Rock Reservation.
Haaland is a graduate of a program created by Emerge New Mexico, which helps train democratic women to run for office.
In 2012, she worked as the Native American Voting Director for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. She later ran unsuccessfully as a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014.
She would go on to become the president of the New Mexico Democratic Party and the country’s first Native American woman to lead a state party.
This story has been updated with additional information about Haaland.
CNN’s Rachel Janfaza, Kristin Wilson, Daniella Diaz and Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
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