March 1, 2021
“There’s no question that fossil energy does and will continue to play a major role in America for years to come. I know how important oil and gas revenues are to fund critical services,” Haaland said during her opening statement.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a key Senate swing vote, announced Wednesday that he will vote in favor of confirming Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to lead the Interior Department according to a February 24, 2021 report from The Hill.
“While we do not agree on every issue, she reaffirmed her strong commitment to bipartisanship, addressing the diverse needs of our country and maintaining our nation’s energy independence,” Manchin said in a statement.
Deb Haaland, Biden’s pick to head Dept. of Interior.
“I believe Deb Haaland will be a Secretary of the Interior for every American and will vote to confirm her,” he added.
Manchin was seen as a crucial vote for Haaland after he announced his opposition to Neera Tanden’s nomination as President Biden’s budget chief.
Haaland, a favorite among progressives, has come under scrutiny by conservatives for her stances on pipelines as well as on a controversial oil and gas extraction method called fracking.
Manchin in his statement cited her acknowledgment that fossil fuels will continue to be part of the energy mix and her support for extending a program that uses coal mining fees to clean up old mines that were abandoned decades ago.
During a two-day confirmation hearing, the nominee faced tough questions about her progressive stances, but stressed that if confirmed, it is “President Biden’s agenda, not my own agenda, that I would be moving forward.” She also discussed the importance of finding a “balance” between fossil fuels and fighting climate change.
“There’s no question that fossil energy does and will continue to play a major role in America for years to come. I know how important oil and gas revenues are to fund critical services,” she said during her opening statement.
“But we must also recognize that the energy industry is innovating, and our climate challenge must be addressed,” she added.
Amid questions from Republicans about President Biden’s pause on drilling leases on public lands, she said that it is a temporary measure and won’t be a “permanent thing.”
What this means to you
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced he will vote in favor of confirming Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to lead the Interior Department. “While we do not agree on every issue, she reaffirmed her strong commitment to bipartisanship, addressing the diverse needs of our country and maintaining our nation’s energy independence,” Manchin said in a statement.
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