FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 4, 2021

MCV: Senator Daines ‘on the wrong side of history… again’

Committee confirms historic Interior nominee with bipartisan support despite Daines

(BOZEMAN, Mont.) – Montana Conservation Voters is praising today’s vote by the U.S. Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee to support Representative Deb Haaland (D-NM) as America’s next Secretary of the Interior, with a bipartisan vote of 11-9.

As expected, Montana Senator Steve Daines voted against Haaland, the first Native American ever nominated to serve in cabinet position, falsely claiming she has “radical views.” Daines, however, strongly supported the unlawful, extremely partisan, anti-public lands radical William Perry Pendley at the Bureau of Land Management.

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, however, supported Haaland. Murkowski said her state’s prosperity is linked to decisions by the Interior Department, and that she anticipates working closely with Haaland to ensure her success, “because we need you to be successful.”

“Representative Haaland is tremendously qualified, and she has a keen understanding of how to balance responsible energy development and job creation with our critical need to fight the crisis of climate change and protect public lands,” said Whitney Tawney, the Executive Director of MCV. “Senator Daines could learn a lot about courage from Senator Murkowski who, unlike Daines, understands the qualifications of Rep. Haaland. While we thank Senator Murkowski for voting with principle, we encourage all Montanans to let Senator Daines know he’s on the wrong side of history… again. ”

MCV recently joined hundreds of organizations across the country in supporting Haaland’s nomination, calling her “a passionate advocate for climate and biodiversity action stewarding public lands and conserving them for future generations.”

Haaland’s nomination now goes to the full Senate, where she is expected to earn enough votes for a confirmation.

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