The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources voted March 4 to advance the nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM-1) as head of the Department of the Interior.
The committee voted 11-9, with Haaland receiving some bipartisan support. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have each said they will back her nomination in the split Senate.
“I have decided to support this nomination today, to support the first Native American who will hold this position, with the expectation that Rep. Haaland will be true to her word,” Murkowski said.
“Not just on issues related to Native peoples, but also on responsible resource development.” Now, the vote will move to the full Senate to decide whether to confirm her or not.
