The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday approved Deb Haaland to be President Biden’s Interior secretary, likely paving the way for her confirmation.
Haaland picked up the key vote of a single Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a major oil-producing state, enabling Haaland to be approved on a bipartisan 11-9 margin. Her nomination will now be considered by the full Senate.
Murkowski’s vote to approve Haaland was notable because Republicans have lined up in opposition to her due to statements she made as a member of the House of Representatives opposing fossil fuel development and her support for Biden’s agenda to begin phasing out oil and gas.
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During her hearing, Haaland seemed determined to moderate her positions to appease centrists such as Murkowski and Democratic Chairman Joe Manchin of West Virginia, another state dependent on fossil fuels. Manchin had previously announced he would vote for Haaland.
“While I may not personally agree with some of past statements and positions, this is President Biden’s agenda,” Manchin said Thursday.
Murkowski said she “struggled” whether to approve Haaland, who would become the first Native American Cabinet secretary, as she “reconciled a historic nomination with my concerns about an individual and administration’s conception of what Alaska’s future should be.”
“I am going to place my trust with Rep. Haaland and her team despite some very real misgivings,” Murkowski said. “I am also going to hold you to your commitments to ensure Alaska is going to prosper.”
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Haaland already picked up the support of another centrist Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, but she is not a member of the Energy Committee.
