News for Immediate Release
Feb. 23, 2021
Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, [email protected]

Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, has been a proponent of conservation and public access opportunities during her tenure in the House of Representatives

MISSOULA, Mont. – As a Senate committee met this morning to consider the nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland as interior secretary, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers affirmed its support of Haaland to lead management of millions of acres of U.S. public lands and waters.

BHA provided input to members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee as they prepared to question Haaland, a New Mexico member of the U.S. House of Representatives who if confirmed would be the first Native American to lead the Interior Department.

“Rep. Haaland has built a record as an advocate for public lands, fish and wildlife and underserved voices during her time in the House of Representatives,” said BHA President and CEO Land Tawney. “Her leadership would be an asset to the Biden administration and the American people as we work to conserve key landscapes, sustain valuable fish and wildlife populations and maintain and expand equal-opportunity access to our public lands and waters.

“Last week I was fortunate to meet with Rep. Haaland and other members of the hunting and angling community and hear about her initial community-wide priorities, should she be confirmed as interior secretary,” Tawney continued. “She offers a strong and knowledgeable vision for the Interior Department, a vision that is informed by her earliest experiences with her family on public lands and waters and on successful hunts in the West. She is approachable, capable and a bridge-builder. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers looks forward to working with her to champion critical conservation issues and uphold our great American outdoors legacy.”

A member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, Haaland has served as vice chairwoman of the House Natural Resources Committee and chairwoman of the subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. The Senate is expected to vote on her confirmation shortly.

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the voice
for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife.

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