参议院周一确认众议院议员黛比·哈兰(Deb Haaland)担任内政部长，使她成为美国历史上第一位在总统内阁任职的土著美国人。

哈兰德于2018年当选众议院议员，尽管共和党早期反对她的提名，但她赢得了几名关键共和党参议员的支持。投票结果是51比40。

这不是哈兰德第一次创造历史。她也是国会中最早的两位女性印第安人之一。哈兰德在寻求联邦职位之前曾在新墨西哥州从事政治工作，是拉古纳部落普韦布洛的登记成员。

在确认过程的早期，哈兰德被认为是一个脆弱的提名者。共和党拒绝了她，因为她发表了反对化石燃料和支持绿色新政的言论。

代表怀俄明州的参议院能源委员会(Senate Energy Committee)的共和党高层约翰·巴拉索(John Barrasso)从一开始就反对哈兰德，试图将她贴上“激进选择”的标签，并在本月早些时候就她的提名进行投票的委员会会议上建议，哈兰德将支持那些将给西方就业带来“大锤”的政策。

哈兰德反对管道项目，如Keystone XL管道，并且是众议院绿色新政的最初发起人。

利·沃格尔/法新社，通过盖蒂图像

内政部长提名众议员黛比·哈兰在参议院能源和自然会议上作证

在2016年达科塔接入管道的抗议活动中，哈兰与立石苏人一起反对管道。

当乔总统和他的政府希望建立一个对抗气候变化的早期记录时，哈兰德面临着确认投票。

在他执政的早期，拜登发布了行政命令，吊销了Keystone接入管道的许可证，暂时暂停了北极国家野生动物保护区的石油和天然气活动，并致力于其他全面的能源改革。共和党人试图将哈兰德描绘成政府将继续实施威胁化石燃料、天然气和煤炭就业的政策的保证。

“这次投票是为了代表路易斯安那州那些被总统忽视的家庭，他们的工作被政治议程牺牲了，”参议员比尔·卡西迪说。在委员会投票反对哈兰德后发表声明说。“拜登政府的能源政策不受科学或逻辑的指导。他们将把生产推向海外环境标准更差的国家，最终增加全球排放量。”

但在她的确认听证会上，哈兰德试图通过认识化石燃料在美国经济中的作用来减轻共和党人的担忧。她答应与更保守的成员合作。

“正如我在这个角色中学到的那样，毫无疑问，化石能源在未来几年将继续在美国发挥重要作用。我知道石油和天然气收入对资助关键服务有多重要，”她在开幕词中说。“但我们也必须认识到，能源行业正在创新，我们的气候挑战必须得到解决。我们可以共同努力，为我们的国家和所有人民在未来的成功定位，我承诺与所有利益相关者和国会全体成员合作，在未来达成正确的平衡。”

哈兰德特别关注阿拉斯加温和派共和党参议员莉萨·穆尔科斯基的担忧，他承诺将听取这位参议员对拜登早期行政命令对阿拉斯加的影响的担忧。

“我知道拜登总统不想削弱任何一个州，”哈兰德在确认听证会上对穆尔科斯基说。“我确实想和你一起工作。我确实想确保我了解阿拉斯加的独特问题，并确保我们尽一切努力确保你们的选民有他们需要的机会。”

穆尔科斯基最终决定支持哈兰德的提名，尽管有一些“非常真实的疑虑”，与参议院能源委员会的其他共和党成员决裂。

穆尔科斯基本月早些时候说:“我一直在努力解决这个问题，即如何协调历史性的提名与我对个人的担忧以及政府对阿拉斯加未来的构想。”“哈兰众议员，如果你在听的话，你知道我打算和你一起工作，因为我希望你成功，老实说，我们需要你成功，但我也会让你信守承诺，确保阿拉斯加能够繁荣。”

在上周的测试投票中，哈兰德得到了两位阿拉斯加参议员的支持。参议员丹·沙利文，阿拉巴马州。，与穆尔科斯基和另外两位共和党参议员苏珊·科林斯参议员、缅因州共和党参议员和林赛·格雷厄姆将哈兰德的提名转移到议会。

哈兰德也享有民主党的广泛支持。弗吉尼亚州民主党温和派民主党人乔·曼钦(Joe Manchin)本月早些时候宣布，他将支持哈兰德。

曼钦说:“虽然我们在每个问题上没有达成一致，但她重申了她对两党合作的坚定承诺，解决我们国家的不同需求，维护我们国家的能源独立。”“此外，她重申了拜登政府的立场，即我们的国家将在未来几年继续使用化石燃料，即使我们通过创新而不是淘汰向更清洁的能源未来过渡。”

多数党领袖查克·舒默(Chuck Schumer)周四在为周一对哈兰的投票做准备的发言中，赞扬了哈兰，并吹捧了这一历史性的提名。

舒默说:“考虑到联邦政府和部落民族之间漫长而困难的关系，哈兰众议员晋升到内政部的最高职位对美国来说是一个非常重要的时刻，因为我们正在平等或走向平等的漫长道路上前进——尽管还没有完全走完。”长久以来，部落民族在影响他们生活和土地的决策中被剥夺了一个席位。国务卿哈兰德不仅会确保他们获得一个席位，她还会把自己的生活经历带到他们旁边的桌子上。"

Deb Haaland confirmed, makes history as first Native American Cabinet member

The Senate on Monday confirmed Rep. Deb Haaland as interior secretary, making her the first Native American in U.S. history to serve in a president's Cabinet.

Haaland, elected to the House of Representatives in 2018, earned the support of several key Republican senators despite early GOP opposition to her nomination. The vote was 51-40.

This isn't be the first time Haaland has made history. She was also one of the first two female Native Americans in Congress. Haaland worked in New Mexico state politics before seeking federal office and is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe.

Haaland was seen as a vulnerable nominee early in her confirmation process. Republicans rejected her because of comments she made opposing fossil fuels and supporting the Green New Deal.

The top Republicans on the Senate Energy Committee, John Barrasso, who represents Wyoming, opposed Haaland from the start, attempting to brand her as a "radical selection" and suggesting, during a committee meeting to vote on her nomination earlier this month, that Haaland would support policies that will take a "sledgehammer" to Western jobs.

Haaland has opposed pipeline projects, like the Keystone XL pipeline, and was an original sponsor of the House's Green New Deal.

During the 2016 protests of the Dakota Access pipeline, Haaland camped with the Standing Rock Sioux in opposition to the pipeline.

Haaland faced a confirmation vote as President Joe and his administration look to set an early record of combatting climate change.

In the earliest days of his administration, Biden issued executive orders that revoked permits for the Keystone Access Pipeline, places a temporary moratorium on oil and gas activity in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and aims for other sweeping energy reform. Republicans have tried to paint Haaland as a guarantee that the administration will continue enacting policies that threaten jobs in fossil fuel, gas and coal.

"This vote is to represent those families in Louisiana being ignored by this president, whose jobs are being sacrificed for a political agenda," Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said in a statement after voting against Haaland in committee. "The Biden administration’s energy policies are not guided by science or logic. They will push production overseas to countries with worse environmental standards and ultimately increase global emissions."

But during her confirmation hearings, Haaland looked to assuage concerns from Republicans by recognizing the role that fossil fuels play in the American economy. She promised to work with more conservative members.

"As I’ve learned in this role, 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 in her opening statement. "But we must also recognize that the energy industry is innovating, and our climate challenge must be addressed. Together we can work to position our nation and all of its people for success in the future, and I am committed to working cooperatively with all stakeholders, and all of Congress, to strike the right balance going forward."

Haaland focused particularly on concerns from moderate Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, promising to listen to the senator who voiced concerns about the impact of Biden's early executive orders on Alaska.

"I know that President Biden doesn't want to cripple any state,” Haaland told Murkowski during her confirmation hearing. "I do want to work with you. I do want to make sure that I understand the unique issues in Alaska and to make sure that we are doing all we can to ensure that your constituents have the opportunities that they need."

Murkowski ultimately decided to support Haaland's nomination despite some "very real misgivings," breaking with the other Republican members of the Senate Energy Committee.

"I have really struggled with this one how to reconcile a historic nomination with my concerns about the individuals and an administrations conception of what Alaska's future should be," Murkowski said earlier this month. "Representative Haaland if you're listening know that I intend to work with you because I want you to be successful and quite honestly we need you to be successful, but I am also going to hold you to your commitments to ensure that Alaska is allowed to prosper. "

Haaland was backed by both Alaskan Senators in a test vote last week. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Ala., voted alongside Murkowski, and two other GOP Senators, Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, andLindsey Graham, R-S.C., to move Haaland's nomination to the floor.

Haaland also enjoys the broad support of Democrats. Moderate Democrat Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced he would support Haaland earlier this month.

"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 addition, she reiterated the position of the Biden Administration that our country will continue to use fossil fuels for years to come, even as we transition to a cleaner energy future, through innovation not elimination."

In floor remarks Thursday teeing up Monday's vote on Haaland, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Haaland and touted the historic nomination.

"Given the long and troubled relationship between the federal government and tribal nations, the ascension of Rep. Haaland to the top of the Interior Department is a profoundly important moment for America as we advance on the long road—still not fully traveled at all—of equality, or towards equality," Schumer said. For too long, tribal nations have been denied a seat at the table where decisions were made that impacted their lives and their land. Not only will a Secretary Haaland ensure that they get a seat, she will bring her own lived experiences to the table alongside them."