Representative Deb Haaland for Secretary of the Interior
Tell Joe Biden to name Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico, a proven leader, as our country's next secretary of the interior.
Indigenous and environmental leaders support Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico as our country's next secretary of the interior. But, according to news outlets, some of President-elect Joe Biden's advisers are actively thwarting her nomination--despite her stellar credentials and dozens of tribal leaders openly endorsing her.
What?!
Considering that Rep. Haaland has a long history as a champion of Indigenous women and girls and protector of our public lands, this is completely unacceptable.
Will you join us and publicly support Rep. Haaland for secretary of the interior?
Why is this important?
Rep. Haaland, who is an enrolled citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna, has a proven track record of defending the rights of Indigenous women and girls, and protecting public lands in the face of an existential climate crisis and continued threats to the safety, land, water, and sovereignty of Indigenous tribes.
In 2019, more than 15,000 UltraViolet members joined Rep. Haaland and supported the Not Invisible Act to hold accountable the perpetrators of sexual violence against Native women and girls on tribal land. This key piece of legislation by Rep. Haaland and her colleagues, Representatives Tom Cole (Chickasaw Nation), Sharice Davids (Ho-Chunk Nation), and Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee Nation), is now the law of the land.
The Not Invisible Act calls for establishing an advisory committee on violent crime composed of tribal leaders, who then make recommendations to the Department of Interior. Considering that Rep. Haaland spearheaded this bill, she most definitely qualifies to enforce the law as secretary of the interior.
In addition, Rep. Haaland serves as a steward of our public lands in her roles as vice-chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, the chair of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, and a member of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States. She has deep ties with tribal governments, grassroots groups, and climate justice organizations, and could be critical in helping the United States do its fair share to curb carbon emissions contributing to climate change.
No Native American has ever been a member of the U.S. Cabinet, and already, more than 120 Indigenous tribal leaders and tens of thousands of Americans have raised their voices in support of Rep. Haaland's nomination. Will you join us and support her for secretary of the interior, too?
Thank you for being a part of the UltraViolet community!