Senate Panel Advances Interior Nominee In 11-9 Vote

ABC News reports:

A key Senate committee on Thursday approved the nomination of New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland to be interior secretary, clearing the way for a Senate vote that is likely to make her the first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved Haaland’s nomination, 11-9, sending it to the Senate floor. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the lone Republican to support Haaland, who won unanimous backing from committee Democrats.

Murkowski, a former chair of the committee, said she had “some real misgivings” about Haaland, because of her support for policies that Murkowski said could impede Alaska’s reliance on oil and other fossil fuels.

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BREAKING: The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has voted to move Deb Haaland’s Interior nomination to the full U.S. Senate. The vote Thursday included 11 in favor and 9 opposed. pic.twitter.com/NWgBP7E83z

— Indian Country Today (@IndianCountry) March 4, 2021

New: Biden’s nomination of Deb Haaland to be Secretary of the Interior, the first Native American cabinet member, has advanced out of committee, setting up her confirmation in full Senate.

Vote was 11 to 9. GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats voting yes.

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) March 4, 2021