The Trust for Public Land Applauds Interior Secretary Nomination

Today, President-elect Joe Biden announced his nomination of Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico for Secretary of the Interior.  
 
Diane Regas, president and CEO of The Trust for Public Land, issued the following statement: 
 
“I’m thrilled that President-elect Biden has selected such an incredible champion of outdoor equity as our nation’s next Secretary of the Interior. Rep. Haaland will be the first Native American Cabinet Secretary in history, and is a true believer in the power of parks and public lands to help people live happier, healthier, more prosperous lives.  
 
“Rep. Haaland has been a champion for park and outdoor equity her entire career, helping to achieve a historic, bipartisan victory this year in the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act. She is the right person to ensure that law is fully implemented as Congress intended, and work to ensure those resources are focused in communities that need it most.
 
“Rep. Haaland believes that everyone deserves close-to-home access to quality parks, especially during this pandemic, and is leading an effort in Congress to ensure a $500 million investment community parks in the next stimulus bill. We look forward to working with a broad coalition of community organizations to make that a reality.  
 
“Importantly, many American tribes have been dispossessed of nearly all of their original homelands and without representation, have lacked the resources to recover, restore, and protect these special places. With Rep. Haaland at the helm, the Interior Department can begin to recognize these injustices and create a more inclusive environment for all people. 
 
“Rep. Haaland has been a voice for people most impacted by the climate crisis. She lets science lead the way forward, and uniquely understands how the federal government can most effectively work to protect people and reduce the carbon pollution that is doing such damage to our planet.  
 
“The Trust for Public Land will continue to advocate for the creation of parks and the protection of our public lands and culturally significant places, and we look forward to her vision for the Department of the Interior.” 
 
The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live near a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.