Udalls: Haaland criticism motivated 'by something other than her record'

Former Sens. Tom UdallTom UdallSenate approves waiver for Biden’s Pentagon nominee Senate swears-in six new lawmakers as 117th Congress convenes We can achieve our democratic ideals now by passing the For the People Act MORE (D-N.M.) and Mark UdallMark Emery UdallHickenlooper ousts Gardner in Colorado, handing Democrats vital pickup Live updates: Democrats fight to take control of the Senate The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip MORE (D-Colo.) called for the Senate to confirm Rep. Deb HaalandDeb HaalandImage of Deb Haaland projected onto Interior Dept building calling for her confirmation OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Haaland to say fossil fuels will ‘play a major role,’ but climate must be addressed |  Biden administration supports court’s restrictions for biofuel exemptions | Republican senators take aim at Paris agreement with new legislation Haaland: Fossil fuels will ‘play a major role,’ but climate must be addressed MORE (D-N.M.) as Interior secretary in a USA Today op-ed Tuesday, saying accusations of political radicalism “motivated by something other than her record.”

The two argued that Haaland’s record on environmental issues is typical of a Democratic member of congress from a western state and that they had similar records in Congress that would be unlikely to prevent their confirmation.

“Rep. Haaland’s nomination is both historic and long overdue. If confirmed, she would be the first Native American Cabinet member,” the two former senators wrote.

“Her record is in line with mainstream conservation priorities. Thus, the exceptional criticism of Rep. Haaland and the threatened holds on her nomination must be motivated by something other than her record.”

Sens. Steve DainesSteven (Steve) David DainesOvernight Health Care: US surpasses half a million COVID deaths | House panel advances Biden’s .9T COVID-19 aid bill | Johnson & Johnson ready to provide doses for 20M Americans by end of March OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Haaland to say fossil fuels will ‘play a major role,’ but climate must be addressed |  Biden administration supports court’s restrictions for biofuel exemptions | Republican senators take aim at Paris agreement with new legislation 11 GOP senators slam Biden pick for health secretary: ‘No meaningful experience’ MORE (R-Mont.) and John BarrassoJohn Anthony BarrassoSenate committee plans grid reliability hearing after Texas outages Trump ready to make McConnell’s life miserable OVERNIGHT ENERGY: DOJ to let companies pay for environmental projects again to reduce fines | House Democrats reintroduce green energy tax package MORE (R-Wyo.) have both suggested they will oppose Haaland’s nomination, citing her positions on energy issues.

Previously, the progressive New Mexico representative has expressed support for the Green New Deal and opposition to a controversial oil and gas extraction method known as fracking. 

Sen. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinOvernight Health Care: US surpasses half a million COVID deaths | House panel advances Biden’s .9T COVID-19 aid bill | Johnson & Johnson ready to provide doses for 20M Americans by end of March On The Money: Neera Tanden’s nomination in peril after three GOP noes | Trump rages after SCOTUS rules on financial records Tanden’s path to confirmation looks increasingly untenable MORE (D-W.Va.), a key vote in the 50-50 Senate, has also suggested he has concerns about Haaland’s nomination. His hesitancy caught the ire of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezTexas Republican criticizes Cruz for Cancun trip: ‘When a crisis hits my state, I’m there’ Ocasio-Cortez fundraising for Texas relief reaches .7M Biden seems set to pick fight over Rahm Emanuel MORE (D-N.Y.), who lambasted his comments on Tuesday, noting that the West Virginia senator voted to confirm then-Attorney General Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsLIVE COVERAGE: Senate set to consider Garland for AG The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by The AIDS Institute – COVID-19 rescue bill a unity test for Dems Biden has the power to restore good governance MORE.

The former lawmakers also went on to cite Stewart Udall, Mark’s uncle and Tom’s father, who served as Interior secretary during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. The two said that Stewart Udall told them that the West was built by people like Haaland. 

“He often reminded us that the West wasn’t built by gunslingers or lone rangers as told in films and novels. Instead, it was farmers, Native Americans, Hispanic and Anglo ranchers, and others who made it in those tough pioneering years by working together,” they wrote.

“We cannot think of anyone who embodies that truth more and has the ability to lead a newly energized Interior Department for all Americans than Congresswoman Haaland.” 

Haaland faced tough questions on Tuesday during her hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where she sought to court moderates including Manchin — the chairman of the committee — who are weighing a vote on her confirmation.