INSIDER
Native American nominee's grilling raises questions on bias
Read full article: Native American nominee's grilling raises questions on biasThe label of Haaland as a "radical" by Republican lawmakers is getting pushback from Native Americans. The exchange, coupled with descriptions of the Interior secretary nominee as โradicalโ โ by other white, male Republicans โ left some feeling Haaland is being treated differently because she is a Native American woman. โAs much as I would love to see a Native American be on the presidentโs Cabinet, I have concerns about her record. Critics also have targeted Vanita Gupta, an Indian American and Bidenโs pick to be associate attorney general, and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as Health and Human Services secretary. That was seen in Haaland's response when asked about her motivation to be Interior secretary.
Biden gives boost to retiring senator's climate change plan
Read full article: Biden gives boost to retiring senator's climate change planUdall is retiring from the Senate, but has emerged as a leading contender to be Interior secretary under President-elect Joe Biden. He has urged a shift in land and ocean management away from world-beating oil and gas production to tackling climate change and preserving wilderness. Oil and gas produced from public lands accounts for as much as one-fourth of U.S. carbon emissions. Udall says the Biden plan would make public lands โcarbon neutralโ by 2030, meaning the lands would absorb as much carbon dioxide as they emit from energy production. As the effects of climate change continue to worsen, โCongress will increasingly feel pressure from the public to get things done,'' Udall said.