Today we are charged with the important decision of considering Gale Norton for our next Secretary of the Interior. This position is extremely important. As the Secretary of the Interior, Ms. Norton would be the principal steward of nearly a third of our Nation's land; the guardian for our national parks; and the protector of our wildlife refuges. I believe President Bush has every right to exercise the same prerogative as Presidents before him, of choosing members of his cabinet that share his point of view. In proposing Ms. Norton, President Bush asks the Senate to entrust her with our environmental heritage. Although Ms. Norton conducted herself well throughout the confirmation hearings, I am left with many questions about her vision for the future of our Nation's environment. The question is not about her ability to lead, but whether she will be a leader for the preservation of our public lands and natural resources. This is why I rise in opposition to her nomination today.
Editor's note · Context
Addressing the nomination of Gale Norton as Secretary of the Interior.
Share
More from Dick Durbin
What I witnessed today illustrated President Trump and Stephen Miller’s ruthless agenda: they will go so far with their cruel immigration operation to target terrified children, forcing them to articulate their fears in front of a judge…
I have threatened some of these for-profit schools as a way of getting them to drop the loans that they were enforcing on these students, because I know what happens in the end.
The American Red Cross declared a national blood supply crisis in the U.S. last month for just the second time ever, which has impacted patients’ ability to be treated for illnesses or undergo surgery.
It is families who will suffer, especially the sickest Americans, like those with mental health and substance use disorders, cancer, and diabetes, who most urgently need the health care Medicaid provides.





