Political Quotes

“Mr. President, President Trump has nominated Joseph Balash to be Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals at the Department of the Interior. In that role, Balash will oversee the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and head ``Interior's management of all federal lands and waters, and their associated mineral and non-mineral resources, as well as the appropriate regulation of surface coal mining.'' Balash has worked for years in Alaska politics, including as the former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. In 2013, as the acting commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Joe Balash advocated for exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Balash petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ``to reconsider its decision to bar [Alaska] from conducting seismic studies in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.'' Also, Balash has stated that he supports the Trump administration rewriting the 5-year plan for the offshore oil and gas leasing plan, which could likely lead to new areas being opened up to offshore drilling. I am a strong supporter of protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and oppose opening up new areas of the Atlantic to offshore drilling. For these reasons, I oppose his nomination for Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals at the Department of the Interior.…”