American Rivers statement on nomination of David Bernhardt as Secretary of the Interior

March 26, 2019

Contact: Amy Kober, 503-708-1145

Washington – As the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources prepares to consider President Trump’s nomination of David Bernhardt as Secretary of the Interior, American Rivers President and CEO Bob Irvin released the following statement:

“With climate change posing unprecedented threats to our public lands and waters, we need an Interior Secretary who follows the science, values public input, and understands the importance of healthy rivers and ecosystems to our communities and economy.”

“The American people deserve a Secretary of the Interior who will safeguard the public lands and waters that belong to us all. Unfortunately, David Bernhardt has made a career of prioritizing polluters over people. He worked for twenty years as a lobbyist for the fossil fuel industry. As Deputy Secretary of the Interior, he has consistently fought to undermine protections for sensitive lands and waters and endangered fish and wildlife, from California’s Central Valley to the Arctic Refuge to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National monuments.”

“Now is not the time to weaken protections for our environment. Healthy rivers, forests and public lands are absolutely vital to strengthening our communities in the face of climate change impacts such as droughts, floods and rising temperatures. We need a Secretary of the Interior who will put the well-being of our lands, waters and communities first.”

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