Many months ago, when it appeared that the Obama Change revolution might really be gripping the nation, I had a minute to consider whom President-elect Obama might choose for Secretary of the Interior. While Sarah Palin was chanting "drill baby drill," I was deeply involved in working with my fellow conservationists to fight the Bush Administration’s giveaway of our public lands to the energy and mining industries. I had a flight of fancy, thinking that maybe President Obama would chose Rep. Raul Grijalva as Secretary of the Interior. I shared this idea with a few of my conservation friends to find unanimous head nodding all around – yes, Grijalva would be fantastic! Now I am elated to see rumors in the press that President-elect Obama might nominate him. Let me tell you why he has my enthusiastic support.
I know that Congressman Grijalva cares deeply for the great treasure trove of natural and cultural resources given to the American people by our forefathers in the form of public lands, waters, cultural sites, and wildlife. I have had the honor to talk Rep. Grijalva about public lands protection, endangered species, global warming and wildlife. He gets it, he cares about it and he is a man of action.
Serving as the Chairman on the House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Parks, Forests and Public Lands and as a Westerner, he is well qualified to lead change at the Department of the Interior. I think he will take a proactive stance on protecting America’s special places, while bringing balance, reason and environmental safeguards to the sensible use of the oil, gas and mineral resources in the public domain. Grijalva has been outspoken on the Bush Administration’s ill-conceived proposals to allow loaded guns in our National Parks, uranium mining adjacent to the Grand Canyon and Colorado River, and waiving environmental laws and public input to build hundreds of miles of border wall. Representing the 7th District of AZ, Grijalva also has plenty of federal public lands in his District including Ironwood Forest National Monument (BLM), Sonoran Desert National Monument (BLM), Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (NPS), Saguaro National Park, Tumacácori National Historical Park, Coronado National Forest, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Cibola National Wildlife Refuge and Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.
Perhaps Governor Janet Napolitano and Rep. Raul Grijalva would work together as Secretaries of Homeland Security and Interior respectively to find a balance on the controversial border wall issue, to provide for the safety of the nation’s security while allowing the migration of sensitive wildlife across our borders, as they have done for centuries. With regard to some comments about two Cabinet Secretaries from Arizona, I say so what? No one blinks an eye if there are two nominees from New York. For example, Senator Clinton and Timothy Geithner as potential nominees for Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury are both from New York.
Another aspect of leading as Secretary of the Interior is overseeing the Bureau of Indian Affairs. http://www.doi.gov/... I believe that Grijalva will be an attentive and supportive Secretary with regard to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Most folks have not got a clue what the BIA is about, so here is the BIA’s mission:
Indian Affairs (IA) is the oldest bureau of the United States Department of the Interior. Established in 1824, IA currently provides services (directly or through contracts, grants, or compacts) to approximately 1.7 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. There are 562 federally recognized American Indian tribes and Alaska Natives in the United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is responsible for the administration and management of 66 million acres of land held in trust by the United States for American Indian, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) provides education services to approximately 44,000 Indian students. BIA and BIE’s missions are: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) mission is to:
"... enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian tribes, and Alaska Natives."
The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) mission is to: "... provide quality education opportunities from early childhood through life in accordance with the tribes’ needs to cultural and economic well being in keeping with the wide diversity of Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages as distinct cultural and governmental entities. The Bureau considers the whole person (spiritual, mental, physical and cultural aspects.)"
As the representative for the 7th Congressional District, Rep. Grijalva already represents seven sovereign Native American Nations. I think Indian Country will be well served by Grijalva’s interest in education and health care, and his experience in representing the diverse interests of the American Indians. I hope they will be outspoken and consider endorsing his nomination.
As the son of an emigrant ranch hand from Mexico, I am confident Grijalva will continue to connect with the hard-working Americans he has represented in Congress. As an environmentalist and the daughter of a blue-collar worker, I couldn’t be more thrilled about the possibility of Grijalva as Secretary. He is a man of the people who loves the natural world too. On a more personal level, I think most would enjoy sitting down for a chat and a beer with Grijalva, I as have. Grijalva is a fighter, but he is also a thoughtful, kind, and humble man. He seems to be the embodiment of the West African proverb made popular by President Theodore Roosevelt, "speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." I hope he goes far, and that I will have the honor to call him Mr. Secretary very soon.