Senate Confirms David Bernhardt with Bipartisan Support
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after voting to confirm David Bernhardt to be Secretary of the Interior. The Senate confirmed Bernhardt through a bipartisan vote of 56–41.
“I congratulate Mr. Bernhardt on his confirmation to be Secretary of the Interior. He has what it takes to lead this Department – coming from the west, he understands our public lands, has more experience at the Department than all but one of his predecessors, and has extensive knowledge of the issues that will come before him,” Murkowski said. “David Bernhardt has proven to be a strong partner not only for Alaska, but states all across the country. I’m pleased to continue working with him and his team on a wide range of energy, lands, and water-related issues.”
The Senate previously confirmed Bernhardt to be Solicitor of the Interior in 2006 and Deputy Secretary in 2017. He has served as Acting Secretary since January 2019, and his nomination was reported from the Energy and Natural Resources Committee by a vote of 14-6 on April 4.
Murkowski is chairman of both the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Appropriations Interior-Environment Subcommittee, which have jurisdiction over the Department of the Interior. She spoke on the Senate floor before voting in support of Bernhardt’s nomination.
