Colorado Wildlife Federation On March 15, 2021 Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) was confirmed as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior. National Wildlife Federation and 45 state and territorial affiliates, including CWF, had urged her confirmation since her nomination. Secretary Haaland is the first Native American to serve in this critical Cabinet position. We firmly believe Secretary Haaland will (continue to) be a strong advocate for wildlife and for conserving, and restoring our public lands and demonstrating balanced management of these irreplaceable lands. She had served as vice chair of the U.S.House Natural Resources Committee and in that role had ardently advocated for wildlife, hunters, anglers and other outdoor recreationists. She was one of the representatives who was instrumental in passing the Great American Outdoors Act and was an original co-sponsor of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act bill last session (which very important bill is expected to be reintroduced soon).