Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, praised the strong bipartisan vote confirming REI chief executive Sally Jewell to be the next U.S. Secretary of the Interior. She was confirmed 87-11 to succeed Ken Salazar.

“As Chairman of the Water and Wildlife Subcommittee of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I look forward to working with incoming Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on public lands and wildlife initiatives important to Maryland and the mid-Atlantic.  Her unique combination of business experience and avid love and appreciation for America’s great outdoors made her an excellent choice for this job.  More than most, she understands the difficult balance needed to ensure access to our public lands and natural resources are done so in ways that respectful of all users.

“I will continue to work with the Interior Department on celebrating the legacy of Marylander Harriet Tubman, as we inaugurate one of America’s newest national monuments in her honor.  Along with my bill (S. 247) authorizing the establishment of the Tubman National Historical Parks, we should be able to share with generations to come the important work of the ‘conductor’ of the Underground Railroad. I appreciate the continued support of the Interior Department, National Park Service and President Obama on these initiatives, as well as the great work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s support of species and habitat conservation programs. Based on her background and our recent meeting, I am sure that Secretary Jewell will be encouraging of this great work.”

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